Here is this week's Big Bend fishing report

Fishing tools. Not something you reach into your job box for.

Tools: a device or implement used to carry out a function.

Trolling motor, anchor, fish finder are just a few examples of a fishermen's tools he uses from a boat. The more technical you get with each the more money you will most likely spend.

Two of my favorite tools when targeting submerged structure, my depth finder and my shallow water anchor. Once located on my machine, I can quickly anchor to fish designated area.

On a recent trip chasing redfish, these two tools proved invaluable. Knowing how to use my depth finer and it's hardware, allowed me to stop within casting distance of submerged structure. In this case it was oyster bars.

Tides. Probably the number 1 reason fish feed. Learn your tides and you will become a better fisherman.

When water moves fish feed. Tidal movement creates current. Wind can also create current. Learn to use the two to your advantage and really improve your level of expertise.

Positioning yourself when targeting structure will greatly improve your chances of success. I like to fish the leeward side of anything when available. Fish also use less effort when feeding there. Best case scenario, cast with the wind, retrieve with the current.

Of course there are more tools in fishing. The list is long and seemingly never ending when it comes to new technology. Days of the cane pole from the bank are over for this old guy, but I’ll never forget my roots.

I would love to be able to get you a full list of salt water fishing rules and regulations. Unfortunately, this list would cover the entire Tallahassee Democrat. So many changes, so often. Please go to MyFWC.com before heading out to fish anywhere. The "I didn't know" can be very expensive when keeping too many or too big.

Until next week, be safe have fun and ALWAYS wear your life jacket while boating.

Cliff (JR) Mundinger

APALACHEE BAY

Otto Hough (Facebook @myhometownfishing) says,"With much doubt, it was a good Memorial day holiday stretch for the weekend anglers enjoying near springlike conditions. Cool early morning temps, good tides, early major feed times coupled with light morning breezes offered up ample opportunities to catch trout, reds, rock bass, flounder, Tripletail, cobia, Spanish and ķings, with a few anglers lucky enough to jump a few tarpon. The waters of Apalachee and Apalachicola bays were producing lots of good fish during the morning rising tides. Fishing conditions going into these coming three days has the chance to be even more promising when it comes to fishing for weekend anglers.

Leading up to Friday, the early morning topwater bite has been nearly off the chain when it comes the trout and reds. There's no real reason to expect to find a lessened bite given the pre-full moon tidal flows. Also, this run of cooler overnight temps has increased the radiational cooling to help keep the skinny water temps in the 70s. With the forecast calling for daytime temps in the upper 80s, it won't be too much longer before the trout quickly seek relief by sliding into waters 5 to 8 feet as the shallow water becomes bathtub hot. So, start working topwater plugs early on, then shift gears into midmorning to get a slow suspending plug like a MirroDine or Rip-n-Slash 70s down in the water column. Another good offering is a five inch jerk shad presented either freelined, nose hooked style or on an eighth ounce jighead below an Equalizer or Cajun Thunder popping cork. If drift fishing, besides casting and popping live shrimp, have a lively pinfish floating out there under a Cajun Thunder or Equalizer.

For whatever reason this Spring, a large number of Tripletail have arrived early in the waters of the Big Bend, from Econfina to Apalach. When motoring, take a moment to eyeball the activity around the crab buoys most everywhere, plus the poles marking channels around Shell Point and Oyster Bay or any of the Intercoastal channel markers in Apalachicola bay on towards Indian Pass.

Tides along the Big Bend coastline line will be bottoming out an hour or so after sunrise with good water returning after the turn. Major feed periods will be aligning with the last three hours of the rise each of these next three days.

Wherever the boat may wander, make ceratin all on board are either wearing an auto-inflatable PFD or can readily access a PFD should the situation warrant extra safety precautions. Also, take time to point out the location of the backup kill switch to the folks on board too! One never knows when the need might arise. Always exercise nautical safety precautions when motoring. Have fun on the Big Pond. Catch 'em up! Just FISH!

INLAND

Sadly, with the absence of any appreciable rains over Lake Iamonia and Miccosukee, water levels are slowly dropping. Fortunately, the cool mornings have served to keep the bite stimulated on both lakes. Working large paddletails worms and frogs continues to be a good offering to snooker more than a few good bass to slam the bait. Fish early before that midday heat slows the bite.

ST GEORGE ISLAND

Captain Russ Knapp (850-653-5072) reports, "Yet again the weather forecast for the weekend has a big maybe attached to it as there is a low-pressure system forming in the central Gulf. Good news as of Wednesday is Mike @Mikes Weather Page (my go to source for tropical weather) is saying no problem for the Gulf due to high wind shear. If this holds up look this weekend for seas running 2 feet, winds NE 10 to 15 knots Saturday dropping to 10 knots Sunday and a 20% chance of rain. The weekend is a long time off in weather world time so as always recheck before you cast off.

Tides this weekend at the Cut will have little movement in the morning starting with an early 5 AM 1.5 foot high, followed by an 8:30 AM low at 1.4 feet, then another high at 1.9 feet around 1:30 PM and ending with a very low - 0.5 tide at 10pm. With the full Moon and a little hope this weekend, you can watch a great Sunset at 8:36pm.

In the bay, Capt. Lee Chapin (850 370 6400) says the White Trout and Whiting bite off the beach or a close in boat has been strong with cut bait seeming to work the best.

The flats should be holding nice Speckled Trout -- start in 5 feet of water and work your way in until you find them fishing with a Gulp or Doa under a Cajun Thunder popping cork.

Capt. Lee reports the Catfish are here in big numbers and wants to remind you to be extra careful when releasing them as a Catfish stick can result in a major problem.

Gaff Sail Catfish spikes are covered in a venomous slime that can cause a very serious inflection so if things start getting strange dock up and head for the E.R. at Weems Hospital right away as time is of the essence.

Offshore, Capt. Clint Taylor (850 370 6631) is catching Wahoo in the big water (out 55 miles) and good-sized Red Grouper fishing deep live bottom out 30 plus miles with large live baits or whole squid.

Federal For Hire Commercial Red Snapper season (out past nine miles) opens June 1st for those of you lucky enough to have a charter booked. If you didn't get booked and would still like to go, call your favorite Capt. and get on their waiting list as there are always some cancelations.

Tip of the week -- this week we are into a strange "you can never say you have seem everything" deal with a fair-sized Swordfish washing up on the beach this week -- Capt. Lee reports it had been seen cruising just offshore and then washed-up dead for no clear-cut reason with some reports of it being caught and some it just washed up. Throw in a 6-foot three-legged Gator surfing the waves in the state park and it has been an interesting week to say the least.

MEXICO BEACH

Captain Kevin Lanier of (KC Sportfishing Charters 850-933-8804) As May rolls in so does the anticipation of summer fishing and the long hot days ahead. With changes put in place by the Fishery Management folks please, check your regulations before you head out. Unlike years past, we are not having a Greater Amberjack retention season this month and we will Gag grouper will not open on June 1st as it normally does.

Meanwhile, Nearshore fishing has been good with keeper Reds and Flounder gigging has been productive. Look for those calm nights and wade the shallows. Pompano are still thick and you can catch you limit most mornings. Early starts are the key. Enjoy the sunrise and your cup of coffee as you watch your surf rods go off.

Offshore continues to be very weather dependent. On the days folks are getting out fish are there. We are still catching Vermillion Snapper and Trigger fish will be open until the end of May. Squid is the go-to bait for these. For the Beeliners keep your bait right on the bottom, maybe a half turn up. There have been a few King Mackerel caught in the area so, for you diehard King fisherman get those flatlines out while bottom fishing.

Trends should continue to improve and the Federal Charter Red Snapper season will open June 1. Recreational season opens June 16.

BIG BEND KAYAK REPORT

Salt strong coach Matt Lanier ([email protected]) tells us, "The fishing has been on fire lately and we have been finding some solid redfish around the lighthouse, and I have no reason to believe that will be changing within the next week, however there could be a chance at some more of those afternoon showers that come in these warmer months.

The rain showers that we have been getting are often a huge help in that they cool down the water temperature, flush out bait in the marsh and creeks, and can provide cloud cover on a normally very hot day. With all these things considered, fishing before, or after, one of these rain showers can be some great fishing. And for those die-hards, provided there is no lightning, even fishing through the rain.

We often talk about how in the warmer months you want to try to follow the water flow and current. If the tide is coming in, come in towards the shoreline with it. If the tide is going out, go further out with it. Following the current, finding good water flow, and finding the bait will be crucial as the water temperatures start to warm more.

The trout are being found on the outside edges of the flats and potholes in the 3-5 foot range. They like their natural haunts, on the ledges of the flats, or even the opening of the river or creek channels. Be sure to use jig heads heavy enough to get you down in the deeper part of the water column, where those fish are at. Typically, a 3/16th or 1/4th oz will do fine in most areas.

Redfish are still in a shallow water pattern, cruising the flats and shallows for an easy meal, but will also often return to the shorelines with the incoming tide. On those hot days, as the sun gets higher in the sky, they will generally move a bit deeper and sit in the potholes on the flats (in the 2-3 foot range), in search of comfortable waters and conditions.

If the winds allow, you can start the mornings with a topwater plug of choice to entice those massive blowups just after sunrise. Productive lures, as of lately, have been the Skitter Walk, Moonwalker, One-Knocker or any other walk-the-dog style topwater.

Once the sun is up, your lure choice should generally move to something subsurface. As the higher the sun gets, the fish are less likely to feed on a topwater, so switching to a paddletail or a jerk shad, spoon, or even a hard, suspending twitch bait has been productive, but the most important thing will be to find the bait and current.

One important thing is to keep moving if you aren't finding feeding fish. With the warmer temperatures, the fish will be on the move and we need to be doing the same to find their preferred feeding zones. Try not to spend too much time in one area if you aren't getting the bites you are looking for.

The Florida Redfish Series Stop 6, here in Panacea, is this weekend, and we are excited for some great fishing! This is the last regular season event, which means, this is your last chance to get your second tournament in to be eligible for the 2-day championship in September. The Captain's Meeting will be at Seinyard at Rock Landing and begin around 7pm. For more information on this event or others, be sure to go to flredfishseries.com for more information.

The Rocking Reds Fishing Tournament in Panacea is not long after, with an added kayak division this year! It's nice to see the kayak division in this year's event, so boats and yaks alike, get ready to fish a local event for a good cause! This is a two-day event with a great pay-out, so mark your calendars for this June 24th & 25th event at Wooley Park in Panacea.

If you find yourself on the water and fishing in a spot where you haven't gotten a bite for the last 15 minutes… it's time to move. Keep looking for the 90/10 zone where those fish are holding. Don't waste time in unproductive areas. The fish are moving and so should you!

To get the kids on some fish quickly, a live shrimp, or GULP!, under a popping cork around creek mouths, and even grass lines is a solid producer of fish. And the best part is you never know what you’ll catch because everything eats shrimp… EVEN ME!

If you plan on getting out this weekend, be sure to wear sunscreen! The sun can take its toll very quickly, so stay covered up, and always make sure you check (and double check) your gear and the weather. But most importantly… STAY SAFE & HAVE FUN!

LAKE SEMINOLE

The Bass fishing on Lake Seminole has been very good this month as we enter June the topwater bite will be EXPLOSIVE!

The Bream and Shellcracker have been bedding and the May flies have started hatching!

For a Lake Seminole Fishing Adventure this June give me a call at 850-264-7534 or follow us on Instagram @Capt.paultyrefishing and [email protected]