Happy Fishing! Here is this weekend's Big Bend fishing report

APALACHEE BAY

Otto Hough (myhometownfishing.com) says, ”Well, got to confess, all my fishing this week was from a tandem Native kayak, chasing reds and trout behind SGI with Jill Andrews or bass in Lake Iamonia with Randy Trousdell. No disappointment for any of us in salt or fresh water as the post full moon bite in the early morning hours was strong on topwater plugs. My angling buddies chasing the trout, reds, gags, AJs, cobia and more from powered watercraft had good success over the past weekend.

This weekend, if the NWS Marine Forecast holds true, weekend anglers should have an opportunity to find biting fish inside and outside. Seas and southerly winds inside should be light. There's still good post full moon tidal movement through the weekend. High tides along the Big Bend coastline will be happening right around sunrise. There's also the added bonus of a major feed period bracketing the sunrise high tides through the weekend. Great early morning conditions.

If targeting trout and/or reds, think early just after safelight up close in the skinny water working those topwater offerings. It really hasn't seemed to matter if it was a One Knocker, Super Spook, Skitterwalk, Top Dog or Moonwalker as long as the lures was in a bone color scheme, as both species have been aggressively attacking the plugs.

Outside, the gags are devouring live bait offerings as well as squid over live bottom. Slow trolling the Rapala CDMag18 & 22s, depending on water depth, was producing and should again produce some quality gags this weekend. If cobia are spotted cruising the shallow water rock piles, present a lively freelined offering or work a big seven inch softbait by casting into the target zone. Also, in the deeper (35'-45') off Dog Island reef, the kings were zeroing in on slow trolled blue runners on stinger rigs.

Wherever the boat, or for that matter, the yak may go over these next three days, have fun, wear an auto-inflatable PFD and just FISH!!"

ST. GEORGE ISLAND

Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, “I hope you offshore anglers got out last weekend because the party's over this weekend with the forecast for seas running 3 to 5 feet both Saturday and Sunday with SE winds blowing 15 to 20 knots Saturday. There looks to be a good chance of rain on Saturday which is coming off a tropical wave to our South and Sunday looks like more rain from a cold front that is looking to cruise by. This is an active weather weekend to say the least and certainly one to pay close attention to forecast updates as it doesn't get much weirder even for here.

In the bay, Capt. Dan Fortunas (850-980-0101) reports the fish are here and hungry with nice Gator Trout that can't pass up a fresh shrimp to be found hanging around the Cut off the beach. Capt. Dan also says that Pompano are still to be found off the beach and around the Cut sharing the waters of the Cut with a good number of Bonnethead and Black Tip Sharks.  Sandfleas -- fiddler crabs and sandflea Fish bites on a small circle hook will get a Pompano to bite, while a nice chunk of cut bait on a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook with a wire leader will reward you with a Shark on your line. If Tripletail are your thing, Capt. Jack Frye (850-247-8134) has been catching good tripletail this week by checking everything he can find that is floating the bay. Capt. Jack says when you spot one idle up very slowly and throw a live or fresh shrimp hooked though the tail on a 1/8 oz jighead up near it.

Offshore, Capt. Clint Taylor (850-370-6631) is catching nice Red Grouper on live bottom out 20 miles plus and putting Amberjack in the box fishing around the deeper wrecks and structure.  Live bait is always going to work the best so bring a bunch of Sabiki rigs with you and tip them with tiny squid bits. In state waters (zero to nine miles out) Gag Grouper are still in season and can be found on live bottom and if you can get down past the Red Snapper around the reefs and wrecks. Bring the chum with you if you're looking for Mangrove Snapper and you will be able to get them up away from the "other" Snappers. Fluorocarbon leaders with small baits freelined or with a light sinker and small circle hook should do the trick.

Tip of the week -- It's the middle of May and we already have tropical wave active -- now is the time to make your plans to secure your boat in the event of a "tropical visitor" coming our direction. Key points are have Plan A and Plan B ready to go and if they are needed don't wait until the last minute to take action! I'm a big fan of Mike's Weather Page for tropical weather as while he's not a professional he is pretty close to being one and he gives you info looking out ten days to two weeks while NHC only goes out five days. I strongly suggest you add MWP to your bookmarks as it looks like another busy season coming up and he was spot on with his Michael forecast while others were less so."

KEATON BEACH

Captain Pat McGriff of One More Cast (onemorecast@gtcom.net) says, “This report is from three good friends who were down from Ga. for a few days to a week for some.

Doug Garwood and his wife Janine of Dalton, Ga. had their limit three days in a row while throwing live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders in 4.5 ft. of water. Doug tried the  early morning bite with his “vintage” (his words) Renegade plugs and found the bite too slow and mostly shorts with way too much floating grass to make it any fun.  Janine had top honors two of the three days while throwing the 'parrot' pattern at a 21 and a 22-inch trout. The Hardegree clan was down from North Ga. with two boats and limited out three days consecutively while throwing a variety of topwater plugs early on Tracy’s boat and then fishing soft plastic as the sun got on up while Jim and Mike (the older generation) caught their limits on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders from around 4.5 feet.

Jim and Tina Bruchey are down from Moultrie, Ga. and they caught some really nice-sized trout for three days including a 24” trout Monday and threw back two more over 20”. They then landed a box of 9 trout Wednesday with one 21” trout and a Spanish. The Brucheys were also fishing live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders."

MEXICO BEACH

Capt. Kevin Lanier KC Sportfishing Mexico Beach, Fla. (850-933-8804) reports, "Fishing has just kept getting better and better this week and the Amberjack are here in force. Live bait and Jigs are just killing this fish. Being such aggressive feeders, find the structure and find the fish. Deep water is best, but they are also showing in as shallow as 70 feet of water.

For us, Federal Permitted Charters Red Snapper Season begins June 1. Come go fishing with us.

Trigger fish and Vermillion have been caught in 60 feet of water and are chasing Squid and Cigar minnows. Red Snapper are so thick at the moment they are pest but they are still fun to fight, especially on light rods."

ECONFINA

Fishing at St Marks has been excellent, try 5 to 8 feet of water for Trout, Mackerel and Sea Bass. Using Gulp Shrimp on a 1/4 Oz jighead, almost any color will work. Or cut bait or shrimp work as well. Some nice Reds being caught along the shore on cut bait or a gold spoon. Capt. Randy Peart (captpeart@yahoo.com)

LAKE SEMINOLE

Capt. Paul Tyre reports, “The Bass Fishing on Lake Seminole continues to be very good! The Bass are in their post spawn patterns and are feeding on Shad and Bream.

I’ve had the opportunity to help 83 customers so far this year to catch their PB (personal best) Bass! Jena Radney caught her PB weighing in at 10 plus pounds it was AWESOME watching her fight that BIG Bass to the boat!

The Shellcracker and Bream are still bedding on Lake Seminole! I had a great time with the West family from Thomasville Georgia  they caught over 150 BIG Shellcracker!

For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure for Shellcracker and/or Bass this April give me a call to check availability at 850-264-7534, follow us on Instagram @Capt.paultyrefishing or email me at paultyrefishing@yahoo.com."

FRESHWATER

Otto B. Fishing says, "The post full moon early to midday bite on both Lake Iamonia and Miccosukee was cranking at the first of the week. The big bass were really liking the Zoom Speedvibe and Bass Assassin RBG worms worked along the fringes of the pads in 5 to 7 feet of water. It was a great day for my fishing partner, Randy Trousdell as he not only got a limit of 14 to 16" bass for the grease, he also snookered two fine 'catch and release' six-plus pounders. But the best part of the trip, he also got his Lake Iamonia Personal Best bass. A healthy 8.6lbs, 23 incher on the Speedvibe. She was successfully released to breed next year, I hope, as long as other anglers also appreciate the importance of these bigger fish remaining in the gene pool."

No one covers the ‘Noles like the Tallahassee Democrat. Subscribe using the link at the top of the page and never miss a moment.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Check out this weekend's Big Bend fishing report