Well, only 5 weeks away and spring will be knocking at our doors. But in the meantime, winter is still here to deal out the occasional cold day. Fishing in the bay has been pretty good this past week. We hooked up a few nice Grouper by trolling stretches, and we hooked up some fat 33"+ Redfish by trolling the same area. We were using the Mann's Textured Stretch 25" & 30" in the colors of Cabo Sunset & Redhead Holographic; these two colors have been producing some quality catches. The White Trout bite is still on fire near 3-mile bridge. I've been catching 40+ trout every time we go out, and they are running big, (most are in the 16- 18" range, but a few are well over 20"). We have also hooked up some good eating whiting and a few reds in this area. The lures of choice are the Berkley Gulp Curly Tail and 3" shrimp. Put these on a ¼ - ½ oz jig head and you're sure to have a banner day. With spring just around the corner, it's the perfect time to book a fishing trip. Reserve your trip now, because the Sheepshead fishing in March is superb, and they are fun to catch and eat.
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During the month of February, speckled trout season is closed, but they're biting on live shrimp and they're also hitting jigs that you slow bounce off the bottom. A good place to catch trout is Jim's Fish Camp off of Hwy 90 before the Pace bridge.
Near the pass we have been hooking up a few Mangrove Snapper on live shrimp and just off the beaches we have also been seeing a few small schools of the big Reds. Fishing for them should still be productive till the middle of April and then it will die down.
Venturing out a little further offshore has been a little tough these past weeks as the seas have been around 4 - 7ft, but not to worry, as spring will be here soon and that means the big Cobia run. If you do venture offshore, check out the 3-mile bridge and catch a few small live baits and put them in the live well; big hungry groupers can't pass up a lively bait. The Amberjack bite near the Chevron Rig and the Oriskany has been very good using a Diamond Jig and also a 2 - 4 oz Spro Buck Tail Jig with a chartreuse or green grub attached. A few Black Fin Tuna have also been caught out near the Edge and the Nipple, but not many. Off to the west near the Hump, the Yellow Fin Tuna bite is on fire, and just last week two fish over 200lbs were landed. The Tuna bite over at the Hump will stay good for the next 4 - 7 weeks depending upon the weather.
Not too many reports of Trigger fish being caught offshore and just a few Mingo being caught, but there are plenty of Red Snapper, but remember that you can't keep them until June 1st. So when Mother Nature gives us a window of sunshine, get up off the couch and go fishing.
Capt. John Rivers
Mega-Bite Inshore Charters
850-341-9816
Mega-Bite Inshore Charters
Thanks to my sponsors:
Mann's Lures, SPRO Fishing Tackle
Gamakatsu Hooks, Pure Fishing - Berkley
ABU Garcia, Shakespeare, Sea Pro Boats
