Capt. Tommy Thompson's Saltwater Angler's Guides

Capt. Rick Davidson, Editor, Sea Hag Fishing Reports

Steinhatchee Fishing Forecast for November 2017, Sea Hag Marina

Fishing this month will be weather dependent, but will almost certainly be excellent. The water is clear and we’ll see how the temps respond to a cold snap, but the flats will still be producing a lot of fish. Slow down your presentation with chillier temperatures. Jigs and Gulp baits will do well. Look for schools of large redfish this month. And one of our more seasonal species, silver trout (called sand trout by some) have arrived in force. Personally I think they fight harder than spotted seatrout and they are better eating. And there are no limits on catches. They are usually caught in deeper water from 4 to 8 feet, and frequently over sand with less grass than on the flats. They are caught with spotted trout, usually smaller fish. Target them with the same techniques as spotted trout…jigs with soft tails or Gulp baits do well. Hot spots included areas west and northwest of the Birdrack and inside of Little Bank in 5 to 7 feet of water. Look for humps on your depth finder, and re-drift over areas of fish when you find them. We’ll be waiting for real cold weather to see if it drives trout into the river but that will be more likely in the next few months.

Looking for a good fishing guide?  Here’s a recent list from Steinhatchee:

Big Bend Guides, Members of Florida Guides Association

Capt. Pat McGriff  (Keaton Beach)

(850) 584-9145

One More Cast Charters

onemorecast@gtcom.net

Type of Fishing : Inshore

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Capt. Bob Erdman

(352) 356-2554

Something’s Fishy Charters

captainboberdman@yahoo.com

Flats, Inshore, Nearshore, Light Tackle, Backcountry

Trout, Redfish, Flounder, Cobia, Black Bass, Spanish mackerel

Steinhatchee, Jena, Deadman’s Bay

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Capt. Brad Riddle

(352) 318-2138

FIN ACTION CHARTERS

captainbradriddle@cox.net

Inshore, Inshore, Nearshore, Flats, Artificial Lure, Live Bait, Group, Private, Scalloping

Trout, Redfish, Black Sea Bass, Pink Mouth Grunts, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia, Flounder, Sheepshead

Steinhatchee, Big Bend Area

River Haven Marina Guides, Steinhatchee

Captain Steve Kroll’s Pepperfish Key Charters (352) 322-4085
USCG licensed Captain Steve Kroll is your host and guide for a great day of near shore and flats fishing, or scalloping, on the beautiful Big Bend region.

On The Mark Guide Service
Captain Mark Lord, a Florida Flats Fishing Guide, is a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, with years of experience fishing and guiding in the Steinhatchee area.

Sea Hag Marina Guides, Steinhatchee

Captain Randall Hewitt 386-208-3823  http://www.hookedonreds.com/

Captain Steve Rassel 352 359-5902 http://www.lastcastras.com/

Captain Scott Peters, Jr 352-356-7502 http://badtothebonefishingcharters.com/

Captain Rick Davidson http://bitemefishing.wordpress.com/

Captain Brian Smith 877-852-3474 http://www.bigbendcharters.com/

Good Times Marina Guides,  Steinhatchee

Capt. Mark Brady (contact thru Good Times Marina, 352-498-8088

Capt. Steve Hart, (352) 498-0299

…and it’s time to get out your shallow-running and slow-sinking hard baits for both seatrout and redfish.

As the flats come back to life at the beginning of spring, the redfish and seatrout venture away from their wintertime hidey-holes and head away from shore.   That usually happens in early March in our part of Florida, giving boaters less willing to take chances on our rocky shoreline a better chance of catching a limit of fish for dinner.  While many anglers prefer to fish live baits for springtime fish, the majority of trophy trout (known as “gators” to locals) and redfish are taken with artificial baits that mimic the look and action of small mullet or sardines.

Good choices of hard baits include the  Live Target Scaled Sardine, the Rapala X-Rap or Flat Rap, the MirrOlure 7M, the Yo-Zuri 3D Minnow and the Heddon Swim ‘n Image.  These plugs naturally sink slowly and are designed to run just under the surface of the water when retrieved.   Your ability to make long casts is important, as is your stealth.  Springtime trout and reds can be spooky, so no “hootin’ and hollerinl” is allowed when fishing.  Just make long casts and make a big smile when you hook up to big fish!

Most of the above named lures are available at specialty tackle shops like Captain’s Cove Outfitters (Inglis),  Mangrove Creek Outfitters (Chiefland), Gary’s Tackle Box (Gainesville), Alachua Farm and Lumber (Alachua), The Sea Hag Marina (Steinhatchee) and Big Bend Outfitters(Perry).

Thanks to the Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee for posting this list early–and for hosting!

• Fiddler Crab Lots of Spots February 15, 2014

• Steinhatchee Community Tournament April 5, 2014

• Florida Lure Anglers April 5, 2014

• Elite Redfish Challange Opening Event April 12, 2014

• UF Health Shands
  Childrens Hospital Fishing for Kids April 26, 2014

• Optimist Club of Perry May 5, 2014

• Doug Johnson, Reeling for Kids June 14-15, 2014

• Steinhatchee Nauti Girls    June 15, 2014

• Elite Redfish Challange Closing Event August 23, 2014

Some great photos of the gang at the Sea Hag.  We plan to do the ‘Scalloping Saturday Studio’ again later in the season, so don’t miss an opportunity to participate!

The Sea Hag Marina at Steinhatchee has added 5 new boats to their boat rental fleet.  Originally, there were 6 of the 25-foot Carolina Skiffs and with the addition of 5 boats in April of 2011, the fleet now numbers 11.

The rental boats from The Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee are big, safe, and comfortable.

These rental boats are not typical of what you’ll find at other marinas.  These are current models, powered by 90hp Mercury 4-stroke engines.  They also have all the required safety gear, Bimini tops, a cooler, and dive ladder.  Maximum load for each boat is 10 persons.  The $199 rental cost (plus fuel) is a real bargain, even if you own a boat.

The full fleet will be in operation well in advance of the 2011 recreational scallop season.  Make reservations now by calling (352) 498-3008, as those 11 boats will be in high demand.

Don’t miss this one!  The tournament, sponsored by the Perry Optimist Club, offers over $10,000 in cash and prizes for a wide range of species.  There’s even a separate category for spearfishers.  And don’t miss a chance to win the raffle–the big prize is a 16-foot Carolina Skiff with at 25HP Yamaha and a galvanized trailer.

Weigh-in will be held at 3 locations, The Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee, Keaton Beach Marina in Keaton Beach and Econfina River Resort in Econfina.