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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
April 18, 2003
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
From my cold dead hands will they have to pry my favorite grouper rod. I think I’ve died and gone to grouper heaven. The gags, red and scamp groupers are here, where are you? Grouper are acting unconscionably right now on the Panhandle coast of this sunny state of mind. They will rock you up in their coral homes if you’re not fast. Gotta get a few cranks, get their heads coming your way at the speed of double triggers. Battling giant groupers in the Spring is not for the faint-hearted. It’s akin to a tractor pull!
There are no secrets. Dedicated grouper enthusiasts are willing to put in the time, work hard, earn the fish and celebrate the results. Or maybe that is the secret…………..to life.
This week the Mast family came all the way from west Philly, to indulge in some serious grouper angling out in the deep blue brine. After consulting Mother Nature and selecting an idyllic fishing day, Mom, Dad and the kids just slam dunked them. The first bait down was inhaled and the eating never stopped until we stowed the anchor. This day was the ultimate in bottom fishing bliss. How many more are there?
The teenager’s scorecard read like a tournament billboard. The absolute finest eating from the sea included gangs of groupers, scores of snappers, buckets of black bass and a tub of triggerfish. Their cooler would not hold all the bags of fillets. I think they intended to feed everyone in the city of brotherly love, with leftovers for what remains of the Republican Guard.
In the Saint George Sound and Apalachicola Bay, the fishing report this week is all about the copper-clad warriors, aka redfish and the gorgeous spotted seatrout, aka specks. An inshore charter at the Saint Vincent Drybar produced a plethora of these fun species. With no rain in a week, the water clarity has really improved the trout bite. So has the full moon. The drybar drill is basic float fishing. Park on the upcurrent side of the bar and drop back within 25 yards. If possible, plan your trip to fish the last 2 hours of high tide. Best baits now are small pogies and lively shrimp. Catch your pogies in the two mile channel with a quality Calusa castnet. Cast your baits out to the side and upcurrent and watch your popping cork drift behind the boat for a strike. For reds, try a light sinker and make the same cast. Use a 30# fluorocarbon leader to minimize breaking off on abrasive oysters. Or, try your favorite pattern of Mirrorlure and have some fun with catch and release. You will need a stout anchor with lots of scope to get set up on the bar. The water really rips out of the West Pass.
Till next tide, tight lines and solid hookups,
Captain Alex Crawford
Proud Member Florida Outdoor Writers Association
Proud Member Florida Guides Association
www.topknots.com
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