Redfish, Bluefish - Feb 21, 2000

So maybe I DO sound like a Dr. Suess book, but this week has been wonderful for sight fishing Redfish, and now the Bluefish seem to be back. As a matter of fact, this whole month of February has afforded the best "February Fishing" of the past 5 years. Maybe it is the conditions - not much rain and current water temperatures of 52 to 66 degrees (depending on location and depth) and air temperatures of 40 to 80 degrees. Don't EVEN ask me how to dress - every day is different. Or maybe it is due to the strict conservation measures finally having an effect. Trout has been closed for the month of February but we have seen large schools moving in clear water in the 5 to 8 pound weight range. Some of the schools of Redfish are half as big as our house (a modest 1800 sq ft). I am just surprised that there aren't more anglers taking advantage of the fishing we have been experiencing.

2/15 - Tommy took Brantley Steagall scoutfishing with him a bit West of here and had 9 nice Reds on shrimp.

2/16 - Phil Surratt fished with Tommy and enticed 6 nice Redfish with live shrimp on spin tackle and a couple of Black Drum. Meanwhile, Chris, Jason & Nathan were seen in St. Joe Bay (by ME) on huge batches of Bluefish. They saw probably 200 or more and boated 3 weighing 2-1/2 to 3lbs. I was on another flats boat watching them stalk the fish & managed to hook a few of my own. Blue fish are really aggressive, excellent fighters and they "Chomped" on live shrimp. They do have sharp teeth though and it is hard to get them all the way to the boat. Chris told me the 2 big schools of Reds they saw (50-200) were afflicted with lockjaw.

2/19-Walter & Jolene Armistead reported in that they fished the back side of St. George Island with Zachary, where they saw lots of 15-20 inch Speckled Trout on the Oyster Bars and caught a 23" Redfish on a grub. I wouldn't be surprised if that Redfish met its demise.

2/21 - One of Jim Matson's 6 Redfish on spin was 8-1/4 lbs, while Fred Williams (Illinois) and his son boated 2 keeper Reds, lost 2 keeper Reds, caught 6 puppy Reds, released 6 legal sized Trout and lost a 2 pound Flounder at the boat. Whew!



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