Forgotten Coast Fishing Report

As I type this report, I see the palms dancing wildly in this wind that has proven to be relentless the last two weeks. No one’s getting out there in this; it’s a hard pill to swallow but that’s just how it is. NOAA has seas at 4 to 6 feet, and is predicting they will stay that way. Stay home and stay safe; tie up some extra rigs or take advantage of the much improving inshore fishing. 

I dare say the inshore moment we’ve been waiting for is upon us. The hotter weather we’ve had has brought the water temperature to a level that is bearable to stand in and with that rise I’ve started to see small amounts of better baitfish in the shallows. Off the seawall the Spanish mackerel bite has ramped up with way more strikes and bigger fish to put in the cooler. Smaller gags have made their way to the rock structure and though you can’t keep them, they’ll give you a good pull! With the gags are a few mangroves; they haven’t come in heavy yet but if you put the time in you can get a few 12 inches or better. 

Fishing in the flats has improved as well. The trout bite has picked up and I’ve found I get about two keepers for every five caught. Fishing around the intracoastal has been great with a nice variety of fish biting on artificial as well as live baits. Picture this one – I wanted to try my hand at some flounder and had waded out about 100 feet into the

water barefooted. I’m trying to avoid stepping on sharp oyster shells while simultaneously trying to keep my eye on my 3-year-old who for the life of me would not be content to stay in the area I asked.

Just as I decided I had had enough of his straying and must do something about it, Bang! I set the hook and my $30 Tsunami rod doubled over and my Nasci reel started screaming as the 10-pound line was ripped from the spool. I went into triage mode, set the drag and held tight while I tried to get a bead on my boy’s location. Where was he? Just as my heart started racing like it does when you lose sight of your child, I saw his tuft of blond curly hair behind some bushes. 

I quickly assessed the situation. The patch of sandspurs he was about to walk into would teach a good life lesson about listening to your father’s instructions and the stranger approaching him did not seem the predator type from where I was standing, so it was time to fight this fish. 

After about 12 minutes of gains and runs, and me dreaming I had a record flounder on the line, I saw the tail break the surface and realized it was just a monster redfish. I unhooked the fish and watched him swim happily back into the depths. The fish

was fine, the boy was fine, and all was well with the world. 

Now did you hear me say something about flounder earlier? Well now’s the time to go after them. Just ask Jack Caputo, shown in the photo, who landed a 19-inch doormat on an artificial bait that he’d rather I not mention. Congratulations Jack! That’s a nice one! I too have had great success over the last few days targeting and catching flounder. I’ve been using a tandem curly tail rig made from Z-man Curly TailZ with a quarter-ounce jig head on the bottom portion. All elements of this rig are available at Bluewater. Stop in and I’ll show you how to tie one up! 

Jeremiah Beasley