    
Capt. Mike Winn
Unregistered guest
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 | | Posted on Thursday, October 24, 2002 - 2:42 pm: | |
Subject: Big Bend Report
BIG BEND
Aside from a few isolated showers, it looks like we are in for a fine weekend with seas likely less than two feet and winds five- to ten- knots through Sunday. Did I forget to mention the fish are biting? Outstanding reports of one type or another are coming from all Big Bend waters.
Suwannee and Cedar Key anglers report good redfish catches on grass lines and around islands. One Cedar Key angler reports releasing 18 redfish before catching one small enough to keep. Don’t you hate it when that happens? Unfortunately, this report is not typical since most redfish of spawning size have already started their journey offshore.
Sea trout are a good bet on grass flats and coming soon in creek mouths if these cool temperatures persist. Suwannee anglers are finding most of their fish north of the river’s mouth in four to six feet of water. Clear Homosassa flats have produced consistent trout catches for anglers fishing water around four feet deep. Most anything will work, from live shrimp to jigs, flies and top water plugs. Cedar Key fishers have found plenty of fish stalking shrimp and pinfish on grass flats from three to six feet deep. Live pinfish, shrimp, and jigs are all taking their share of fish.
Sand trout are still being taken on hard sand bottom in 10 to 12 feet of water. Small grub jigs and dead shrimp are the most productive baits. Deep channels are a good place to start. Pick a place that looks very flat with no vegetation.
Grouper diggers are having a fine time, some catching limits of hefty gags barely ten miles out in some places. Homosassa gags are hitting cast and trolled diving plugs in water from 12 to 25 feet deep. While trolling can be the most productive method for the next few months, conditions will not always allow you to troll and I you should be prepared to bottom fish with live or frozen bait. Grouper anglers out of Suwannee had a banner weekend with many boats bringing in near limits and limits of big fish from water 30- to 40- feet deep.
Spanish to 30 inches have been voracious on deep offshore grass a few miles off Cedar Key and Suwannee. Of course I am talking about Seahorse Reef and Spotty Bottom respectively. Spanish are also available grass flats inshore out of all Big Bend ports. Kingfish are taking slow trolled live baits, dead minnow/duster rigs and bottom baits from Suwannee to Crystal River.
Good fishing, see you next week!
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