Weekly Fishing Report 08/29/2013

PORT ST. JOE/MEXICO BEACH

Offshore & Near Shore
The Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association’s Kingfish Tournament was this past Saturday and as usual it was a great time by all. The tournament weighed in 3 king mackerel over 40 lbs with the winning weight being 48.5 lbs, the leader board Wahoo weighed in at 36.65 lbs, and the Spanish mackerel winner was 4.9 lbs. In spite of rain showers fish were caught. The fish are here, just need a willing fisherman to put a hook in front of the fish. The fishing pressure has been zero and the fish are hungry!

St Joe Bay
The bay fishing has come alive the past week. Redfish, trout, black drum, and flounder have been active. Even the cast netters looking for baitfish have told stories of consecutive casts bringing in flounder and redfish. Again, there have been few fishermen out this week, but the ones that have tested the waters have come back with fish. The bay water is clearing, not back to bath water clarity we are accustomed to, but getting there. The flounder gigging has also been very good. The clearing water might have triggered the more aggressive bite. Soft plastics, top water lures, live bait, and frozen finger mullet have been the most productive offerings. The other white meats, scallops and crabs are doing well. With the blue crab showing up in such numbers and size rod ‘n reel fishermen are foregoing the fish and catching the delicious crab. It should be a great Labor Day weekend, outstanding outdoor opportunities for the entire family.

Surf/Shore
The most productive spot continues to be the mouth of Port St Joe canal. Black drum, redfish, and flounder are active in this area. Flounder are inhaling live bait, curly tail grubs of assorted colors, and Berkley Gulp shrimp imitations. Black drum are eating mullet cut bait and the larger black drum are hitting blue crabs.

NAVARRE
I hope everyone took the opportunity to get outdoors this last week. The weather was just gorgeous. Fall is just around the corner and before you know it you will be wishing it was summer again. That won’t be for a while yet and it is looking like we are going to have another great weekend this week.

Inshore the water clarity is still low, but slowly improving especially in the intercoastal with the reduction of rain in our area. If you are looking to stretch your line right now is the time to get out on the water. There are large schools of glass minnows in the bays and sound right now. Just look for the birds and you will find ladyfish, bluefish, Spanish, and jacks feeding on the schools that are in open water. When you find them on the flats you can add trout and redfish to the species gorging on them. About any artificial will work, but the fly guys will probably get more strikes because the can downsize to size 4 and 6 streamers. On the flats top water artificials or shrimp under a popping cork have been the go to presentations first thing in the morning for trout and reds. Black snapper are thick around bridges, deep docks, and rock piles. Live shrimp and live pilchards have been the go to baits for the snapper. Flounder are showing up more and more each day so be sure to drag a few tiger minnows or finger mullets around deeper docks and bridge pilings when you fish those areas. Artificials are working as well. My go to white gulp landed two nice fish around 18 inches around docks in the intercoastal near Hurlburt field.

Not much change from last week besides there being a lot less rain in the area the action on the pier is still centered on the jacks that have been showing up in droves. The king bite is about the same with plenty of Spanish as well. There is plenty of hardtails, 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.

Looks like another decent weekend for heading offshore and if you are thinking about trolling the water quality SSW between the nipple and spur, or nipple and steps has been pretty good. Wahoo, blackfin, yellowfin, mahi, white marlin, and blue marlin will be ther targets for the day. Ballyhoo behind a blue and white islander is a great all around bait for targeting these species. After a morning of trolling bump the bottom for amberjacks, triggerfish, mingo snapper, red porgies and red, scam and gag groupers. 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 closer to shore near area passes or on nearshore wrecks. There is no better presentation slow trolling with live baits on flat lines just behind the boat or on planers or downriggers. Although 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.

Until next week tight lines and get out there!

DESTIN

Surf Fishing
Whiting on fresh peeled shrimp, ladyfish and blues on spoons and plenty of sharks after dark

Jetties
Spanish and blues on spoons, Reds and black snapper on live shrimp.

Near Shore Trolling
Kings are biting live cigar minnows and Yozuri plugs, Spanish on straw rigs.

Off Shore Trolling
wahoo near the southwest edge, Dolphin and white marlin around the nipple and good swordfish action near the spur at night.

Bay
Some trout action along the north side, Redfish near the bridges and pass, a few flounder reported gigging at night.

Pier
An occasional king, lots of ladyfish, blues and hardtails.