Outdoors: Mixed bag available for anglers

Now is the time to go after fall migrating species. Baitfish are still abundant and fattening up on them are armies of sea trout and redfish. These fish will be around all winter and are storing up fat reserves to get them through the cold, lean times that are coming. Anglers throughout the area have been easily catching limits of both species by using either live bait (pinfish, shrimp, small mullet, whitebait, etc.) and lures. Water conditions are pretty murky, so artificial baits that make lots of noise have been producing well, as have been brightly-colored lures. Noise-making popping corks have been attracting fish to live bait (and lures) suspended below them.

Mixed in with the resident fish are migrating pelagics like Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jack crevalle, ladyfish, cobia, king mackerel and others. They too are feeding on schools of baitfish as they slowly work their way south to warmer waters. Lures work well for these fish too, so don't be surprised if something with teeth makes off with one of your favorite lures. A short leader of fluorocarbon or light wire might help you hang onto those expensive artificial baits.

Flashy plugs worked on top, mid-water running baitfish imitations, and bright silver spoons cranked very fast through the water should fill your cooler.

As air and water temperatures drop expect to see more fish feeding. Catch them now. Soon it will be too cold for both fish and fishermen. Cold! Ahhh.

Hurricane aftermath

Area launch ramps are opening up again There's fish out there. Lots of them. Trouble is, getting to the ramps after Hurricane Michael presents a problem. Most local boat ramps were closed due to damage and debris. But now they are slowly becoming usable again.

Captain Dave Lear in Tallahassee and some members of the Big Bend Fishing Club have been checking conditions and posting what they've found on the club's Web site, www.bigbendfishing.net. Following is a partial list of local ramps that are somewhat usable.

St. Marks Lighthouse ramps and access roads are closed. Shields Marina in St. Marks has one ramp open. They also have ice and boat fuel available. By the time this goes to press both ramps might be open. Call them at (850) 925-6158.

Newport ramp on Highway 98 is open. Lanark Village Mart is open, but the ramp is not usable until docks are repaired. St. Marks ramps at Fort San Marcos are closed. Shell Point ramp appears to be OK, but access to it is difficult. Carrabelle ramp is open. Rock Landing ramp is open. Levy Bay ramp is open. Sea Hag Marina is open. Alligator Point Surf and Sand ramp, possibly usable but restricted access. St. George Island is unknown at this time.Aucilla River ramp is closed. Econfina River ramp is open.

This is by no means a complete list of launch ramps in the Big Bend, but it's a start. Be very careful, as many of the ramps are covered in mud and sand. Four wheel drive is recommended. If you have a tow strap bring it, just in case. Also be aware that many channel markers were moved by the storm. Go slow and use your GPS to navigate.

For shore-bound anglers the Russell-Fields (city) and M.B. Miller (county) fishing piers in Panama City Beach are open, but the Mexico Beach Pier is gone. No information on the piers at Mashes Sands and Bald Point.

Freshwater launch ramps throughout the area are most likely open by now. There wasn't enough rainfall to cause flooding and damage. The exception is Lake Jackson, where the water level continues to drop. Only small boats, canoes, and kayaks can gain access to the water.

President’s Plan to Seek Clean Air Act Waiver to Allow Sale of E15 Fuel Year-Round Doesn’t Sit Well with Boater’s Advocate

In a published report last week, the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), reacted negatively to the recent news of the Administration’s plan to permit the sale of E15 (15 percent ethanol) fuel year-round.

E15 is prohibited by federal law for use in recreational boat engines, voids many marine engine warranties, and is currently banned for sale in many states by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during summer months over concerns that it contributes to smog on hot days. Under the Administration’s new proposal, however, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would grant a waiver to the Clean Air Act to permit the sale of E15 in all 50 states year-round at the same roadside gas stations where most recreational boaters refuel their trailered vessels.

The BoatUS statement said: “The proposal to permit the sale of a fuel (E15) during the peak summer boating season that is both harmful and illegal to use in marine engines is a major concern for boat owners. The nation’s 11 million recreational boaters want fuel that is safe for their boats, however, this proposed EPA policy change will increase the chances that boaters could inadvertently put engine-killing E15 into their tanks. Unlike the physical barriers that prevent misfueling between gasoline and diesel fuel-powered vessels, just one small orange warning label on the fuel pump is all that stands between a boat owner making a misfueling mistake that could lead to expensive, warranty-voiding repairs and catastrophic engine failure.”

At the core of the issue is the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). When it was passed in 2005, RFS assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to grow. Since then, however, gasoline usage has not increased as forecast, which today forces more ethanol into each gallon of gas. To keep up with the RFS mandate, in 2010 the EPA granted a partial waiver to allow E15 into the marketplace – which they are now expanding regardless of market demand and infrastructure constraints. Only fuels containing up to 10 percent ethanol (E10) are permitted for use in recreational boats.

The more than half-million-member boat owners group is a member of Smarter Fuel Future and supports fuel choice, including smart biofuels development such as biobutanol, and the availability of ethanol-free fuels that most boat owners prefer.

Fishing Report

Saltwater

Apalachicola

Kathy Robinson at Robinson Bros. Guide Service (Robinson@FlaRedfish.com (850) 653-8896) in Apalachicola said: "Apalachicola overall was so extremely fortunate. There are no words for what happened just to our west. Utilities were restored as of yesterday evening for the most part in Apalach. Hopefully St. George Island is not far behind. While I cannot speak from first hand experience as I'm headed home tomorrow, our wonderful community has pulled together and supported each other admirably. Now to clean up and rebuild. Our fishing fleet did not suffer any damage to equipment and as soon as possible guides will be back on the water, hopefully any day now. Sadly the fish cleaning shed did not make it. A huge thank you to Chuck Hurst for donating the fees from his cancelled fishing trip to his captain and to Melissa & Jonathan Davis for their straight up donation to help our captains who are out of work. I have been asked to provide info for making donations to our area. You can go to Hurricane Michael Relief at www.gofundme.com Or mail a check to Franklin County Sheriff's Dept in Eastpoint, FL. If you have a specific request Robinson Brothers Guide Service or Robinson Real Estate Company can oblige by making sure your check or credit card charge goes where you wish. Please, please - if you have reservations with us for fishing or lodging or even with another company, consider re-scheduling instead of asking for an immediate refund. You will be doing everyone a huge favor. If you can't reschedule maybe make your deposit a charitable donation? Our hearts go out to everyone who lost so much in this storm."

Apalachee Bay

MyHometownfishing.com Fishing Update. Otto Hough at Myhometownfishing.com (otto@myhometownfishing.com) said: "Without a question, Michael turned the fishing world across Apalachee Bay upside down and more. West of Alligator Point, the flats inside of Turkey Point Spit and Bird Island at Lanark have much new sand with less grass and spotty bottom showing. Even some of the cottages along US 98 towards Lanark have now become 'beachfront' properties with the washed up sand. Lots of sand got relocated. The beach at St. Teresa is a good 50 feet wider with really clean sand. The sand bars that run parallel to St. Teresa have been altered dramatically. Depths in some of my favorite spots off Turkey Point Spit have gotten significantly shallower on the high tide. Really skinny at low tide. To the east of the Lighthouse, lots of debris pushed up against the shoreline and into some of the creeks. For the most part, the waters between the coastline on out to the Refuge buoy line are in pretty good shape, with hungry fish roaming. The cold front that is pushing over Big Bend waters will serve to stimulate the hungry Fall bite over the weekend.

"As it stands right now, limited ramp access is available, with both the St. Marks Lighthouse ramp and Aucilla closed by the SMNWR. They will remain closed until safety factors, either with the Lighthouse Road or the Mandalay ramp/dock can be fully assessed. The ramps at Econfina, Shell Point, Shields' Marina (one for now) and Levy Bay are open. Hopefully by Saturday at the latest, the ramp at the Fort will reopen as will the Rock Landing and Mashes Sand ramps. Given storm imposed restrictions to the ramps, please exercise ample amounts of ramp courtesies. Both Friday and Saturday look like good days to get after the trout and reds inside, along with chasing a gag outside. Seas and winds should be light. Sunday is a little questionable as the winds out of the northeast will likely be in the 15 to 20 knot range. Low tides will be happening right around sunrise, coming back into the middle of the day before falling out again till the sun fades away. If the boat can get in the water, there will be fish out there to admire the lures or live baits offered up. Just remember to boat safely as there is still a moderate amount of debris floating here and there. Nothing much worse than slamming a random dock board while running."

Keaton Beach

Captain Pat McGriff of One More Cast Guide Service (www.onemorecast.net, onemorecast@gtcom.net (850) 584-9145) said: "Keaton Beach is in Great shape, we were very lucky this time and only received 4-6 feet of surge, which thankfully was not in high winds, so there was no catastrophic damage, just flooding damage. 95% of folks at all the beaches and islands had time and took the precautions to move everything they had down on the ground floor storages or houses to higher ground or positions etc. Our thoughts and prayers, our hearts and souls go out to all of those to the west of us who lost their lives, homes, businesses and properties due to the direct hit from Michael. Now for the Fishing! After a productive day of scouting and catching bait Friday, which included finding the water “scalloping” clear between Number One marker and the Dekle Rack, we easily caught pinfish there and in front of Adams Beach where the stain started to provide cover enough to catch a few shorts and a 19-inch keeper. We moved on up the coast to find the water very turbid once we were past the Spring Warrior marker. After two unproductive stops that far north we came back to waters in front of Sullivan Camp and put seven more keepers, including a 21-inch trout for Leonard Bell of Tallahassee. We moved back down in front of Dekle Beach and caught a hundred pinfish in about an hour and came in.

"Saturday I had the Johnny Jackson group from Opp, Alabama and we had a great time and an outstanding box of fish! After a sluggish start due to lack of wind we had managed only five keepers in a couple of hours. I moved further north than I had planned to fish, thinking the water was too dark or silty, and we began to catch fish like crazy. When the smoke cleared after the first stop we had 18 in the box including three over 20 inches long. We moved one more time and finished our limit. We fished with live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders for the majority. However Clay Jackson, Johnny’s 10 y.o. grandson, caught five keepers with Assassin’s 5-inch in Arkansas Shad and Fried Chicken rigged up 22inches under the Original Cajun Thunder. Our bite was in 3.5 to 4.0 feet of water."

Steinhatchee

Chaeli Norwood at Sea Hag Marina in Steinhatchee (352-498-3008) sent photos of fish...lots of fish. Redfish large and small, spotted sea trout limits, giant jack crevalle and Spanish mackerel. On the unusual side, she sent a photo of a huge houndfish caught by Vanessa Allen. Norwood said storm damage was minimal in Steinhatchee.

Freshwater

Lake Jackson

Otto Hough at Myhometownfishing.com (otto@myhometownfishing.com) said: "Michael was windy, but not a soaker. What little rains that did fall did little to help Lake Jackson. In fact, since the storm passed through late Wednesday, the lake has been slipping away a half inch or so a day. Simply sad. There are bass that are active across the lake, but only those in jon boats, canoes and kayaks are finding success getting to the waters where the bite has been happening."