Fishing Information Monthly Fishing Forecasts Port St. Joe
Port St.Joe Fishing Forecasts
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast June 2013
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!
Port St. Joe Forecast May 2013
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.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast April 2013
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.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast March 2013
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.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast - February 2013
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.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast January 2013
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.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast December 2012
Offshore & Near Shore
Grouper will have moved to the shallower wrecks and reefs as the water temperature drops. The big hogs will be at 150’. Using live bait works great, but is increasingly harder to find with the temperature dropping. Frozen cigar minnows/northern mackerel will work well using a Carolina rig with 80lb fluorocarbon leader and 10/0 Mustad circle hooks. Trolling with Manns stretch series lures works very well and you will want to use the 25+ series in 30’ or less and the 30+ series any deeper. Of course, Amberjack will stick around wrecks and towers, my favorite lure is the AJ glow jig.
St Joe Bay
In December the trout and redfish are in the deeper holes and up into the canals. Live shrimp is the bait of choice, either under a Cajun thunder float or on the bottom with the lightest weight to keep your baits under control. The Gulf canal is great for winter fishing starting at Raffields Fisheries all the way to the “T”. 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. Redfish can be caught trolling Mann’s Stretch 25’s in the bay. Just follow the buoy line for some bigun’s. Apalachicola Bay will be an ideal spot for some great large trout action with live shrimp off the edges of the shoals and in the deeper channels doing well. Sheepshead bite will be good in the surf at the beginning of January and pick up in the canal and around the oyster beds using fiddlers and small shrimp.
Surf/ShoreWhiting will be cruising the shores in good numbers in January with just a few pompano thrown in for good measure. The stump hole off Cape San Blas is a favorite among the locals, but along Mexico Beach is another likely spot. Use a 2-hook pompano rig with small circle hooks rigged with a shrimp or FishBites. Use a pyramid weight just heavy enough to hold your rig in place or you might end up with the longest cast of your life with nothing to show for it. Big breeder redfish will also be along the shoreline at sunset. Use cut bait or live baitfish on a 4/0 circle hook Carolina rigged on a 20lb class rod/reel.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast November 2012
OFFSHORE
A more focused fishing effort will be on grouper this month with the cooler water temperatures pushing the pelagics out the region toward the end of month. Keep in mind gag grouper season was closed the end of Oct. The grouper will come closer to shore as the water cools. The end of October starts the movement, with small legal size grouper being caught at the inshore MBARA sites and the larger fish being further off shore. Live pinfish, jigs, and butterflied mackerel are all excellent offerings. Black, lane, and other snapper will be eager to fill your cooler with tasty fillets during this time. Again a reminder, red snapper season is closed.
NEAR SHORE
Amberjacks, bluefish, and bonita will frequent the shallower inshore areas. Buck tail jigs, gotcha plugs, Williamson jigs, and live bait will ensure constant action. Black snapper and sea bass will be at the close-by reefs and in the channels/cuts. Cut bait, large shrimp, and live pinfish are the locals’ favorite bait selections. On light gear these table fare delights also put on quite a show.
ST. JOE BAY
Redfish, trout, flounder, sheephead, and bluefish – did I miss any species? All are extremely active in St Joe Bay this month. Redfish and trout are gorging themselves in the shallow water. Top water lures in the skinny water, live bait and soft plastics off the channel edges will give the angler action all day. Sheephead, flounder, bull redfish, and flounder are in the deeper channels and cuts. Live shrimp will entice all four of these sports fish to stretch your line.
SURF/SHORE
In the surf, pompano and whiting readily take a Fish Bite offering on a two-hook bottom rig. Bluefish will threaten to spool a surprised surf fisherman on the same rig. The night time shark fisherman tends to get the biggest sharks from the surf this time of year. The sharks cruise the sand bars looking for the whiting and bluefish the fisherman overlooked or for the easy offering of a hooked whiting being reeled in. Large black drum and redfish are within reach of shore fishermen under the George Tapper Bridge and the boaters have the entire intercoastal waterway to search for the big brutes. Overall, November is an excellent fishing opportunity, willing fish, great weather, and not many people. Tight lines.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast October 2012
Offshore
October’s cooler weather, lack of fishing pressure, and hungry predator fish will trigger a big king mackerel bite. The larger kings will be gorging themselves in preparation for their autumn departure. Free-lined live bait, trolled dusters, and lipped hard plastic swim baits, such as Bomber or Mann’s, trolled 20-30 feet deep will help fill the icebox. Still hanging out at the reefs, amberjacks and Bonita will give even the hardcore fishermen all they can handle. Jigs provide the most action for both species. Grouper will be closer to shore with the cooler water with the occasional tropical storm system also pushing the reef fish toward shore, a good opportunity for the smaller boats to get grouper fillets.
Near Shore
King and Spanish mackerel can still be found in the buoy line with the larger kings looking for an easy lunch around the Lumber Ship and other inshore reefs. This month will yield the last of this season’s mackerel, but the size of both will be significantly larger than earlier in the year.
St Joe Bay
The bay residents, flounder, trout, and redfish will own St. Joe Bay this month. With the cooler water “the bite is on”. This month is arguably the best fishing for these three fish. The fish will be more concentrated and eager to take a variety of baits, both live and artificial. There will be sample of the increased activity starting in mid September when the flounder will gather at the mouth of the St Joe Canal and around the St Joe Marina.
Surf/Shore
The surf fishing will see a definite increase in action with pompano setting the pace. Fish Bites and jigs are the best prospects in getting a limit of this great table fare. Also, whiting returns in greater numbers and an occasional bull red drum will startle the whiting/pompano fisherman. And the bully of the seas, shark, are looking for easy meals in the shallow water. Black drum will cruise around the mouth of the St Joe Canal scouring the area for cut bait or live bait that the shore fishermen offer.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast September 2012
OFFSHORE
With the cooler weather September brings comes renewed fishing opportunities. The sea weed that was a nuisance in August will be gone. Amberjack will be plentiful and eager to devour live bait, jigs, or trolled Stretch 20s. Bull dolphin, Wahoo, and an occasional black fin tuna will be boated 20 to 30 miles offshore. Target the live bottom areas and the floating debris. Grouper will be more willing to cooperate with less fishing pressure and the change in weather. The larger Williamson and Shimano jigs in pink and mackerel colors are the typical hot patterns.
NEAR SHORE
Spanish and King mackerel along with amberjack will be the targeted species this month. Troll mackerel trees for the Spanish and use lipped trolling baits for the kings. And live bait will entice all three fish. Cobia will unexpectedly appear around the near shore reefs so be ready.
ST JOE BAY
As the end of scallop season approaches, Sep 24, the scallops will be the largest. With a reduced number of scallops compared to last year’s banner crop you’ll have better luck looking in non typical areas, such as north of Eagle Harbor in 6-8 foot of water. The water temperature will start a gradual decline and that will spark an increased appetite for the hungry flounder, redfish, and speckled trout. The fish will be more concentrated during this time and once one is caught keep targeting that same general area. Live bait will work the best, with soft plastics fished in the shallows early and late a close runner-up.
SURF/SHORE
The surf fishing will pick up this month as bull redfish will cruise the beaches chasing croakers and whiting. Sharks will also be more active close to shore as bait is more prominent in the shallows. Bonita, skates, and ladyfish make excellent bait. More whiting and pompano will appear as the water cools during the month. Fish Bites is the surf fishermen’s favorite bait. Shore fishermen will see an increase in action from the Mexico Beach and Port St Joe canals as the bait gathers at the mouths of each canal. Flounder, redfish, and black drum will frequent the canals looking for an easy meal. Live bait, cut bait and soft plastics will get the job done. With the cooler weather it’s more comfortable to enjoy the outdoors. Get out there!
Port St Joe Fishing Forecast August 2012
Offshore
Wahoo and dolphin will be targeted for the recreational fisherman this month. Both species will be appearing as close as10 to 12 miles offshore. Where ever you see birds working the water’s surface, or any kind of floating debris, or weed line, is the likely dolphin ambush point. Large fresh dead shrimp, bucktail jigs, and smaller trolling lures are the favorite snacks for the mahi mahi. Wahoo, the tiger of the gulf, savors the faster moving, 5 to 7 knts, trolled Yo Zuri Bonita, Cedar plugs, and Pan Handler lures. And these voracious eaters will also be seen at the 12 mile mark with larger ones being further offshore.
Near Shore
The king mackerel will be the most sought after and active game fish this month. The hotter the weather-the hotter the king bite. Several local tournaments will target the mighty king this month with the MBARA Kingfish Tournament being the biggest. Kings will be caught in the buoy line off Mexico Beach using duster rigs with cigar minnows and the larger kings will be brought to the weigh station having chased down a trolled ribbon fish. Live bait free lined over reefs and around the buoys will tempt a savage strike from a big bruiser.
St Joe Bay
Still maintaining the summer pattern, the redfish and speckled trout will seek out an easy meal in the shallow grass beds early morning and late afternoon. Top water lures such as Zara Spook, Mirrolure, and Skitterwalk are the local favorites. After 8:00am live bait fished slowly in the deeper channels and weed lines is the ticket. Soft plastics, such as jerk baits, also provide a lot of action. Flounder gigging will be the surest way, and coolest, to fill a cooler during this hot month. The favorite hangout area is from the St Joe marina past the Windmark housing. Low tide will reveal the flounders’ hideouts.
Surf/Shore
Surf fishing will be slow with times of extreme excitement. Being lulled from non-action to breath-taking run of a bull redfish will whet any fishermen’s appetite. Whiting in the surf and silver trout out further will fill the quieter moments. And occasional schools of Spanish mackerel and ladyfish will stretch your line. The synthetic bait, Fish Bites, is the surf fishermen’s favorite bait. And don’t forget the night time marauder, the shark. Shark fishing from the surf is big time this month with 10+ foot bull sharks being the most targeted. Night time shark fishing past the second sandbar with bonita or skate as bait is as exciting as it gets. Dig in, use a fighting belt and use appropriate sized gear. For the more subdued, but still productive fishing from shore try the seawall at the St Joe marina and under the George Tapper (Port St Joe canal) bridge. Black and red drum will readily gulp shrimp, cut bait, or a live minnow. A short trip to White City on the intercoastal canal will often provide results when other areas have slow fishing or inclement weather. Flounder, redfish, and croakers tend to congregate under the bridge.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast July 2012
In July, St Joe Bay will be home to several species of our favorite fish. Tripletail will return to their hangouts which include any floating debris, bridge and channel marker pilings, and crab trap buoys. Once sighted, a large fresh shrimp fished below a bobber will provide the angler a delicious fish dinner. The returning anglers will encourage tripletail activity by building their own fish habitat – be aware of FWC rules/regulations. Speckle trout will be in their summer pattern, shallow in the early morning, late evening, and most of the night, and in the deeper channels and potholes in the heat of the day. Soft plastics, top water lures, and live pinfish or finger mullet 3 to 5 inches long on a lightly weighted Carolina rig catches the gator trout. Bull redfish will haunt the shallows, both the weed beds and surf, during hours of darkness looking for an easy meal of bait fish and crabs. Cut bait and live bait will give the angler the most action. Legal size redfish will be found in the bay at the channel ledges and pot holes. Drift fishing the flats with Mirrolures, popping corks with soft plastics or live bait, and plastic jerk baits will cover a lot of prime fishing territory. Spanish mackerel will continue to rip line off reels from Eagle Harbor north to the peninsula tip. Mackerel trolling rigs, Gotcha plugs, and spoons are the best choices for a full ice chest. Flounder will be scattered throughout the bay with the evening hours being the best for shallow water fishing. Targeting the mouth of the St Joe Canal, the flats off Windmark housing area, and the Oil Docks are the locals’ favorite spots. Fishing during daylight hours and flounder gigging at night will guarantee a fun filled experience. Tarpon will be feeding on the prolific schools of baitfish outside St Joe Bay. The Crooked Island area and the Gulf side off the southern end of Cape San Blas are the best locations to find the silver king. Live bait, large soft and hard plastic swimming lures provokes a fishing memory none will forget. Patience is a virtue while fishing for tarpon, because where there is bait there are also sharks and catfish. Catching sharks is exciting and if you are brave enough there are plenty of different sizes and kinds of sharks. From bulls, to hammerheads to the acrobatic spinner sharks in the bay and surrounding areas, the master predators will give you numerous opportunities to test your fish fighting prowess.
Near shore fishing will largely be devoted to king mackerel for that will be the most prolific and exciting fish to catch. Trolling duster rigs with cigar minnow or lipped hard plastic lures will locate many a king. Free lining live bait over reefs is guaranteed to get the fisherman’s heart pounding; a line depleting king mackerel run is an unforgettable experience.
Further off shore red snapper will continue to be sought out for the first half of July. Also, the blue water pelagics, such as Wahoo, sailfish, dolphin, and black fin tuna can be found and brought to the boat.
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast June 2012
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? 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 large 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 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 beat there are plenty of large predator fish nearby.
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 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 Jun water boat fishermen will be sight fishing 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!
Port St. Joe Fishing Forecast May 2012
The fishing forecast for May will require an extremely large crystal ball. The lack of typical winter weather this past winter coupled with an amazingly warm spring will only continue to yield outstanding fishing in May. So far in April, Sailfish have been sighted off Crooked Island in twenty foot of water, Tarpon have been hooked off the St Joe Marina seawall, and King mackerel have been landed from the same seawall. Also, the St Joe Bay around Black's Island has given up Triggerfish! Not a standard April.
So here goes the guess-estimate for May – more of the same.
Surf fishing will provide a delicious fare of Pompano, Whiting, and the occasional 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.
St Joe Bay fishing will be 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 weedline from Eagle Harbor 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.
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.
Get out and enjoy the Forgotten Coast, the outdoors is a wonderful place for family, friends, and fish!