Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
April 30, 2003
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
Confessions of a fishaholic. Have you ever been to a dinner party or a restaurant with a buffet line and noticed the behavior of seriously overweight folks? Adjectives that would describe their actions are giddy, euphoric, exhilarated, stimulated etc. A few people are foodaholics, totally obsessed with food. Well, this afflicted Captain/writer has a terminal case comparable to this. I am a self-confessed fishaholic, totally obsessed with fishing and fishes. This disease is all-consuming and there is no cure. Every time I get onboard Topknots for a charter, the symptoms reappear without fail. First, it is the boat chafing at her dock lines with a rising time, as if to be calling me out to play. Then, the uncontrollable urge to lean heavy on the throttle, as the Yammy wants to run on her own. Next comes the anglers’ excitement, as the sun shows itself brilliant on the port gunwale. And then the big payoff, the sheer joy of holding and admiring the spectacular finny critters. This is the ultimate fix for this fish addict. Are there other fellow anglers out there with my addiction?
Right now on the forgotten coast is time for all of you trout addicts. Let me share the fix with you! My recent trips have produced nice catches of trout, specks and their small cousins the white (sand) trout. Depending on wind and sea conditions, the Saint Vincent Dry Bar is trout central now. You will see all the guide boats anchored and drifting floats with jigs and shrimp. Or, with South wind, try the grass flats behind Cape Saint George Island. When the winds blow out of the North, go outside of the West Pass and fish the huge sandbar that extends across the mouth of this big natural inlet. White trout will eat a fresh-cut piece of croaker, even better than shrimp. Incidental catches are the poor man’s tarpon, aka ladyfish. Flyrodders will vaporize the fun meter with the high-jumping ladyfish. Hooks must be razor-sharp to penetrate boney mouths. Other catches include keeper croakers, whiting, pompano and sharks, mostly bonnetheads and blacktips. Circle hooks will catch sharks on mono or fluoro leaders by lodging in the corner of the shark’s mouth, so they don’t bite through the leader. One last word on white trout. No bag or size limit exists on white trout, so, as always, leave a few for our grandkids.
Out on the deep blue sea, the news report today is snapper. Big red snapper! Wrecks and reefs will produce that chargrilled snapper dinner you pursue. Fresh cut bait works just fine this time of year. Small pogies are snapper candy. Try Mustad 8/0 circle hooks on Seaguar 30# fluorocarbon leaders.
Kings, amberjacks and grouper are deep. Generally, the bigger fish are in 100 feet or deeper. Try the Exxon template and the Empire Mica. Pinfish are not inshore in vast numbers yet, so sabiki up your pins offshore. Apologies for being redundant, but always have a 30# class spinner at the ready when Mr. Cobe swims up to your boat looking for a mate or a little shade.
Calling all fishaholics, you can’t hook up your obsession without wetting a line. There is more to life than boats, babes and brewskies? Right? Wishing everyone fair winds and following seas. SEA YA!
Till next tide, solid hookups and tight lines,
Captain Alex Crawford
www.topknots.com
Proud Member Florida Outdoor Writers Association
Proud Member Florida Guides Association
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