News Flash! Big Bend Inshore Fish Celebrate The New Year 2015

Posted on by Tommy Thompson
You don't have to go far from shore this time of year to catch your dinner!
You don’t have to go far from shore this time of year to catch your dinner!

After somewhat of a “fish drought” in late 2014, Big Bend fishing for spotted seatrout and redfish has picked up significantly since New Year’s Day 2015.  I’m not sure exactly why, possibly due to some sunny days and cooler water temperatures, but there seem to be plenty of fish being caught from Yankeetown to Panacea, along the Natural North Florida Gulf coastline.

A typical cold-weather seatrout, caught on the flats
A typical cold-weather seatrout, caught on the flats using an artificial bait, the Paul Brown Devil

And it’s not only in the “usual” wintertime spots that fish are showing up.  Lots of slot-sized (15-inches and up) trout are on the grass flats, eager to eat live shrimp or artificial baits rigged under corks.  And redfish are schooling up over rocky and shell bars along creek mouths and river estuaries.  Reds are a bit more finicky eaters than trout, and you may have to be more patient, but some nice ones, at the top of the 27-inch slot are showing up on local dinner tables.

Here's a nice seatrout, caught by Capt. Rick Davidson, on the flats outside the Steinhatchee River in Taylor County
Here’s a nice seatrout, caught by Capt. Rick Davidson, on the flats outside the Steinhatchee River in Taylor County

 

Redfish are hungry, too. But they can be more scattered than trout. Look for rocky bars near shore and mullet jumping!
Redfish are hungry, too. But they can be more scattered than trout. Look for rocky bars near shore and mullet jumping!

 

If you’re headed out to one of our ports, I recommend you check with some local sources for up-to-the-minute fishing reports.  Here are some good sources:

 

Yankeetown

 

Hook Line and Sinker Bait & Tackle:   (352) 447-5477

Captains’ Cove Outfitters: (352) 447-5610 www.captainscoveoutfitters.com

 

Otter Creek

 

Hershel’s Quick Stop:   (352) 486-6584

 

Cedar Key

 

Rains Bait & Tackle: (352) 543-6109

 

Chiefland

 

The Deer Camp:   (352) 493-4075

 

Suwannee

 

Miller’s Marina: (352) 542-7349 www.millersmarinaofsuwannee.com

Suwannee Marina: (352) 542-9159 www.suwanneemarinainc150m.com

 

Horseshoe Beach

 

Florida Cracker Shrimp and Bait: (352) 498-2817

Horseshoe Beach Marina: (352) 498-5405 www.themarinainhorseshoebeach.com

 

Steinhatchee/Jena

 

Sea Hag Marina: (352) 498-3008 www.seahag.com

River Haven Marina: (352) 498-0709 www.riverhavenmarine.com

Good Times Marina: (352) 498-8088 www.goodtimesmotelandmarina.com

 

Keaton Beach

 

Sea Hag at Keaton Beach: (850) 578-2897 www.seahag.com/keaton-beach-marina/

 

Perry

 

Big Bend Outfitters: (850) 584-3953

Wilson’s Bait & Tackle: (850) 584-6157

 

Spring Warrior

 

Spring Warrior Fish Camp: (850) 838-2035 www.springwarriorfishcamp.com

 

St. Marks

 

Shields Marina: (850) 925-6158 www.shieldsmarina.com

St. Marks Outfitters: (850) 925-3133 www.stmarksoutfitters.com

 

Crawfordville

 

Jerry’s Bait & Tackle: (850) 421-3248 www.jerrysbait.com

AMS Marine Supply: (850) 926-3114

 

Panacea

 

Crum’s Mini Mall: (850) 984-5501 www.panaceaminimall.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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