Suwannee River good bet for bass fanatics

Formed almost 50 years ago at Ray Scott’s request, the St. Johns Bass Anglers is the oldest bass club in Florida. Scott’s Bass Anglers Sportsman Society was still in its infancy and, at that time, he did not have a club in Florida. Scott contacted a couple of prominent northeast Florida fishers to change that. Dick Hulcher, the only surviving charter member, adds that his club was first to welcome ‘Junior Members’, and their first young apprentice was the now-legendary Peter Thliveros (aka Peter T), then a 14 year old. 

Even though the truly jaw-dropping Orange Lake catches seemingly ended in mid-summer, the old Jacksonville club visited the storied lake last Saturday determined to change that, and the St. Johns Bass Anglers likewise failed to locate one of the Orange Lake giants. Ray Pack won the affair with 12.33 pounds. Pack’s limit included a 6.91-pounder — the heaviest single fish of the day. Owen Brown boated a pair of nice 5-pounders but added only one more small fish to total 11.20 and claim second place. 

If you’re a bass fanatic and looking for fast action locally, the Suwannee River is a good bet. We have heard bassers’ tales of steady action for a few weeks now. Heavyweight largemouths might not be in play, but for numbers the Suwannee is presently tough to beat. J. C. Haire and Tyler Wright fished out of Suwannee Town on Saturday. Casting a variety of soft plastic worms, they caught and released 40 bass up to 3 pounds. Fishing near the gulf, they also boated three incidental redfish. 

The first of three weekends of bonus red snapper season in gulf waters was roundly celebrated as successful. Snapper limits were common, and some offshore specialists were pleasantly surprised to also find sizable and hungry grouper. David Robinson and friends headed west out of Cedar Key early Saturday morning. In water 65 feet deep, Robinson slowed to trolling speed and the anglers put out Mann’s Stretch 30 diving lures. One was nailed by a strong fish right away. 

When the fishermen put up the Stretch lures in favor of dropping cut bait and squid to the bottom, they already had on ice 9 good gag grouper up to 33-inches. When they dropped the natural baits to the bottom while anchored over key spots, the men added three good red grouper and three nice red snapper to the day’s take. Strangely, the fast bite was far better during the morning hours, slowing after noon. 

The 10th Nauti Girls Fishing Tournament was held Saturday at Steinhatchee. The popular women-only fishing event drew a whopping 213 participants. That it fell on Day One of the recently established six extra days of red snapper harvest was a real bonus, as this allowed for a Red Snapper category. Elaine Bivins hauled in the largest at 11.50 pounds, while Taylor St. Laurent and Delicia Wilkerson each took a 10.6-pound red beauty to weigh-in. The Gag Grouper division saw fine fish of 14.65 and 11.90-pounds, caught by Jenny Meide and Shelly Purser, respectively. Purser also had the best red grouper at 6.10, and Rebecca Sapp bagged the second-place prize with a 5.45-pounder. Inshore Nauti winners included Sue Ellen Weaver and her 7.15 redfish. Chelsea Marrow’s 6.85-pounder was the second-best red, and Bobbi Brady bagged the third-best red at 6.40. Jane Palmer caught the redfish with the most spots, and her fish with 21 spots would win most Spotted Red competitions. The Trout division featured Courtney Carroll’s 4.05-pound beauty. Crystal Smith weighed a 3.05 for second, and Leigh Ann Greiner took third with her 2.55. Staci Griffis bagged the heaviest flounder at 2.30, and Janet Balance had a winning 1.95-pound ladyfish. 

While the Nauti-girls were fishing Steinhatchee waters, anglers visiting Seahorse Reef, 50-odd miles to the north, were also enjoying great action. 

Steve Beeland visited the storied reef off Cedar Key last Friday afternoon with his grandson, Sam Canel, and Sam’s dad, Brad Canel. Visiting from Alexandria, Va., this was Sam’s first big time fishing trip. The reef was alive with baitfish and predators, and the 10-year-old boated his first mackerel in less than two minutes. His granddad declares it was “as big as any we’ve caught in the last few years.” The anglers returned Saturday morning and found perfect wind and sea conditions. Beeland said, “Again, baitfish schools were plentiful and the big mackerel showed up. Within two hours we hit our self-imposed limit of keepers and continued to catch and release mackerel for another two hours. A huge kingfish took a mackerel off Brad’s line within eight feet of the boat. We saw it turn, jump and come down with the mackerel and we were left looking at each other in wonder."

Fall mackerel fishing on Seahorse Reef is legendary with good reason.

Gary Simpson, a veteran tournament angler, operates Gary's Tackle Box at L & S Auto Trim.