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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
August 31, 2001
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
Now that the huge volume of fresh water from tropical storm Barry has washed through the bay and blended with the salty waters of the Northern Gulf of Mexico, the inshore and offshore fishing has improved dramatically.
Inshore, the speckled trout are turned on with the arrival last week of acres of white shrimp. Toss a small 1/4oz. Shrimp look -alike and cull the shorts, so they can grow to be gators. Sheepshead are on the bite inshore of the small hump in the St. George Island bridge(East Point side). Live fiddlers on 1/0 Kahle hooks with 163 fluoro leaders will put these tasty critters in your box. These boys are hard to carve, so keep less than the 15 daily bag and our sons and daughters can catch a few. Remember to measure 12 inches from the most forward point of the head to the rear center edge of the tail.
Offshore, the red groups are literally wide open, i.e. unbelievable. Yesterday my trip produced a limit by 10am with the largest fish 18 pounds. Any frozen bait will get bit. Forget the livies(you did’nt here that from me), cigars, lys, squid and Northern mackeral are the ticket for these very aggressive chunksters. Big circle hooks and 80# leaders will work best. Just stick it in a rod holder and watch the rod tip. Don’t forget to put out a flat line. The kings will come if you drop a few menhaden overboard.
Go out southeast young man into 106 to 140 feet around S tower. Try the edges of the Exxon template for snaps and big jacks, but be prepared to lose terminal tackle to the steel. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The water there is that gorgeous cobalt blue and full of fishes.
Keep at the ready a couple 12 pound class spinners with no leader and #1 live bait hooks. The peanut dolphin of earlier in the year are now grown up to 10 pound gaffers and they are eating machines. When you find them in the sargassum, pitch bait ‘em with small pieces of squid or fresh bonita and let the fun begin!
Until next tide, tight lines,
Captain Alex Crawford
Capt. Alex is a full-time professional guide based in Apalachicola, FL
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