Weekly Fishing Report 08/23/2013

PORT ST. JOE/MEXICO BEACH

Offshore & Near Shore
The few fishermen going offshore are coming back with their limits of Grouper. The lack of fishing pressure is providing a good opportunity for the bottom fisherman to return home with a full cooler and an exciting story. Live bait is the ticket for a good bite, however finding live bait is the trick. Most folks are trapping or cast netting live bait inshore instead of relying on using sabiki rigs in the buoy line. This Saturday, Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association is sponsoring their annual Kingfish tournament, wahoo, king mackerel and Spanish mackerel will be targeted. With low seas forecasted it will be interesting to see what participants bring in to the weigh station. 

St Joe Bay
Few fishermen are venturing out in the bay. Not because the fish aren’t there, but because work, home (i.e., lawn cutting) and school activities are interfering with fishing. The flounder bite is the most action as of late. There are few reports of redfish or trout. There are areas of clear water in the bay and flounder giggers and scallopers are targeted those areas and getting good results.

Surf/Shore
The most productive spot is the mouth of Port St Joe canal. Black drum and flounder are active in this area. Flounder are inhaling live bait and Berkley Gulp soft baits are also producing. The black drum seems to prefer the mullet cut bait and large black drum are eating the small presentations of Fish Bites artificial baits. Shark fishing in the surf is the most action along the coast.

NAVARRE
It’s looking like the weatherman and the tides will be cooperating with us this weekend for those of us fishing inshore this weekend. It also looks like offshore anglers will be seeing calm sees as well, so there should be no excuses for not getting out.  

Even though we have seen very little let up on the rain this week, the fishing has been pretty good. The muddy tannin stained water has actually aided many of us, especially those fishing top water artificials or shrimp under a popping cork. I actually like the muddy water a little because the fish can't see it as well and really key in on the sounds popping a top water presentation. In the bays and sound you can expect to find plenty of black snapper around bridges, docks, and rock piles, redfish, trout, flounder, Spanish, bluefish, and ladyfish on the flats. Live shrimp, menhaden, pilchards, and finger mullet have all been top producing baits especially when fished under a popping cork. They can easily be found on the flats on the North side of the sound from the Navarre Bridge to Tiger Point. Zara Spooks, Top Dogs, and Skitter walks are the go to baits when the water is calm and have been producing spectacular strikes for those willing to put in the time. Suspending twitch baits such as Mirro Dines, Yo-Zuri 3D Crystal Minnows, and Bombers Badonk-A-Donk have also been productive when fished slowly around dock and pot holes on the flats. I have one caution this week and that is to make sure you use a little heavier leader than usual, because the bluefish are thick right now and will easily slice through light line.

The action on the pier this week was pretty much centered around the jacks that have been showing up in droves. The king bite is about the same and with the steady sout east winds forecasted it should continue to improve. Live bait has been the top bait, but the jacks, bonita, and kings are being caught on artificials as well. There is plenty of hadtails, cigar minnows and threadfins so bait is not hard to come by. Schools of reds are cruising the surf line and a few are being caught on live bait. Live sand fleas and live shrimp are the top baits right now in the surf weather targeting redfish or pompano. There also plenty of ladyfish and bluefish available that can be used as bait for the spinner, black tip, and bull sharks that are cruising the surf.

The weather this weekend should be calm for those heading offshore; they will however still have to deal with the occasional thunderstorm. Bottom species such as amberjacks, triggerfish, mingo snapper, red porgies and groupers will be the primary targets for most. Large live baits such as hardtails, pinfish, and red porgies have been the top baits for grouper and amberjacks. For the triggerfish, mingos, and red porgies small pieces of cut squid fished on heave duty circle hooks are the key to putting them in the cooler. King mackerel are also available by slow trolling around the pass and near nearshore wrecks with live baits on planers or downriggers. Although trolling deep diving plugs such as Mann’s Stretch 25’s, YoZuri deep diving 3D minnows, and X’Rap deep diving plugs are a good alternative. To find blue water most are having to head as far as 50 to 70 miles out. This blue water has been producing good numbers of wahoo and mahi with the occasional blue marling.

Until next week tight lines and get out there!