Forgotten Coast Fishing Report
The mahi bite is doing well, with most coming off of Island lures in pink and white, or blue and white rigged with ballyhoo. Look for birds and weed lines as well as floating debris. Mangrove snapper have been great around structures; use 10 to 12-pound fluorocarbon leader with circle hooks and live bait such as pilchards.
Despite temperatures running in the upper 80s, fish are still being caught inshore. There has been a lot of grass on the surface around Black’s island making topwater nearly impossible. Live pinfish would be a better choice for that morning bite. Tarpon have been good in front of Windmark Beach. Dead sticking mullet or live blue crab should do the trick. Captain Lee Thompson of Shallow Seas Charter had another banner week with trout and redfish.
In spite of the warm weather catfish and bluegill have not slowed down. Look for those 20-plus foot depth for catfish on the outside bends of the river. Shrimp and dip baits such as Catfish Charlies work well. Look for bluegill along the outside bends as well. Worms and crickets are your go-to baits.
BlueWater Outriggers has received some new styles of FishGum. If you haven’t tried this stuff, it’s amazing. Fish gum is the only cut bait that combines real and synthetic extracts. Fish it under a cork or tip a jig with it. If you’re running the bay in pre-dawn hours keep an eye out for kayak and wade fishermen. Until next week, don’t forget those lifejackets and lanyards.
Tom Gannaway – BlueWater Outriggers
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.