Touching on the Big Bend offshore bite, offshore in most places drops about a foot per mile. So if your in 15 feet or more that’s a good run for our area and beyond that is what I would consider running offshore. The Florida Middle grounds is about 90 miles so if you went east that would put you almost across the state. In the 30 foot range Capt. Chris Wilkins has been catching the anglers limit of gag grouper, big mangrove snapper and hogfish. Hogfish are very good eating and fall under the exotic cool fish to catch. On the shallower side I’ve caught some in 10 feet of water that were not keepers but altogether neat on light tackle. According to Capt. Chris he said to use live shrimp on the outside edges of the structure to get the bite. Letting the action heat up on the rock first before trying to catch them. Back up way shallower, that is how we caught ours with live shrimp on the bottom near the outskirts of the structure. The inshore bite remains strong with trout being caught on popping cork rigs, near rock grass flats. Redfish is best on the incoming tide with live shrimp and snook on the high outgoing tide near passes with deep water. High incoming tide this weekend will be mid morning.
- Nature Coast - March 23, 2024
- William Toney - February 29, 2024
- Nature Coast - February 14, 2024
