Capt. Rick Davidson (grassflats2@yahoo.com), Editor
The holidays are always a wonderful time of the year, but the weather made fishing a bit challenging this year. High winds and seas made the second half of the month dicey, and inshore fog thwarted a lot of weekend plans. The frustrating thing was that there were plenty of fish out there to be caught, and when people got out the fishing was excellent. Max Leatherwood came up with this REALLY mixed bag of fish--grouper, trout, redfish, and Spanish. In the middle of the month I had a great day fishing by myself when I found a school of 4 to 5 pound trout, landing 9 trout and 4 big bluefish in only a few hours of fishing. I managed to put my daughter Margaret and her boyfriend Chris on some nice trout near the end of the month on the flats. As the month moved toward the new year, the trout arrived in the river and the crowds began to build, as you can see in the picture. Chase and Matthew came up with this fine flounder/trout duo, while offshore, Chase's dad, fearless leader Charlie Norwood found this fine offshore redfish while 'experimenting'.
Steinhatchee lost a fishing legend this month when Paul Cronk, long-time captain of the Willa Mae, passed away. His wife, Nancy, worked at the Sea Hag for many years and our prayers and support are with her. Paul will be sorely missed. He was a wonderful guy and a great fisherman.
January Fishing Forecast
Fishing should be excellent this month. We can expect the trout to be in the river on a continuous basis. Look at my report from last month (November) for tips and tricks about fishing the river. Additionally, flounder and occasionally trout may be found on the flats during warming spells. If you have a great need for trout fillets, get them this month because they are out of season in February. Redfish will be either in deep water or in holes in the creeks, and you may find them in the river when bottom fishing for trout. Remember that no matter what you are fishing this month inshore, fish very slowly. Jigs with Gulp baits, D.O.A. shrimp or Terror-Eyz, or 52M MirrOlures are the classic artificial lures when you don't want to fish with live shrimp. Offshore, remember that grouper season is closed in February and March, so make sure you book early this month, because there will be some excellent fish available. It's very likely that this will be a big sheepshead year. They are already being caught on the Steinhatchee Reef, around 9 miles directly west of the river. They can also be caught around channel markers and other offshore and nearshore structure. My forecast next month will have some details about how to catch these tasty fish, since the spawning behavior that makes them the primary target in the colder months will continue until March. Finally, the black sea bass are also continuing their spawning behavior. You can catch lots of fine tasting filets with sea bass and Florida snapper; there is no season and no limit on these great-eating fish. Our guides can find the fish that are may be difficult to locate in the winter, and you can stock up with tackle and live bait at the Ship's Store as well--and coffee on those cold mornings. January has great potential so plan on several trips this month.
I want to take a moment to remind you about safety. Winter weather in our area can be challenging, so make sure your safety equipment is up-to-date. Earlier this month three people were saved from a sinking offshore boat only because they had an EPIRB on board, as their radio and electronics were wiped out by water in their boat. Always file a float plan, make sure you have a back-up radio and GPS, and if you go offshore at all, spend the money and get an EPIRB. We've had too many deaths this past year of people who weren't prepared for bad weather. You can file a float plan at the Marina in person or over the VHF radio, and even find backup radios and handheld GPS units in the Ship's Store. Make this New Year a happy and safe one!
Now, for some guide reports:
Capt. Tommy Thompson
(352) 284-1763
www.flanaturecoast.com/capttommy
December's always a funny month for inshore, light-tackle, fishing. The weather's always 'wacky' and usually unpredictable until the day of the trip. However, we've got some great spots that are within just a few miles of the river mouth that provide good catches of big 'gator' sea trout. Of course, there are usually trout in the river channel and holes, like the 'suicide hole' near the Sea Hag, but these bigger fish offer a real challenge to anglers. There's just one month until the February spotted sea trout closure in the FWC's Northern Gulf Region (that includes Steinhatchee). January will likely produce catches of large trout for anglers using a few tried-and-true wintertime tactics:
Get shallow
Don't expect to find big trout on the 4 to 6-foot flats. They're going to be near creek mouths or in holes within the creeks themselves. Be careful about the tides, too. There's nothing worse than spending the night up a creek--literally!
Fish when the sun shines
If its cloudy and bitter cold, stay home or go soak a bait in the Suicide Hole--there are plenty of slot-sized trout there in January. And don't venture out too early in the day, as big trout seem to get near warmer rocks and bars as the sun heats up the bottom.
Be quiet
Use a trolling motor or push pole to approach a fishing spot, and NEVER bang cooler lids or hatch covers when you're near big fish. Long casts are essential, too. And NO loud talking!
Use slow-moving lures
This isn't summer, and these big fish are slow-moving (until they're hooked!). Try topwater lures like Heddon Super Spook, Jrs, but move them VERY slowly. Or, use MirrOlure MirrOminnows at a slower-than-normal retrieve.
My award-winning fishing guide book, The Saltwater Angler's Guide To Florida's Big Bend and Emerald Coast, might be a help to you if you spend lots of time at Steinhatchee (or anywhere from Chassahowitzka to Pensacola). It's got LOTS of secrets, tips and tricks, so don't forget to pick up a copy at the Sea Hag Ship's Store the next time you're at the marina. You can learn more about the book at www.saltwateranglersguide.com
If you're interested in a 'catch-and-release hunting for big fish' trip, please give me a call or check out my Web site, www.flanaturecoast.com/capttommy . And if you're interested in some more in-depth information about fishing Florida's Big Bend, take a look at my weekly Fishing4Cast on the Florida Sportsman Magazine Web site at http://www.floridasportsman.com/4cast/bb or at the Florida Sportsman Big Bend Action Spotter column in each month's issue.
Captain Steve Hart, www.legallimitscharters.com (352) 498-0299
December has been a month blessed with wind and rough seas, but we did manage to get in one well-attended wedding and a few fishing trips. If you did have the opportunity to get offshore the fishing has been good. I found plenty of gag grouper in water from 40 to 60 feet, fishing both live and dead bait. While you may catch a lot of throw-backs, which is still lots of fun, if you just keep moving and looking around, you should come up with some quality fish. Don't forget that grouper will be closed in February and March so if you are looking for a date in April and May they will book up early. January is also a great month and if you are looking for some fun fishing and great eating during the closed seasons you should try a trip for Florida snapper, seabass and sheepshead. They're out there and great eating!
Wishing you all a happy New Year--and let's go fishing!
