fishing report for cape san blas summer 2007

Our Fishing Report from Captain Dewey Blaylock

Captain Dewey has taken Laurel Eiler, Susan Wright and Jill Davis out a few times for "Chick" Fishing Shows that appeared on local Channel 3. We just went out and filmed another one with Captain Blair last week. I'll get some pictures up soon!

Upcoming Tournaments for Summer and Fall!

The Sunset Fishing Eagle Tournament was a great success! I just received this information on future tournaments from Captain Dewey. If they coincide with your trips to the Cape, be sure to get involved and maybe be a winner!

July – Indian Pass Raw Bar Triple Tail Tournament The big dog has spoken, and we will have a Triple Tail tournament this summer. In a one day event – the chase will be on. Gathering at the Indian Pass Boat ramp you can bet on a few things, and you can guarantee that JimmyMac will be ready to celebrate with the winners. Look for more on our web site – www.SunsetFishingEagle.com

August – Tarpon Release Tournament With Bluewater Outriggers manning the camera’s will hold a Release only tournament for the big bruiser tarpon that frequent our waters off the shoals of St Vincent’s Island. Video’s will be played during our evening event held at Indian Pass Raw Bar.

August – Fly Fishing Tournament The Art of Fly Fishing is gaining momentum in our local waters. Generally solitary fishermen – peaceful solitude on the water – technique with fly tackle are the goal for this tournament. We will have a one day tournament with boats leaving from and returning to a single destination. Fly Rods only in the boat.

September – Sunset Fishing Eagle Fall Rodeo A two week offshore fishing fun fest. We will have daily prizes during the tournament for Grouper, Snapper, Amberjack, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi and Tuna. Get your boats ready. With great weather, scallop season closed and the biggest offshore fish of the season the weigh stations will capture attention and help foster our growing charter business for September. Again – Bluewater Outriggers will be the primary sponsor, with weigh in at the Port St Joe Marina, and Kick Off Parties / Awards at Sunset Coastal Grill.

October – Sunset Fishing Eagle Bottom Fishing Shootout In October – look for our one day special Bottom fishing shootout. Simple format – simple rewards – join us at the Captains meeting on the day before the tournament, and watch for announcement concerning our awards banquet. With our mainstay bottom fishing for Grouper and Snapper – and season closure in November we want to crown a bottom fishing king for the season before hunting starts in full swing.

Fishing Report From Captain Dewey. A link to the latest Book Me a Charter's Fishing Report follows!

Fishing from Mexico Beach to Indian Pass.

We have a great diversity in the types of fishing here in Gulf County. Fresh water fishing is some of the best world wide.

Starting upstream there are literally hundreds of landings along the Chipola River and all the feeder tributaries into it and the Apalachicola River, the Intercoastal Canal feeding into Lake Wimco, then all the way to Apalachicola. Bass fishing has been incredible, with a 10 plus pound bass caught in the Brother’s River recently. Try the flats in Lake Wimico to really get into the bass. As the waters warm – the fly / bait fishermen will have great rewards with panfish.

Inshore: The waters will have warmed up. Trout have moved into the Indian Pass oyster beds and grass flats. Try live shrimp or Berkely Gulp baits and fish diligently and slowly this time of year. We should see lots of trout in St Joe Bay as we move into April and May. Redfish are still in St Joe Bay, along with Flounder. Fish the deeper water grass points, and edges slowly with a grub tail for both. Moving into May – those same redfish and thousands of their friends will be thick in the grass flats of St Joe Bay. Earlier in the year – fish slow with live bait, or grub tails. Indian Pass boat fishing is incredible right now – the monster trout will begin showing up around the deeper oyster beds. Careful with your boat – don’t run into an oyster bed. The first tripletails should be showing by the end of April.

On the beaches: Whiting, pompano, and our ever elusive catfish. Use a beach rig, and fresh dead shrimp, and you are sure to catch a few. Work the small cuts and channels where water feeds back into the gulf from the wave action. Keep a stout rod available, since this is the time of year the cobia are starting to frequent our shores. For cobia – a nice eel rig, or even a well presented cigar minnow will do the trick.

Offshore: The Spanish mackerel are very thick this spring. Trolling or casting. To find them look for the diving birds and feeding fish. Any small shiny lure will do, but try to have a good clear leader. You may find King Mackerel mixed with the Spanish, have a few wire leader rigs ready with cigar minnows, and be prepared for a fight.

Grouper is back open again, after a month of closure, and Snapper opens back up in April. Check with your local tackle shop for the exact dates. The dates seem to change to often to be published. Remember – federal dates may not match state dates. State waters extend nine miles off our coast. We expect the snapper limit to be two starting May 2nd , but the exact changes are being challenged. Stay tuned.

Too many fishing choices. I guess you will have to stay longer. Have a great day fishing. Capt. Dewey Blaylock

Fishing Report from Book Me a Charter

Going Fishing During Your Cape Visit?

We can highly recommend our friends Captain Blair of BlueWater Bandit or Captain Dwayne of Book Me a Charter. Their contact information, as well as many other local charter captains, is available on our Local Information Page. Here's to a great Cape Fishing Experience and a big enough catch to feed everybody dinner during your Cape San Blas Vacation this summer!