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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle

Capt. Alex Crawford
January 28, 2003
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report

Fishing is not a matter of life and death, it is far more important than that. And when it is this cold, every fish is a gift. How cold is it, well, just add your favorite, “it is cold as” line. A Tampa Bay guide this week reported seeing bunches of snook swimming lethargically on the surface, stunned by the record cold temperatures. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrr……

Piscatorial pursuits have been limited this past week, however we did manage an afternoon bay trip. The trout and reds have moved up in the Apalachicola River into deep holes where temperatures are comfortable. My bottom machine is reading high 50’s in the Saint George Sound.

Our catch included some chunky sheepshead and a few keeper black drum. We made the sheepshead an offer they could not refuse, fiddler crabs. The black drum were eating fresh-dead shrimp on an incoming tide around the Saint George Island bridge. Also, found small black seabass and short gag groupers in the granite boulders on the Southeast corner of the Government cut.

Striped bass will take free-lined live shrimp at the train trestle, 3 miles upstream from the Apalachicola River mouth. Best tide is the last couple hours before high water. For best results anchor on the Northeast side of the trestle, you will find a 13 foot hole there.

Deep sea fishing reports are sketchy at best, but one Captain/friend got out yesterday and returned with an excellent catch of gag grouper. Biggest fish were in the high teens. Frozen cigar minnows did the trick on natural bottom in 135 feet of water southwest of Cape Saint George Island. Offshore temperatures are in the low sixties. As always this time of year, fish between low pressure systems. You will be rewarded with great-eating species like black seabass, triggerfish and gray snappers.

Just remember that life on the wet is wonderful and life on the hard is dry. It won’t be long now until the grass will be green, the birds will be chirping and spring will be springing. Be patient, cabin fever is only a state of mind. So, relax your mind and comfort your soul, the cobia and pompano will be here very soon and all will be right with the world again.

Till 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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Captain Alex Crawford is a full time guide who has fished the Florida Panhandle offshore for 26 years. He specializes in grouper and snapper trips with light tackle on live bait. Custom trips for companies with multiple boats will be arranged. Inshore trips targeting specific species and custom eco trips are available for birding, gator watching, shelling, picnics and barrier islands. Contact Captain Alex for a fun and productive trip on Florida's Forgotten Coast.

Contact Info:

Topknots Charters
P. O. Box 1029
Carrabelle, FL 32322
Phone: 850-697-8946
Alt. Phone: same
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