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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
December 19, 2002
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
Slammer Seatrout on the surface is a spectacular game. Winter is one of the best times to target trout on top. The one caveat is the February closed season in the Northeast and Northwest regions of the Sunshine State. So, for the hard-core trout anglers, February is just a CPR month, catch, photo and release.
Spotted Seatrout have several colloquial names depending on their home range. Most folks simply refer to them as “trout,” never to be confused with the freshwater varieties. These beautiful creatures are called speckled trout, old yeller mouth, specks or, in Southern Louisiana, truite gris. Other cousins in Gulf coast waters include White Trout, Silver Trout and Silver Perch. Across the landscape of the fishing environment, Trout are aggressive feeders and super on the dinner table.
Since the net ban law was enacted, trout have proliferated to record numbers. Trout are so prolific that today there is a considerable effort aimed at rethinking the closed seasons, bag limits and slot limits in Florida. Currently the bag is 5 per day between 15 and 20 inches and one fish over 20 inches per angler.
Although everyone has his favorite method of catching trout, one of the most exciting is topwater. A wide variety of jerkbaits and surface plugs will induce an explosive strike, particularly from larger “gator” trout. I assume this name comes from the long, razor-sharp canine incisors large trout possess. Lures that anglers swear by include the ever-popular Mirrolures, several different Rapalas and Yo-Zuri crystal minnows. My favorite patterns are mullet, chartreuse and red/white. Try bright colors in dingy water and mullet in clear water.
The action of these sexy lures is the key. Also, bigger baits produce bigger fish. Topwater plugs can be fun and challenging. Finding the right action of a lure to draw a strike is the real sport. Chuggers, poppers, twitchbaits, surface spinners, jerkbaits, crankbaits or combinations can be field tested to find the right action that give you that pure adrenaline rush from a monster trout “blowin’ up” on your fine-tuned offering. After all, that is really what it about anyway, the heart-pumping thrill of landing slammer-size seatrout .
The next time you and your angler friends decide to go trout fishing, leave the shrimp at home and tie on some surface lures. Just for the sheer thrill of it!
Until next tide, tight lines and solid hookups,
Captain Alex Crawford
Proud Member Florida Outdoor Writers Association
Proud Member Florida Guides Association
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