Written by Cebo Campbell
Last Updated:: October 14, 2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
The King mackerel bite improved this week and were hitting flat lines or trolling Mann’s Stretch 25’s and 30’s. Spanish mackerel and bluefish schools are at the buoy line and around the Air Force tower. A few schools of Spanish are scattered along the beaches and in St. Joe Bay. You can catch them by throwing gotcha lures, spoons, or any variety of plugs.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Redfish are the hot bite right now. Fishing a live shrimp under a Cajun thunder is working the best. A real hot spot for reds as reported are the grass flats and sand bars around Black’s island. Using this same rig in the same areas is also producing some decent trout. For artificial, use a gold spoon or a topwater plug at first light. A few more pompano catches reported ...
Written by Cebo Campbell
Last Updated:: September 29, 2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Reports have the grouper at the one hundred to one twenty-foot mark and the complaint remains the same, the nearly extinct red snappers are making it difficult to reach the grouper. Using larger baits may improve your chances for grouper. The king mackerel reports are coming from the Air Force tower this week with some reports from outside the car bodies and Virginia reef areas. Drifting live baits and trolling dusters with cigar minnows are the way to go. Spanish mackerel continue to be caught trolling Clark spoons and Mackerel trees, or drifting cigar minnows along the buoy line and the cape shoals area.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Redfish are widely scattered this week with all the rain and reports are coming in from all over the bay. Try fishing the flat...
Written by Cebo Campbell
Last Updated:: September 22, 2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
Scattered thunderstorms and rain have kept the majority of anglers on shore this week. However, those who did make it offshore reported a grouper bite about 40 miles out. Large dead baits such as butter flied Spanish or Boston Mackerel were used and worked very well according to reports. Mangrove snapper are biting strong around the inshore wrecks. Live pinfish we used and responsible for the majority of catches, but jigs and even cigar minnows brought in nice snapper… King mackerel fishing picked up this week and the majority of the fish are out 15-20 miles and averaging 10-15 pounds. Flat lining while bottom fishing is again the most effective method in bringing kings this week.
ST JOSEPH BAY
Redfish continue to be off the grass flats a...
Written by Cebo Campbell
Last Updated:: September 16, 2009
Half Hitch Fish Report September 14th 2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
The trout and reds will still be in their summer routine of invading the flats first thing in the morning and late afternoon. Top water lures will work well during these times. During the heat of the day, the trout and redfish will move off the flats to the channels, so your next rig might be a Carolina rig with a live shrimp or an LY. For Flounder, try the edges of the grass flats in the sand and also at the entrances to the canals and bayou’s to include the area under the George Tapper bridge. Fishing live bull minnows Carolina rigged is best. September will more than likely be your last chance at the Tarpon for this year along the forgotten coast. Live pogies caught along the shore outside Indian ...
Written by Cebo Campbell
Last Updated:: September 7, 2009
Report for 09/07/2009
Salt Water
MEXICO BEACH/PORT ST JOE OFFSHORE
The 13th Annual MBARA Kingfish tournament was a huge success this last weekend with over one hundred ninety boats entered. Congratulations to John Douglas and crew aboard the “Chicken Sack” with the first Place King category weighing in at 37.85 lbs. The first place Wahoo prize went to Lynn McKeithen and crew aboard the Amanda Lee with a super nice Hoo weighing in at 70.60, and finally the “Popeye” crew took first place with a 4.85 lb in the Spanish mackerel category.
King mackerel fishing is still the main target this week with a few caught off the buoy line and inshore wrecks on drone spoons and dusters. The bigger schools are at about 18 miles out with the hot spot still being the 30-mile buoy off Cape S...