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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
June 30, 2003
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
Say hello to Bill, he’s a tropical kind of guy. Tropical storm Bill is blowin’ a gale in the Gulf and will hit LA by dark-thirty today. Bill packs 50 knot winds and will move toward ATL to dump some more precip on already water-logged folks. The good news is that, after Bill leaves the big bathtub we call the Gulf, we will return to fair winds and following seas, just call it 10/10 days. The aviators refer to blue-bird days as 10/10, 10 mile ceiling and 10 mile visibility. So all you anglers just stay the course, it will not be long before you can get a latitude adjustment out on the wild and wonderful watery world.
This past week the big news was tarpon. Drifting West or Indian Pass with pogies and extra amounts of patience will score you a ‘poon, possibly a triple-digit model. The bulls and blacktips will cut you off, but determination has its rewards. Sharks are thick as thieves right now and have a taste for fresh fish. Just cut the leader as close as possible to the jaws and the non-stainless hook will fall out after a few days. Avoid employing the shark persuader tool, Glock 45.
Inshore, we still have a bay full of fresh water. The oystermen took an unplanned vacation this week, as the bay was closed due to all the fresh water pouring into the estuary. Reports have been sketchy, but trout fishing has been fair in the grass behind Cape Saint George. Also, several guide boats are catching trout on the southwest corner of CSG and on the east end of bird island. The best summer bites are first and last light on an incoming. Reds are available to skinny-water anglers in East Bay. Gold spoons or live shrimp will tempt a slot red.
Just south of heaven on the tropical blue you can get connected to big red groupers, tasty mangrove and red snappers and play all the tug of war you want with triggers. For a change this past week, we took a new weapon on the pond. A little, wispy 9 weight flyrod. We parked on a wreck, 19 miles southeast of the Cut and proceeded to chunk-bait the mangrove and red snappers up in the water behind the boat. Even with a couple hundred yards of backing, this technique was wide-open fun. On a 12 pound tippet, it is a sporty challenge, as the fly reel drag melts away. The chunky three pounders put the limber flyrod tip in the water. Could’nt tell who had the greatest thrill, my angler fighting the fishes or me, just watching the excitement. The fun stopped abruptly when a ‘cuda showed up and sounded our hard-earned snappers. There are lots of open IGFA snapper slots on light tippets, especially for the girls and the kids. Who wants to be in the record book.
Till next tide, tight lines and solid hookups,
Captain Alex Crawford
www.topknots.com
Proud Member Florida Outdoor Writers Association
Proud Member Florida Guides Association
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