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Fishing Report for the Florida Panhandle
Capt. Alex Crawford
May 6, 2003
Carrabelle - Saltwater Fishing Report
Official Fish Survey Results Have Been Tabulated. After an exhaustive survey of a large sampling of fishes in the Gulf of Mexico, the final results are published. Survey questions included fish opinions on current issues of great concern. Fish weighed in on the economy, the war, tax cuts, the market, terrorism and family travel plans. The vast majority of respondents agree that the economy was soft, the war necessary, tax cuts likely, the market turning billish, terrorism ebbing and family fish schools vacationing close to home.
Over the years of salt and sun, my brain is having some trouble attempting to translate humorous ideas and experiences into words that communicate. Gone Coastal!
What’s biting now on the forgotten coast? Here goes! Offshore, Spanish mackerel are everywhere. Try LBuoy reef with cigar minnows on 4X treble hooks. Keeper Amberjacks are on the deep wrecks like the Paula, Gilmore, Endeavor, Flaming Star etc. Since pinfish are hard to find right now, sabiki up some big hardtails. AJs will always follow a hooked fish up in the water column. That is why they make diamond jigs. Be ready! Cobia are hanging around the alphabet towers and shrimp boat wrecks that offer some relief. Present a free-lined live bait and watch the take. Big groupers and snappers are deep. Try natural bottom south of S tower in about 150 feet. Cut up a Spanish, groupers and snappers love mackerel. Speaking of mackerel, Kings are spread out mostly on natural bottom and at least 60 feet deep. Try slow trolling a big jack on your downrigger just inside of C tower. Try cutting Kings into skinless, boneless 1” chunks and boil them in crab-boil till they float. Pour real highly cholesteroled, highly salted butter over the chunks and serve hot. The recipe is called poor man’s lobster. Triggers and sheepshead will also work with this recipe. The flesh consistency is the trick. Even non fish eaters will love it! Triggerfish are ganged up on the wrecks now. Tie two or three number one live bait hooks on droppers. Pin on tiny pieces of quality squid. Put a one pound sinker on the bottom of the rig and fire it down. When the sinker hits bottom, crank it up immediately. The triggers hook themselves on the drop.
Inshore, reports tell of nice flounder at the government cut. Trout and reds are on the bars and grass from Goose Island and east behind Saint George Island. Sheepshead are still biting on the bridge pilings in Saint George Sound. Whiting and white trout are feeding with water movement around what is left of Bird island southwest of West Pass. Ladyfish and catfish are biting everything, everywhere. For big fun, try Gafftopsail cats on ultralight gear. Check your drag.
Depending on your target species, May is arguably the best fishing month on the forgotten coast. I know you trout guys really love October, but I really like it out on the deep blue. It is all about the reel feel! The fishes told me so!!!
Til 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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