June is a one of the best months for our local fishery and it is the start of the real summer here in the Navarre area. The weather is normally mild in the morning with pop up thunderstorms most afternoons and pretty much everything that swims in our fishery is available.

SOUNDS, BAYS AND RIVERS
Most game fish will be feeding on the schools of baitfish and shrimp on the grass flats. Shallow water sight fishing early in the morning for redfish and trout along the grass flats in the sound and east bay can be especially productive. Top water fishing opportunities for redfish, speckled trout, blue fish, and ladyfish early in the morning and late afternoon is very effective as well. Flounder will be invading the bays and sounds too and will readily attack tiger minnows and soft plastics fished around potholes on the flats as well as around deep structure. Almost all of these species are structure oriented fish so pay attention to docks, bridge pilings, oyster bars and drop offs. Early morning and late afternoon will be the better times to fish. Fishing at night around lighted docks for redfish and trout is also productive. Fly fishing with small white or black size 4 clouser minnow is highly effective presentation and will out fish live bait at times.

SURF AND PIER FISHING
The king and Spanish mackerel bite should be in full swing on the pier. The pier will also be producing blackfin tuna, tarpon, sharks, and the occasional mahi or sailfish. In the surf the Pompano fishing will most likely slow a little this month. Ladyfish (skipjack) and blue fish will make up for the lack of pompano and will be available all summer long. From here on out it is best to fish early in the morning and late afternoons. Fishing the hottest part of the day can be very slow.

NEARSHORE AND OFFSHORE GULF
June 1st kicks off the beginning of red snapper season and should last for 44 days in state water and 27 days in federal waters this year, unless the powers that be decide differently as they have in the past. So make sure to keep up with the FWC news broadcast for any changes. Schools of Bonita, Spanish and king mackerel will be in and around area passes. Be sure to check out the buoys in and near the pass, this time of year they will hold some cobia and the occasional triple tail. Slow trolling live baits, spoons or Duster rigs are very effective for king and Spanish mackerel, but don’t be surprised if you hook into a bull Redfish, monster Jack Crevalle, Cobia or even a Dolphin. Red and scamp grouper, amberjack, red snapper, land snapper, and vermillion snapper bite should remain good in 60 to 200 plus feet of water. Don’t forget that trigger fish will be off limits to harvest until from June 1 to July 31. Further off shore Dolphin, Wahoo and other game fish will be showing up more frequently.

June is a one of the best months for our local fishery and it is the start of the real summer here in the Navarre area. The weather is normally mild in the morning with pop up thunderstorms most afternoons and pretty much everything that swims in our fishery is available.

SOUNDS, BAYS AND RIVERS
Most game fish will be feeding on the schools of baitfish and shrimp on the grass flats. Shallow water sight fishing early in the morning for redfish and trout along the grass flats in the sound and east bay can be especially productive. Top water fishing opportunities for redfish, speckled trout, blue fish, and ladyfish early in the morning and late afternoon is very effective as well. Flounder will be invading the bays and sounds too and will readily attack tiger minnows and soft plastics fished around potholes on the flats as well as around deep structure. Almost all of these species are structure oriented fish so pay attention to docks, bridge pilings, oyster bars and drop offs. Early morning and late afternoon will be the better times to fish. Fishing at night around lighted docks for redfish and trout is also productive. Fly fishing with small white or black size 4 clouser minnow is highly effective presentation and will out fish live bait at times.

SURF AND PIER FISHING
The king and Spanish mackerel bite should be in full swing on the pier. The pier will also be producing blackfin tuna, tarpon, sharks, and the occasional mahi or sailfish. In the surf the Pompano fishing will most likely slow a little this month. Ladyfish (skipjack) and blue fish will make up for the lack of pompano and will be available all summer long. From here on out it is best to fish early in the morning and late afternoons. Fishing the hottest part of the day can be very slow.

NEARSHORE AND OFFSHORE GULF
June 1st kicks off the beginning of red snapper season and should last for 44 days in state water and 27 days in federal waters this year, unless the powers that be decide differently as they have in the past. So make sure to keep up with the FWC news broadcast for any changes. Schools of Bonita, Spanish and king mackerel will be in and around area passes. Be sure to check out the buoys in and near the pass, this time of year they will hold some cobia and the occasional triple tail. Slow trolling live baits, spoons or Duster rigs are very effective for king and Spanish mackerel, but don’t be surprised if you hook into a bull Redfish, monster Jack Crevalle, Cobia or even a Dolphin. Red and scamp grouper, amberjack, red snapper, land snapper, and vermillion snapper bite should remain good in 60 to 200 plus feet of water. Don’t forget that trigger fish will be off limits to harvest until from June 1 to July 31. Further off shore Dolphin, Wahoo and other game fish will be showing up more frequently.

June will be the hot month for all types of fishing in the Port Saint Joe area. Blue water fishing, bottom fishing, surf fishing, bay fishing, and freshwater fishing – were any left out?

Offshore & Near Shore
The biggest anticipated fishing event will be the red snapper season opening June 1. The present abundance of large red snapper being caught (and released) by fishermen while fishing for other species foretells an awesome red snapper season. Remember the quantity limits and release unharmed the smaller snapper for you will surely catch larger ones. The bait of choice will be the larger frozen mackerel and live bait, such as hard tails, grunts, squirrel fish, and pin fish. The savvy fisherman will have live bait on hand before going fishing thus saving valuable fishing time. This is where holding pens for live bait come in handy. Artificial lures will also bring in the larger snapper; Williamson jigs, Shimano Lucanus jigs, and Diamond jigs are a few of the popular ones. And grouper will be in the same general areas as the red snapper so be prepared. Remember Gag grouper cannot be kept this month. Don’t be caught unaware, cobia, king mackerel, and amberjack will be above the same red snapper reefs. Have an extra rod & reel ready for the bonus fish for you will surely reach your snapper limit early. And if any floating debris is sighted while motoring to/from your bottom fishing hot spots a large fresh dead shrimp tossed along side will provide a dolphin for the ice box. Bird activity will also pinpoint kings and Spanish mackerel feeding, and if Spanish mackerel are around you can bet there are plenty of large predator fish nearby.

St Joe Bay
Inshore, with the water temperature getting warmer, the bait fish will be thick and so will be the redfish, trout, and flounder. This past spring fishing action has been fantastic and I don’t see a slowdown in June, only more species showing up in greater numbers, such as tripletail and tarpon. The trout and redfish will still be in the shallow grass flats in the early morning and at twilight, hitting top water lures or that favorite soft plastic shrimp imitation below a popping cork. The Windmark area and around Eagle Harbor are likely opportunities for gator trout. The potholes and channels fished with light-weighted Carolina rigged live shrimp will give mid-day fishermen plenty of action. June rain showers will boost the fish activity right before, during, and immediately after – the weather’s change of pace will trigger a feeding frenzy.

Surf/Shore
Surf fishermen will still be targeting pompano with live sand fleas, jigs, fresh dead shrimp, and bottom rigs baited with Fish Bites. The washes between sandbars are favorite spots. And with the clear June water boat fishermen will be sight fishing along the Gulf beaches with their lucky pompano jigs. Be ready for the hungry cobia that will surely appear in the shallow water when you least expect it! At night from the beach, the shark fishermen will experience the adrenalin rush of a large shark testing the reel’s drag system and stripping line from the reel at an unbelievable rate. The larger sharks will have arrived and will consume the largest bonita or stingray offered.

What a great place to fish, live, play; enjoy the Forgotten Coast!

King mackerel will be the main target for near shore fishermen this month. Slow trolled duster/cigar minnow combos or lipped plugs should catch the fish. Don't be surprised if a wahoo grabs your offering, as this is how a good many wahoo are caught each year.

There will also be a good number of chicken dolphin inshore this month around weed patches. The easiest way to catch them is on a light action-spinning rod with a piece of squid or chunk bait on a hook.

June is a great month for offshore trolling. You will have the opportunity to catch Wahoo, Dolphin, Marlin and Swordfish. The closest deep water to us is the Squiggles. Most people will start trolling around the point, which draws a lot of bait, then head towards the Squiggles.

Red Snapper opens on the 1st and there should be no problem catching your limit. Fish any of the inshore structures or offshore hard bottom areas for plenty of action. Use a 5/0 circle hook with cut squid, cigar minnows, northern mackerel or spanish sardines. Live baits; such as pin fish, herring, sardines, and cigar minnows will draw the bigger snapper and a 6/0 sized circle hook will do the trick.

Amberjack will be over most of the bridge spans and other structure and can be caught on jigs and live baits. Most bottom fishermen will fish a flat-lined cigar minnow for a chance at a wahoo, black-fin tuna or king mackerel.

June is usually a very good month for fishing our bays. The flats will be holding plenty of trout, redfish and flounder. The larger trout will be holding in deeper waters such as channels and can be caught on various artificial baits as well as live pinfish, shrimp and LY'S.

Flounder should have migrated back into the bays and can be caught on plastic grubs as well as on bull minnows rigged Carolina style. Spanish mackerel will be plentiful in the bay and can be caught trolling mackerel tree rigs and casting Got-Cha plugs.

May is one of the best months to come fishing. The weather is normally very nice, calm seas and not much rain, Spring Break is over and the crowds are light until the end of the month and Memorial Day approaches.

King Mackerel
Troll a live cigar minnow on a wire 2 hook leader with a 4oz trolling lead or a hard bait like a Yozuri minnow with a 4oz trolling lead over reefs and wrecks. You can also drift with cigar minnows or throw rattle traps from the pier.

Spanish Mackerel
Troll a straw rig with a spoon and 4oz trolling lead, a Gotcha Troll or small Yozuri lure just off the sand bar, around the pass, around crab island in the channel or the harbor. For shore fishing us a Gotcha, spoon or jig from the jetties or the pier.

Bonita
Troll a live cigar minnow on a wire 2 hook leader with a 4oz trolling lead or a hard bait like a Yozuri minnow with a 4oz trolling lead over reefs and wrecks. You can also drift with cigar minnows or throw rattle traps from the pier.

Blackfin Tuna
Troll a live cigar minnow on a wire 2 hook leader with a 4oz trolling lead or a hard bait like a Yozuri minnow with a 4oz trolling lead over reefs and wrecks. Another good option is chumming on the edge and chunking with cut cigar minnows or herring. You can also drift with cigar minnows or throw rattle traps from the pier.

Cobia
Cobia can be caught from the pier or boat. Live eels, jigs, live mullet, pinfish and ruby lips are the best baits.

Pompano
Throw jigs, sand fleas or shrimp from the jetties or pier. Bottom fish with sand fleas, shrimp or fiddler crabs from the surf.

Whiting
Bottom fish the pier or surf with small hooks and fresh peeled shrimp in the shallows.

Flounder
Fish the pier, harbor and bay with grubs, Berkerly gulp and live bull minnows. For boat fishing in the fall use bull minnows or live shrimp fished on the lee side or reefs or wrecks, around the sea bouy and just outside the pass.

Speckled Trout
Use live shrimp under a popping cork drifted across the flats. Try a live shrimp free lined with just a split shot around boat docks. Cast Yozuri Crystal minnows, Crystal Shrimp or live Target Pinfhish and Mullet lures on flats, deep water docks and mouth of bayous. Berkeley Gulp work as a good sub for live shrimp.

White Trout
Bottom fish with shrimp, Berkeley Gulp, or grubs around bridges, bayous and harbor.

Sheepshead
Fish live shrimp, fiddler crabs and oysters on a fish finder rig around bridge pilings, jetties, pier and docks.

Redfish
Use live shrimp or menhaden to bottom fish around bridges, jetties, bayous and docks. Cast hard baits, grubs and Berkeley Gulps in the harbor, bayous around docks and flats. Also jig 2oz spoons in the pass and around the Destin and Midbay bridge.

Ladyfish
Cast Gotcha lures, spoon and jigs from the jetties, pier and surf.

Blues
Use cut bait on a heavy mono or wire leader, cast spoons, jigs and gotchas from the pier, jetties or surf.

Vermillion Snapper (aka Mingo Snapper )
Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

Trigger Fish
Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

White Snapper
Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

Amberjack
For your rig us a circle hook about the size of a half dollar on a 5ft 80lb leader and a 1 oz. egg lead for every 10ft of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom mostly in water 125 to 400ft depths. Best spots are on the southwest edge or just beyond. And for bait live and frozen cigar minnows, herring, threadfin herring, northern mackerel and hardtails. Butterfly jigs are a great option.

Red Grouper
For you rig us a circle hook about the size of a half dollar on a 5ft 80lb leader and a egg lead one ounce for every 10ft of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom mostly in water 125 to 400ft depths. Best spots are on the southwest edge or just beyond. As for bait live and frozen cigar minnows, herring, threadfin herring, and northern mackerel. Butterfly jigs are a great option.

Wahoo
Trolling along the edge, timberholes, nipple and spur with Yozuri Bonita, Islanderʼs rigged with ballyhoo or Moldcraft lures rigged with ballyhoo.

Dolphin
Troll the edge, weed lines, nipple, spur and the 131 hole with ballyhoo rigged on a Islander, Soft Head or Boone feather.

White or Blue Marlin
Troll a ballyhoo on a Islander or Soft Head around weed lines, nipple, spur and squiggles. Smaller Black Bart lures are a good option.

Yellowfin Tuna
Troll small Islanders and Soft heads with or without ballyhoo, Zuker feathers, cedar plugs and Yozuri plugs. Fish the spur, squiggles, steps and rigs. Jigging with butterfly jigs works good around rigs and chunking at night while chumming on the spur also does good.

Swordfish
Fish at night around the spur with whole squid, northern mackerel and mullet. Fish 3 to 4 rods, fish 4 rods spread at different depths 25ft deep, 50ft, 100ft and 200ft gives you a good spread.

Sharks
You can catch them from the surf or boat, using a 5ft or longer steel leader with a large circle hook. The best baits are northern mackerel, cut ladyfish, bonita chunks or bluefish.

INSHORE
Everything is pretty much in full swing during May.  You can expect to catch beeliners, triggerfish and amberjack over wrecks and reefs. King mackerel will make their presence known during this month. People will generally slow-troll a lipped lure like a Mann's stretch 30, or a duster/cigar minnow combination for the kings. Another very popular and effective way to catch king mackerel is flat-lining a live cigar minnow. Spanish mackerel will be caught along the sand bars as well.
 
PIER
Pompano, Spanish mackerel, Lady Fish, Blue Fish and King Mackerel will be easy to target from the piers this month.  Pompano can be caught using jigs tipped with shrimp, sand fleas, or fish bites strips; or use a two hook rig weighted with a pyramid sinker.  The Spanish, Lady Fish and Blue Fish can be caught using spoons and gotcha plugs.
 
OFFSHORE
As the warmer waters move inshore the tuna, dolphin and marlin become reachable. Watch the satellite temperature charts to see where the warm waters are to save time and money. Wahoo and dolphin will show up first with tuna right behind. Many people will troll high- speed lures, such as the panhandler, to find the fish or tide line then use natural or live bait to really focus on the fish. 

 
BAY
The speckled trout and redfish will return to the grassy flats. As the water gets nice and warm during this month the fish will become more active and start hitting top water baits. Live shrimp is still the preferred bait but top water plugs like Bomber Ba-Donk-A-Donk are lots of fun to use. Generally, the better tide to fish is the high tide and the first few hours of the outgoing tide. Bull redfish can be found along the jetties. Mangrove snapper will be around most structure in the bay as well as at the jetties. Spanish mackerel will be around all month, and it best to troll with a mackerel tree with a Clark spoon. Early in the month use a size 00 Clark spoon and change to a size 0 mid month as both the Spanish and the baitfish get bigger.

May is here and everything that swims in our area should be available. Hopefully the weather will cooperate with us and bring gentle south east winds. Because south east winds traditionally push plenty of bait fish closer to shore as well as the pelagic species that feed on them.     

SOUNDS, BAYS AND RIVERS
May is one of the best times of year to fish inshore in our area. All the fish have returned to the grass flats to feed on the schools of bait fish, crabs and shrimp that will be there until next winter. May is a great time to try some shallow water sight fishing early in the morning and late in the evening for redfish. May is also a great time of year to break out your top water baits for speckled trout and redfish. Don’t be surprised though is a Spanish, bluefish or lady fish blows up on your top water baits as well. Lastly, flounder will be invading the bays and sounds and can be found around structure and the pot holes around the grass flats.

SURF AND PIER FISHING
The Pompano fishing should remain good all this month. Spanish mackerel, blue fish, ladyfish, and redfish should also be available as they attack most anything that resembles a small bait fish. King Mackerel, bonita, sharks, cobia, and the occasional mahi or blackfin tuna will also make their presence know as more and more bait fish are pushed closer and closer to shore this month. From here on out the weather and the fishing in the surf and pier will only get hotter.

NEARSHORE AND OFFSHORE GULF
The Spanish and king mackerel bite will be in full swing by May and as the water temp heats up so will the action. Slow trolling live baits, spoons or Duster rigs are very effective.  Bonita, mahi, and the occasional triple tail will also be available as the weed lines build up and get pushed in closer to shore. The grouper bite and amberjack bite should remain good in 150 plus feet of water and possibly less especially on live bottom. There will also be plenty of red snapper around, but remember the season remains closed until June 1. Offshore mahi, wahoo and the occasional blackfin tuna will begin to be landed in greater numbers as more and more bait fish is pushed in closer to shore.

Until next month, get out there!

OFFSHORE & NEARSHORE
Offshore reefs will be the place to find amberjack, snapper, and grouper – just keep abreast of the most recent regulations. Sheepshead will be at the channel markers off Mexico Beach and dolphin will be around any floating debris 6-10 miles offshore. Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association, MBARA, has an excellent website and marked reef sites for public use. Wahoo and other pelagics will be relative close-in with warm water and ballyhoo getting closer to the beaches than in the recent past.

ST JOE BAY
St Joe Bay fishing will be a smorgasbord of fish. Trout will be gorging themselves on greenback baitfish in the shallows during twilight hours and at the edges of channels during the day. Schools of redfish will be travelling the outside weed line from Eagle Harbour north and around the flats off Windmark. Flounder will be in the potholes in the grass flats and in the channels during the day and in the shallow sand flats near the mouth of the intercoastal waterway at night – excellent time and location for fun-filled gigging expedition. And the aggressive Spanish mackerel will be cruising the bay continuously looking for prey.

SURF/SHORE
Surf fishing will provide a delicious fare of pompano and whiting, with occasional flounder and bull redfish. Fresh sand fleas, peeled shrimp, and Fish Bites will entice the wary surf raiders. For extra excitement, Spanish mackerel will play havoc on the unsuspecting surf fishermen. Also, king mackerel will chase baitfish into the surf and the prepared angler could get lucky and hook into a smoker. The sharks will come into the closest sandbar trough during the hours of darkness and can be caught with bonita, skates, or rays.

At last, April brings some predictability in our area. The beginning of this month can start out a little slow, but if the weather remains warm and dry the fishing can be unbelievable.  The cobia and pompano fishing should be in full swing by now. 

Inshore most if not all salt water species will have migrated out of the river systems and onto the grass flats following the bait fish and shrimp. They will remain here for the spring, summer and early fall. This is a good time to try some shallow water sight fishing early in the morning for Redfish. This is also a great time of year to break out your favorite top water lure to target the gator trout that will following the mullet schools. 

April is also one of the most productive times for pier and surf fishermen in our area. With cobia, spanish, pompano, redfish, bluefish, and sharks available and ready to test your tackle.       

Near shore the passes will be teaming with oversized redfish and sheepshead as well as bluefish and the occasional pompano. The near shore reefs and wrecks should have plenty of bait on them signaling the dinner bell for pelagic species such as king mackerel and blackfin tuna. Slow trolling live baits, spoons, deep diving plugs or the traditional duster rigs are very effective.  The grouper bite and maberjack bite should remain good on the shallow reefs as well as on out into 200 plus feet of water. 

Blue water fishermen should start to get plenty of action from black and yellow fin tuna, wahoo, and later in the month mahi and triple tail will start to show up as the weed lines thicken. From here on out the weather and the fishing will only get hotter.

Until next month, tight lines and "Get out There".

Everything is pretty much in full swing during April. Cobia will be migrating along the beaches. Blue Fish, Lady Fish, Pompano, Whiting, Jack Crevalle, and Spanish mackerel will be roaming the beaches.You can expect to catch beeliners, triggerfish and amberjack over wrecks and reefs. Amberjack will be hanging around the bridge spans and bigger wrecks. Red Snapper will be plentiful for some catch and release fun. Red Grouper and Scamp open Aril 1st and will be hungry.  King mackerel will make their presence later this month. People will generally slow-troll a lipped lure like a Mann's stretch 30, or a duster/cigar minnow combination for the kings. Another very popular and effective way to catch king mackerel is flat-lining a live cigar minnow. Spanish mackerel will be caught along the sand bars as well.The speckled trout and redfish will return to the grassy flats. As the water gets nice and warm during this month the fish will become more active and start hitting top water baits. Live shrimp is still the preferred bait but top water plugs like the Bomber Badonk-A-Donk are lots of fun to use. Generally, the better tide to fish is the high tide and the first few hours of the outgoing tide. Bull redfish can be found in the pass around the jetties on a moving tide. Mangrove snapper will be around most structure in the bay as well as at the jetties. Spanish mackerel will be around all month, and it best to troll with a mackerel tree with a Clark spoon. Early in the month use a size 00 Clark spoon and change to a size 0 mid month as both the Spanish and the baitfish get bigger.

Spring is upon us and fishing will be heating up! Look for someone to catch a cobia the first week of March, kings should be right behind them and with the very warm winter don’t be surprised if the wahoo, tuna and maybe even dolphin show up early.

King Mackerel
Troll a live cigar minnow on a wire 2 hook leader with a 4oz trolling lead or a hard bait like a Yozuri minnow with a 4oz trolling lead over reefs and wrecks. You can also drift with cigar minnows or throw rattle traps from the pier.

Spanish Mackerel
Troll a straw rig with a spoon and 4oz trolling lead, a Gotcha Troll or small Yozuri lure just off the sand bar, around the pass, around crab island in the channel or the harbor. For shore fishing us a Gotcha, spoon or jig from the jetties or the pier.

Bonita
Troll a live cigar minnow on a wire 2 hook leader with a 4oz trolling lead or a hard bait like a Yozuri minnow with a 4oz trolling lead over reefs and wrecks. You can also drift with cigar minnows or throw rattle traps from the pier.

Blackfin Tuna
Troll a live cigar minnow on a wire 2 hook leader with a 4oz trolling lead or a hard bait like a Yozuri minnow with a 4oz trolling lead over reefs and wrecks. Another good option is chumming on the edge and chunking with cut cigar minnows or herring. You can also drift with cigar minnows or throw rattle traps from the pier.

Cobia
Cobia can be caught from the pier or boat. Live eels, jigs, live mullet, pinfish and ruby lips are the best baits.

Pompano
Throw jigs, sand fleas or shrimp from the jetties or pier. Bottom fish with sand fleas, shrimp or fiddler crabs from the surf.

Whiting
Bottom fish the pier or surf with small hooks and fresh peeled shrimp in the shallows.

Speckled Trout
Use live shrimp under a popping cork drifted across the flats. Try a live shrimp free lined with just a split shot around boat docks. Cast Yozuri Crystal minnows, Crystal Shrimp or live Target Pinfhish and Mullet lures on flats, deep water docks and mouth of bayous. Berkeley Gulp work as a good sub for live shrimp.

Sheepshead
Fish live shrimp, fiddler crabs and oysters on a fish finder rig around bridge pilings, jetties, pier and docks.

Redfish
Use live shrimp or menhaden to bottom fish around bridges, jetties, bayous and docks. Cast hard baits, grubs and Berkeley Gulps in the harbor, bayous around docks and flats. Also jig 2oz spoons in the pass and around the Destin and Midbay bridge.

Vermillion Snapper (aka Mingo Snapper )
Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

Trigger Fish
Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

White Snapper
Use a 2 hook bottom rig with small circle hooks about the size of a nickel and one ounce of lead for every 10 feet of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom with cut squid, cut northern mackerel or fish bites.

Amberjack
For you rig us a circle hook about the size of a half dollar on a 5ft 80lb leader and a egg lead one ounce for every 10ft of water. Fish reefs, wrecks and natural bottom mostly in water 125 to 400ft depths. Best spots are on the southwest edge or just beyond. As for bait, live and frozen cigar minnows, herring, threadfin herring, northern mackerel and hardtails. Butterfly jigs are a great option.

Wahoo
Trolling along the edge, timberholes, nipple and spur with Yozuri Bonita, Islander’s rigged with ballyhoo or Moldcraft lures rigged with ballyhoo.

Dolphin
Troll the edge, weed lines, nipple, spur and the 131 hole with ballyhoo rigged on a Islander, Soft Head or Boone feather.

Yellowfin Tuna
Troll small Islanders and Soft heads with or without ballyhoo, Zuker feathers, cedar plugs and Yozuri plugs. Fish the spur, squiggles, steps and rigs. Jigging with butterfly jigs works good around rigs and chunking at night while chumming on the spur also does good.

Sharks
You can catch them from the surf or boat, using a 5ft or longer steel leader with a large circle hook. The best baits are northern mackerel, cut ladyfish, bonita chunks or bluefish.

OFFSHORE & NEAR SHORE
April, the fish are here! Amberjack will be thick around the inshore wrecks and reefs. Drop just about any jig and hold on. Live bait is also a sure bet for a hookup. Large king mackerel will be about 15 miles offshore looking for a free-lined cigar minnow or a live choffer. Closer to shore trolling duster rigs or spoons will entice the smaller kings. The close-in wrecks and the buoy line are the locals’ favorite locations. Cobia will be in great demand and with weather permitting should be migrating through the area. Baits for cobia are numerous and a savvy fisherman will have several available for the discriminating cobia. Live bait, such as eels or blue crab, and artificial baits, such as jigs and eels, is the most productive offerings. Mahi mahi will be out around the 18-20 mile mark and where ever there is floating debris. Large shrimp, bucktail jigs, and tandem rigged speck/redfish rigs will help you fill the fish box.

ST. JOE BAY
The Spanish mackerel will be the main topic of conversation for visiting anglers. They will be numerous and willing throughout the bay. An excellent fish for the winter weary angler. The Spanish mackerel will be found where there is at least 4 foot of water, but can be at any depth or on the surface. A Spanish mackerel on a top water lure is an exciting event, or better yet, try a Clouser minnow imitation on a fly rod. There are several really good techniques for catching Spanish, a casting bubble rig, trolling mackerel trees, and casting artificial lures, surely one will work for you. Flounder will be back and hungry. The edge of weed beds or ledges of drop-offs usually hold flounder. A curly tail jig, or a Gulp! or DOA shrimp imitation bounced on the bottom is the ticket. And of course the live bait fisherman swears the best is bull minnows or finger mullet. Also, April is a good time to gig flounder in the shallows at night. Speckled trout and redfish will prowl the shallows looking for a easy meal. A great time for bay fishing!

SURF SHORE
The table fare king - Pompano will cruise the open Gulf beaches in search of mollusks and small shrimp. For bait fishermen, sand fleas, small pieces of shrimp or crab, or FishBites usually provide an enticing offering that Pompano can’t refuse. Pompano jigs and Gulp! sand flea imitations can cover a lot of area and is also effective. Spanish mackerel will be chasing minnows right up to the breakers on the beach and can provide a lot of action for surf and pier fishermen. The shore bound fishermen relish the smorgasbord of available fish at the Mexico Beach Canal, Highland View Bridge, and White City intercoastal waterway sites. Flounder, redfish, trout, and croaker are the targeted species.

March will bring warmer water, which will bring bait, which will attract fish.  It is a good month to catch amberjack, beeliners and triggerfish on some of the inshore wrecks. In addition to live and cut bait, jigs will also work great on these offshore species.  Grouper and red snapper are closed. 

March is also the month people start to get real excited about the cobia run. They should start to show up in small numbers sometime around the middle of the month. I know if I were doing any fishing at all during March, I would have a rod rigged for cobia, because you just never know when one may pop up next to you!  

The biggest excitement usually comes with the arrival of the Spanish mackerel. They can be caught by slow trolling mackerel tree rigs with small spoons attached to them, or by casting Got-Cha plugs or straw rigs. This is usually a good time to take the family out and catch some fish because they will be plentiful and are fairly easy to catch. Smaller children love this type of fishing because it keeps them occupied. The current limits on Spanish mackerel is 15 per person per day, and they must be 12" long measured to the fork of the tail.

Also in the bay this month, the trout will be moving back onto the flats and they can be caught on everything from live shrimp to artificial bait such as DOA or GULP Shrimp or mirro-lures. A lot of people like to fish the Steam Plant Canal during the winter months, which it is catch and release only from November 1st until February 28th. This means starting on March 1st, you can keep your catch of legal fish.

Redfish will be caught along the mouths of the bayous as well as along the flats. Gold spoons, live shrimp and various soft plastics will entice a redfish bite.

Flounder should start to migrate back into the bays from the gulf sometime in March as well. Live bull minnows or soft plastic jigs are great baits for the flounder.

Those fishing the jetties and the pass will have the opportunity to get into some fabulous Spanish mackerel, sheepshead and redfish action.  The sheepshead will be spawning along the jetties and love fiddler crabs or live shrimp.

OFFSHORE & NEAR SHORE
March is the starting point for increased fishing action as both fish and fishermen are seeking warm weather and venturing out for food and companionship. Fishermen keep in mind the rules and regulations that go with being a good sportsman. For example, grouper season is still closed, visit www.myfwc.com for a complete list of regulations covering all species.

There are still plenty of options for the offshore angler. Amberjack will be close-in on the reefs eager to take a jig. White snapper, black sea bass, and bee liners will also contribute to a full fish box. Depending on the weather pattern mahi mahi and king mackerel will start to show up and they will be hungry! Live bait is the best king offering and a cedar plug trolled around the early arrived Saragossa grass will entice a mahi mahi.

Cobia will show up around the reefs and will cruise the sandbars. A well presented jig, artificial eel, or a live crab can be the ticket to a trophy-size cobia. March, an excellent time to fine tune the boat and all your fishing gear for fishing only gets better starting this month.

ST. JOE BAY
Sheephead, speckled trout, redfish, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, flounder, cobia, black drum, and even squid – all are available this month. The visitor with the shortest time with us will be the squid which will appear around the St Joe Marina basin. Being ready with a squid jig and light line is a necessity since the squid run usually does not last long. For tasty Calamari or excellent bait, the lowly squid serves its purpose in the food chain. And there is nothing more enticing to a king mackerel or redfish than a free-lined fresh squid.

Sheephead will congregate at the buoy markers and the head of the bay, fresh dead shrimp or fiddler crabs are the favorite baits. Speckled trout and redfish will be in the shallows looking for finger mullet and pinfish, both baitfish numbers are increasing this month – time to dust off the cast net and test the netting skills.

Spanish mackerel arrives, the early spring finned visitor provides a welcomed flurry of activity. Trolling mackerel trees will help locate the mackerel schools and then casting Gotcha plugs, spoons, or speck rigs will keep the fishermen busy. A well kept secret weapon is a speck rig fished below a casting bubble fished with a lot of action/noise.

Even flounder has room to make an impact in the bay fishing for they also show up in greater numbers and a lively bull minnow Carolina-rigged fished on the channel ledges is the ticket to a delicious dinner.

SURF/SHORE
March shows no preference to fishing location, surf and shore fishing also dramatically improves this month. Whiting are still in the surf, but pompano joins them this month. Bait fishing is the only method for whiting, however with pompano, bait and artificial will work equally well. Small fresh shrimp or the synthetic bait, FishBites, on a two-hook bottom rig will catch either species. A pompano jig tipped with crab slowly dragged across the sand cannot be resisted by a hungry pompano.

The surf also will yield redfish or the migrating sheephead. The canals, Mexico Beach and intercoastal, also come alive providing the landlocked fisherman an opportunity for a full icebox.

The St Joe Marina basin becomes a fishing haven this month as trout, flounder, sheephead, and redfish come to eat. Off the marina seawall the Spanish mackerel and occasional king mackerel will make a hook-up exciting for shore fishermen.

March, take a fishing newcomer with you, experience the thrill of the first catch through someone else’s eyes.

Inshore
The inshore bite will be mostly reds and sheepshead around bridges, deep water docks and jetties. The trout should be the far eastern most bayous of the bay and the mouth of the river.

Surf
In the surf expect most whiting, maybe a pompano and some redfish.

Bottom Fishing
Bottom fishing in the gulf will be mingo snapper, triggerfish and black snapper near shore. In deep water 125 to 300 foot range you will find amberjack, red grouper, and scamp.

Pier
On the pier some whiting, a few reds, a few sheepshead and possibly some bonita.

Jetties
On the jetties mostly redfish, sheepshead and a few black snapper will be caught.

March is a month for change and no one sees it more in our area than the inshore fisherman. For the most part the sounds and bays will still remain a little too cold to produce consistently in the beginning of the month. However, there are a few exceptions to this. One is the availability of redfish on the upper bay flats and deep water structure in the sound. The other is the Sheepshead. They can be caught on deep water structure, such as bridge pilings and deeper docks. Most other species will remain in the rivers where the water remains a little warmer. As the water temperature begins to increase later in the month, the fish will begin to migrate back to the sounds and bays. At the same time the baitfish will start showing up on the flats. The fish will once again invade the grass flats to feed. I like the water temperature to be around 66 to 68 for the fishing to be consistent on the flats. 

For surf and pier fishermen March is also a month for change and unpredictability in our area. The beginning of this month has the water temperatures still a little cold and fishing can be a little hit or miss. This all depends on how many cold fronts we experience and how much cold weather it brings with it. However, there are still some Pompano, Bluefish, Bonito and Redfish available. As the month moves forward a little the water temperature should start increase. This will improve the fishing towards the middle of the month. Towards the end of this month the waters temperature has generally increased and can provide some excellent surf fishing opportunities for pompano, whiting, redfish, black drum, Spanish mackerel, and maybe even a cobia or two.

Offshore grouper will be closed this month Amberjack, blackfin, and yellowfin tuna will be the hottest bites around. The largest amberjacks will be in and around 200 feet of water over deep water wrecks as well as closer in around the edge. Top baits will be live hard tails, pinfish and red porgies, however Shimano’s Butterrfly Centervortex or Slidend, Bomber’s Vamp or Darter, and Williamson Abyss or Benthos jigs all work very well on the AJ’s. The bite should remain good further offshore with the Nipple and the Spur, and Steps good places to start. All locations are proven areas with wahoo, blackfin and yellowfin tuna the main targets. As in February the best  bite bar none will be out around the oil rigs for tuna and wahoo. Chumming and chunking are two good techniques to put fish in the boat, but Jigging for them with Shimano, Bomber, and Williamson jigs are almost always a sure thing.

Inshore the sheepshead will be all over deep structure in the bays. Fiddler crabs are the best bait to use, but small live shrimp and oysters will catch them as well. Some redfish will remain on the grass flats but most of the reds have migrated up into the head of the bays or out around area passes. As the water get colder later this month, the trout and the redfish will begin to move into the rivers. Try the deeper bends and holes. Live bait, curly tail grubs and Gulp on jig heads are very productive. The old fish finder rig with a live bait is great choice too. Slow down your presentation when the water is cold. The big Bull Redfish will be stacked in the pass.  Just about any bait or jig will work on them. Don’t overlook just outside the pass and within a mile or two of the beach. Sometimes you can find the big Redfish schools on top. Just about any lure or bait you can get to them will catch them. Work the outside edges of the school to prevent spooking them. While you’re out, look for some birds actively feeding or just sitting in small groups. Sometimes they sit right over the top of the Reds. Try trolling large spoons or Stretch 25’s on the outside edges of the birds.

Surf fishermen will see the water will remain cool this month, making the fishing a little spotty. This will make the Pompano fishing a hit or miss in the surf most days. Live sand fleas are the bait of choice. However, they will hit live shrimp, frozen shrimp, frozen sand fleas and Pompano jigs. Bonita, Bluefish and Redfish will be in the surf as well. Cast ½ oz to 1-1/2 oz silver spoons to hook up. Use either a trace of 40# wire or 50# mono for a leader to prevent getting cut off for the Blues, a 30# mono leader for the Bonita will suffice. For the Redfish try fishing with some live shrimp and or cut mullet. Most Reds will be oversized but there should be some slot fish available. Be sure to release the oversized Reds. For big Bull Whiting, try peeling your shrimp first. These will be some of the biggest fish caught this month.

Offshore fishing this month will see all grouper closed for two months making amberjack the hottest bite. The largest fish will be caught in and around 200 feet of water on live hard tails, pinfish and red porgies. However Shimano’s Butterrfly Centervortex or Slidend, Bomber’s Vamp or Darter, and Williamson Abyss or Benthos jigs all work very well on the AJ’s. The bite should remain good further offshore with the Nipple and the Spur two good places to start. Both locations are proven areas with wahoo, blackfin and yellowfin tuna the main target. Don’t forget to keep an eye on you bottom machine while trolling these areas for possible deep drop spots. These areas are known for holding many deep water species such as tile fish and snowy grouper. And although the grouper are off limits this moth they will open back up again on April 1. The best bit bar none will be out around the oil rigs for tuna and wahoo. Chumming and chunking are two good techniques to put fish in the boat, but Jigging for them with Shimano, Bomber, and Williamson jigs are almost always a sure thing.

While most people are doing other things such as hunting or working on their honey-do's this month they are missing out on some fabulous near shore fishing. The cooler water temperatures bring the amberjack closer to shore - not to mention all the flounder stacked-up on the inshore wrecks.

Fishing on structure, even the public numbers, within 10 miles of the shoreline should provide you with some of the best near shore bottom fishing of the year. Drop a live pinfish, dead cigar minnow or a jig around these wrecks and it shouldn't be too long before you are getting bit by an amberjack. Drop smaller baits such as strips of squid or cut bait for some great triggerfish and beeliner action. A live bull minnow rigged on a 2/0 Khale style hook and a 1-2oz egg lead on light (10-15#) spinning tackle should put you in the flounder zone.

If you like to fish in the pass or on the jetties you can expect to catch sheepshead, bluefish and bull redfish this month. Try baiting your hook with a fiddler crab or small live shrimp for sheepshead. Redfish will take everything from a 3oz jig to live pinfish or shrimp. Bluefish are not picky and will take just about anything you want to offer them.  You will also find the larger amberjack hanging over the wrecks offshore as well as plenty of scamp, triggerfish and beeliners.

February is typically a very decent month for fishing in our local bay system. You can expect to catch trout, redfish, bluefish, sheepshead and a few flounder. Where you will locate the fish, especially the trout, will depend on the water temperatures. Trout don't take to the real cold water too well so they will generally be where the water is the warmest. This usually means along an area in the bay that has a dark, rather than sandy bottom. You will usually find these areas in the residential canals and in the bayous. Another great place for trout fishing is Warren Bayou, or locally known as the "Steam Plant Canal". You will need a boat that is capable of navigating in some pretty shallow water to get there and it is strictly catch & release fishing there this time of year. Redfish are not as intolerable to the cold water temperatures and you will find them along the flats this month. You can also find the redfish in the bayous around oyster beds as well as around boat docks and other structure. Live shrimp or various plastic grubs are great baits to use for both trout and redfish. Bluefish will be in the main part of the bay as well as up in some of the bayous. They will hit just about anything you toss to them, including live shrimp, chunk bait, silver spoons and plastic grubs. Be careful when handling bluefish as they have very sharp teeth and a strong jaw.

Sheepshead can be found around most structure throughout the bay this month. They will feed on small live shrimp as well as fiddler crabs. Fishing around boat docks, bridge pilings and oyster beds with 10-15# tackle and a small but strong hook should yield you a nice mess of fish.

Most of the flounder have migrated out of the bay and into the Gulf by now, however, you can still pick a few up by fishing a live bull minnow or plastic grub in the sandy areas around the pass.

OFFSHORE & NEAR SHORE
The FWC 2013 recreational fishing regulation is out in paper format and also can be found at myFWC.com website. This fishing forecast cannot cover all the nuances of the regulations so please be aware before you go out. All Grouper species is closed in February and March. February brings the expectation of spring, but the weather of winter. It does herald the early signs of better fishing in the local area. Amberjack, Bonita, Black Sea Bass, and Bluefish are still in season and can provide plenty of fun on light tackle. Amberjack and Bonita can be enticed trolling lipped hard plastic bait around structure while the Black Sea Bass and Bluefish will inhale cut bait or live bait at the edge of drop offs or near the bottom.

ST. JOE BAY
Reminder, there is no closed season for Speckled Trout; you can keep Speckled Trout year round. That change happened Feb 1, 2012 along with the Redfish limit going from one to two fish per fisherman. The Trout will be in the bay headwaters seeking warmer water as well as the mouths of canals and drainage ditches where moving water will provide warmer water. Fishing soft plastics slowly on the bottom and split shot live shrimp down deep can get trophy-sized trout in the boat. Redfish can be found where there are diving birds. With the baitfish on the surface most any lure will get a strike. If the birds are sitting on the surface they are waiting for the baitfish to be chased to the surface and a Rattle Trap or crank bait is the most effective lure. Bluefish will succumb to spoons and buck tail jigs fished at a moderate speed. White Trout, aka Sand Trout, will stack up in the deeper holes/channels off the Oil Dock sea wall and around Black’s Island. Cut bait or dead shrimp on a jig head fished on a sandy bottom can easily fill an ice chest once the school is located.

SURF/SHORE
Whiting remains the top choice for surf fishermen. FishBites is the bait to use, try various colors and scents to find out what the fish like that day. A two-hook bottom rig with a different bait on each hook will give determine the hot bait. Fish the tide channels cutting through the sandbars, deeper pockets inside the nearest sandbar-anywhere there is current and a change in water depth. County Line and the Stump Hole are two of the favorite areas. And the avid shark fishermen can still be satisfied while offering Mackerel or Ladyfish cut bait, sometimes slow-paced, but with a vicious strike boredom soon becomes exhilarating. At this time of year fishing the inter coastal waterway at the White City Bridge is usually the best bet for the shore fisherman to put fish on the table. The potential table fare varies from Redfish, Speckled Trout, Sheepshead, hybrid Stripers, to Croakers. Live bait, cut bait, and FishBites are the locals’ favorite offerings.

OFFSHORE & NEAR SHORE
Tight lines and happy New Year. The Grouper are still in the shallow water, well within reach of fishermen with the smaller boats. Using live grunts, pinfish, or croakers will bring the big uns to the boat. Bonita will be cruising above the reefs looking for a trolled Bomber or Mann’s lure. And casting buck tail jigs and spoons will also provide some arm jerking strikes. Black sea bass will congregate around the ledges and the reefs this time of year. Shrimp, either frozen or live, and cut bait fished on light tackle will yield a satisfying catch and a tasty meal.

ST. JOE BAY
In January the bigger trout will remain in the bay. The number of fish caught will be less than warmer months, but the size of the trout will be considerably larger. Soft plastics and large live shrimp fished in the warmer water pockets might give the patient fisherman a gator trout. Big bull Redfish are in the deeper holes in the bay and also will be from the George Tapper Bridge up into the inter-coastal waterway. Live shrimp is the bait of choice. Sheepshead can still be located around Black’s Island in the deeper channels and more will be up in the inter-coastal waterway. Small live shrimp and frozen shrimp are the best available baits.

SURF/SHORE
Whiting is the main fare in the surf with a few resident pompano getting in on the action. FishBites, the synthetic scented/flavored bait is highly recommended when using a two-hook bottom rig. Ease of use and effectiveness are the benefits of this bait. Fishing locations vary with the tide and weather, the Stump Hole on Cape San Blas; Crooked Island Beach; and across from the Hwy 386 intersection on Mexico Beach are locals’ favorites. A big redfish might also be willing to take the pompano/whiting bait and then you will be in for a fight! The Port St Joe marina is a favorite trout fishing hole with the smaller trout far outnumbering large ones at the onset of January, but will increase in size by the end of the month. Soft plastics in either shrimp or pinfish imitations are the locals’ favorites.