St. Vincent Island to Steinhatchee
Includes Apalachicola, St. George Island, Carabelle, St. Marks and Keaton Beach

Feb. 5-7

Please note, the entire month of February speckled trout are out of season and must be released back to the water unharmed.

This weekend's weather forecast is predicted to be cool and windy. But this has been the same forecast for the past couple of months, so nothing new I guess. I promise this will change and hope sooner than later.

Inshore

Even though forecasts are cold in the morning and warming as the day continues, the predicted winds could make it difficult to fish where you want to. It is possible to catch multiple inshore fish species this time of year. Locate clearer, greener water as our bay and river have been flooded with overflow of fresh water due to rain in our area. It is annoying at this time but will benefit our area fisheries with much needed nutrients for bait shrimp, small baits and grasses which hold juvenile fish.

To catch fish during this time of year, fish along deeper holes near a food source such as oyster bars, the passes and Bob Sikes Cut in the morning when the waters are cooler. As the day warms and the water temperatures increase in the day switch to the edges or the grassy flats or shallower waters around the barrier islands. We are getting strong reports this week from Dry Bar, Cat Point and East Hole oyster bars for redfish, speckled trout and silver trout. Although speckled trout are out of season, silver trout can be kept—try around the East Point Pier and Cat Point oyster bars. There’s been good surf fishing reports for whiting and redfish along the outside beaches of St. George Island, fishing the swashes and reefs only 20 to 30 feet from shore. Use sliding triangle sinkers and small thumb nail pieces of dead shrimp as bait.

Offshore

Weather is always a big factor in offshore fishing during the colder months. My best advice for fishing offshore in February would be to bundle up, watch the weather and pick your days. North winds in our area can be very deceiving, nice slick and calm beginnings can have you motoring at idle speeds to come in. Keep all this in mind and prepare before leaving for a day on the big water. Also, leave a float plan with a buddy or two with the time you expect to come in.

Red Snapper are out of season and although plentiful in our area they must be returned back to the water unharmed until June 1st. Who ever said red snapper were a threatened species has not been fishing in Northwest Florida. Also, please note most species of grouper are out of season for the next couple of months.

During this time of year, it makes sense to fish inshore, as most people who spend the kind of money to go offshore want fish to bring home to eat. That’s hard to do when everything biting is illegal to keep. At this time you can keep one legal greater amberjack, porgies, black seabass, triggerfish and a few other not-so-glamarous species.

Upcoming FWC Meeting

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will hold a commission meeting on February 17 and 18 at the Franklin County Courthouse in Apalachicola. Exact meeting spot is the 3rd Floor Courtroom and each morning starts at 8:30 a.m. For a complete draft schedule visit: My FWC’s Web Site.

Of note is the Issues portion on Thursday, when a Red Snapper Report Presentation will be given. Please come and let the commission understand that unrealistic closures for offshore fish species like red snapper have devastated our recreational fishing sector and local communities that depend on it.

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