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Local fishing action will heat up with the weather
By Mark Clabaugh
Hello Folks! Well, winter is ending and spring is coming, and not a minute too soon! This winter we have certainly had our share of storms, which is good for a change, since the lakes need the water. But what does that mean for us wanting to do some fishing? Well, we have a few great options whether we are fishing from the shore or a boat and the big news will be COBIA.
Well, I forgot … the biggest news for us right now is that the snapper season is SAVED! That is right, on April 15 state waters open and that will be followed by federal waters on June 1. This is to save the red snapper population in the Gulf of Mexico. Many would argue that the snapper are plentiful in the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, while eating lunch the other day at Aegean Breeze, we were talking about how the snapper are now eating up all the baby trigger fish.
There are many species that are still in season if you can get past all the hungry red snapper. That is the trick if you want bottom fish for triggerfish or grouper, which are both doing well on the smaller wrecks that have structure to them. Aboard the Reel Eazy, with Captain Buddy Rogers, it's easy to trigger fish. Captain Buddy has his crew rig up two hook bottom rigs with a 6oz lead. The hooks are very small and he stresses small squares of cut squid. This does not eliminate the snapper; however, they are not as enticed by larger more attractive baits.
 | | Mark Clabaugh/Splash Magazine Flounder can be caught near pilings using live shrimp as bait. Slowly bumping the shrimp along the bottom is the best technique to trigger a bite. |
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Amberjack is another great offshore catch in the wintertime and since the baitfish have been thin during the winter, they are easier to catch with a jig. When fishing amberjack, drop your rig about 3/4 way to the bottom and quickly jig your bait back to the top. Hold on though, these fish can fight! Another option right now is to catch some squirrel fish or other type of bait fish off of a wreck and take them to the wreck you are wanting to fish for amberjack. It is my experience that amberjack are less likely to eat baitfish caught from the same wreck, which I believe are plentiful and not as attractive.
The inshore Captains, like Vic at Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle, will tell you that there are some keeper redfish and speckle trout out on the grass flats. They have not seen a lot of pressure and the water has been really nice for fishing between the storms. This time of the year they are very keen on some small diving plugs as well as bull minnows. If you are fishing at night around some lights, fish a few feet down with live shrimp.
On the pier they are catching redfish off the second sandbar using cut bait such as menhadden or cut mullet. The smellier the better! The best rig is one that allows your bait to float away from the lead. I usually tie my lead to a loop about 18 to 24 inches above the hook. Pompano are also eating off the sand bars and are taking small plugs site fishing or small sand fleas if you are fishing the bottom for them. Most of the pompano are being caught about 50 yards or more from the beach, in the shallow bar area. If you are into flounder, you can catch them with live shrimp near the pilings or use a small plug with a taste of shrimp, bumping it along the bottom slowly.
That is what we expect to catch for the next month; however, we are looking forward to some exciting fishing here soon. Cobia season is just around the corner and since the Gulf is a little warmer this season I am thinking that they will make an earlier appearance this season. So keep reading because we will be more than happy to report to you when the first one is caught from the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier, which is open now 24/7. Also, snapper season opens April 15, which I can guarantee there will be a hot bite with all the reduced pressure, so be sure to book your charter or plan a fishing trip with your buddies soon.
FLOUNDER FLORENTINE This time of year you can get some really good
Flounder. If you can't get one by fishing, try Maria's
seafood, they have some fresh flounder there.
Ingredients:
o 1 lb. flounder fillets
o 1 Tbs. plus 1 tsp. unsalted butter
o 2 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. onion, chopped
o 1/8 tsp. rosemary, crushed
o 7 ounces frozen chopped spinach
o 2 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. chopped almonds
o 1/3 cup instant rice, cooked
o 2 tsp. lemon juice
o toothpicks
o 2/3 cup cream of mushroom soup
o 2 Tbs. plus 2 tsp. water
o 1/8 tsp. paprika
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt butter in a
saucepan over medium heat. Sauté onions and rosemary
4-5 minutes until onions are tender. Add next 4
ingredients. Now, Heat 5 minutes while stirring occasionally.
Let cool. Place 1/4 cup mixture on each flounder
fillet. Roll up and secure with toothpicks. Arrange
flounder rolls in a shallow buttered baking dish. Bake
20 minutes. Combine soup and water in a bowl. Pour
soup over baked the flounder, stirring around sides.
Bake another 15 minutes, or until heated through.
Sprinkle with paprika and serve.
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