This week in the Big Bend it was all about the trout — and not just your average sea trout, but true yellow-mouth gator trout. We had two personal best fish hit the deck this week, and both made for memories that won’t soon be forgotten.
Chip landed an absolute 27-inch monster on a MirrOlure Top Dog. Watching that fish explode on topwater had both of us standing there in disbelief. Later in the week, a young man named Finn set his own personal best with a beautiful 25-inch gator trout. I’m sure he’ll top that mark one day, but he set the bar pretty high. Both of these incredible trout were released healthy to keep growing and continue thriving in our Big Bend waters.
The redfish bite has remained steady, with plenty of fish around, but they’ve definitely been making us work for them. We’re still putting up double-digit numbers most trips, but the fish have been a little finicky. The best bait this week was the Saltwater Assassin in the Red/Gold and Laguna Shrimp colors. The Sea Shad rigged on the Assassin weighted hook was the top producer and accounted for a lot of quality fish.
We also had a few groups wanting fresh fish for the table, so we made some runs out to the hard-bottom areas in 6 to 10 feet of water. The Black Sea Bass bite was excellent, and we were able to put together some strong limits. One of the best parts about fishing the hard bottom in the Big Bend is you truly never know what’s coming up next. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, grouper, and cobia all found their way to the boat this week, keeping the rods bent almost nonstop.
We may still be in spring, but summer is coming fast. It won’t be long before water temperatures climb from the upper 70s into the upper 80s, and that means scallop season will be right around the corner. We’re already seeing good numbers of small scallops in the grass while trout fishing, which is a great sign for the months ahead.
If you’ve been thinking about making a trip to the Big Bend, now is the time. Between the topwater trout bite, steady redfish action, hard-bottom variety, and scallop season just around the corner, there’s no better place to experience what Old Florida is all about. Whether you’re chasing trophy fish, filling the cooler, or just looking to make memories on the water with family and friends, Capt. Greg has everything covered — including lodging for all of his fishing and scalloping experiences. Come stay, fish, and enjoy everything the Big Bend has to offer in one complete trip. Book now and see why so many people return year after year to fish with Capt. Greg.