Gainesville Sun Fishing Report 4-28-2011

/

Inshore anglers working the Steinhatchee shallows continue to hook good-sized speckled trout. Sunday, Hardy Wood took a five-pound fish to Sea Hag Marina for a photo, and Judd Evatt of Sumter County topped that a few minutes later with a seven-pounder.

While practicing for the Fishing for Kids Saltwater Trout Tournament coming up Saturday, Robbie Emmons and Nathan Lee have fared very well. Casting five-inch Gulp! Jerk Shads in the New Penny color, the Gainesville anglers released “somewhere between 30 and 40” trout Saturday that averaged 17-to-18-inches in length. They targeted the grass flats just south of the Steinhatchee River mouth. Contestants in the 7th annual event that benefits Shands Children’s Hospital will depart from Sea Hag Marina in the morning at safe light and weigh in at 3 p.m. Call 800-284-6472 for more information. Sounds like it will be a good one.

Fishers venturing a bit farther offshore have encountered plenty of mackerel — both Spanish and kings. It’s not always necessary to run to deep water for the Spanish, though. Chase and Chaeli Norwood proved that a few days ago. The youngsters hooked and boated a couple of nice macks while casting well up the Steinhatchee River.

Read More

2011 Scallop Season to open early and close late.

/

The Panama City News Herald is reporting that this years scallop season will open a week early on June 25th and close two weeks later than usual on September 25th.

FWC also announced that it will expand bay scallop season to open a week early on June 25 and extend the season by two weeks to end on Sept. 25. Small Gulf Coast communities from Steinhatchee to St. Marks to St. Joe Bay will have three extra weeks for visitors and residents to explore and enjoy this low cost, fun family activity.

This is greeat news for everyone who loves to come to Steinhatchee every year to harvest Scallops. Make plans now for that extra trip this year.

Read More

Results from the 2011 Steinhatchee Community Fishing Tournament

/

Last weigh in of the tournament

Check out the picture gallery for more photos

This year’s Steinhatchee Community Fishing Tournament was extended to a two day event due to weather. In years past this meant the contestant could weigh their catch in at Keaton Beach or Steinhatchee. This held true this year if you braved the harsh winds on Saturday, but if you held off until Sunday your only choice for weigh-in was the Steinhatchee Community Center.

The tournament traditionally has four species of fish that are eligible for prizes. They are Grouper and Amberjack for offshore and Trout and Redfish for inshore. Due to rough weather offshore no entries were made for Amberjack and Grouper.

Read More

Gainesville Sun Fishing Report 4-14-2011

/
The clear Steinhatchee flats have come alive with trout, and most fishers are faring well with various lures and natural baits in water 3 to 6 feet deep. Chartering inshore guides, Fuzzy Finch has enjoyed steady trout action every day of his stay at Sea Hag Marina. The Dawsonville, Ga., angler arrived Saturday. Fellow Georgia fishermen, Jeff Luke and Randy Puckett, have also pulled in loads of Steinhatchee trout over recent days. But Trey Williams docked with the biggest fish and the best Steinhatchee story of the weekend. The Cochran, Ga., angler was casting a Gulp! bait in water about 6 feet deep with light tackle when something more than just another trout latched on. After a tooth-and-nail battle, Williams wrestled aboard a fish about a third as long as his little Sundance boat. The kingfish would later weigh 25 pounds at the marina.
Read More