NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

April 23, 1999

CONTACT: Fred Cross (850) 265-3676

BEST FISHING BETS FOR APRIL - JUNE 1999 (Note: See our Fishing Sites/Forecast Page for additional info like this)

HURRICANE LAKE (Okaloosa County): Numerous fronts passing through Northwest Florida in February and March affected largemouth bass fishing but April has been a good month on Hurricane Lake. Successful anglers continue to find bass primarily in 6-8 feet of water using dark colored plastic worms rigged either Texas or Carolina style. Redear sunfish (shellcrackers) are spawning now. Check out the oyster shell bedding area and use live baits such as red worms, wigglers or crickets. Typically bluegill utilize the same spawning areas as shellcrackers; however, their spawning activity usually begins 30 days later. Similarly, live baits are your best bet.

LAKE VICTOR (Holmes County): Similar to Hurricane Lake, largemouth bass anglers were not as successful this spring due to the passage of numerous frontal systems. We suggest trying dark colored plastic worms; however, crank baits and floater-diver type lures should also be effective. Greater numbers of quality size bass should be found offshore in water 6-8 feet deep. In March and April redear sunfish (shellcrackers) move into the shoreline and stake out spawning areas. Shellcrackers are spawning now. Make sure you check out the marked oyster shell spawning area on the western end of the lake. Light tackle with either earthworms, wigglers or crickets are recommended. For daily fishing reports contact Riddle Bait and Tackle at (850) 956-2444.

CHOCTAWHATCHEE RIVER (Walton and Bay counties): Fish the lower river from State Road 20 south for stripers, hybrids and largemouth bass. Threadfin shad are the best bait and these bait are abundant in April and May as they spawn in the river. Use a minnow cast net to catch your bait and fish them in the coves, eddy water and particularly in Pine Log Creek. Striped bass up to 30 pounds have been caught in April. Fish open water to catch stripers and hybrids and the bank to catch largemouth bass and chain pickerel.

LAKE SEMINOLE (Jackson and Gadsden counties): Striped bass and hybrid fishing in the lower lake has been erratic as a result of unusual weather, but should return to normal as springtime continues. Fish the old river channels on both the Chattahoochee and Flint river sides of the lake, and watch for diving birds to locate schooling fish feeding on shad and skipjack herring. Stripers should begin their annual spawning migration up the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers by early April. White bass will be dispersing following their spawning season, and catches should become more sporadic. Length and bag limits for stripers, hybrids, and white bass in Lake Seminole follow those established by Georgia DNR: an aggregate of 15 fish, of which no more than two may be 22 inches or longer. Speckled perch should also be moving back into deeper water. Some largemouth bass have already been fanning beds in Lake Seminole. Concentrate on flats and coves that face to the south: these areas get more sunlight through the day and will tend to warm faster. The limits for largemouth and other black bass are 10 fish per day all of which must be a minimum of 12 inches total length. Watch for bream and shellcracker to move onto the beds during the full moon in April, then taper off until the full moon in May.

UPPER APALACHICOLA RIVER (Jackson, Gadsden, Calhoun, and Liberty counties): White bass are finishing their spawning run up the Apalachicola River and should disperse. Fish the sand and gravel bars for white bass using grass shrimp, small crayfish or small jigs. Hybrids are also congregating below Jim Woodruff Dam and are providing excellent fishing in the tailrace. The 1995 and 1996 striped bass year classes stocked into Lake Seminole were very strong and should provide plenty of fish in the 8 - 15 pound range in the upper river. FWC will be conducting the spring creel survey in the upper river through May. The bag and size limits for striped bass, hybrids, and white bass in the Apalachicola River is 20 fish per day, only three of which may be striped bass, and stripers must be a minimum of 18 inches total length. There is no size limit on hybrids or white bass.

LOWER APALACHICOLA RIVER (Gulf, Liberty, and Franklin counties): Fishing in the lower Apalachicola River and the Intracoastal Waterway slowed during the winter months - more as a result of lack of anglers than a lack of fish. Stripers and hybrids are still available in the lower reaches of the river particularly places like East River, St. Marks River and Little St. Marks River. During December and January, FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released 150,000 Phase II (8- to 12-inch) striped bass into the Apalachicola River and Intracoastal Waterway. While these fish won*t be legal size until next year, they should provide plenty of light tackle opportunities through the spring. Best bets for catching hybrids and stripers in the lower river is bottom fishing with shrimp, live or fresh, near the mouths of the Apalachicola, St. Marks, Little St. Marks and East rivers, and along the Gulf County Canal and Intracoastal Waterway near Port St. Joe and White City. Larger striped bass and hybrids may be more readily caught with bucktail jigs or crankbaits near bridge pilings and along deep channels, drop-offs, and in waters such as the Pinhook. Fish the outgoing tides for best results. The bag limit for stripers, hybrids, and white bass is 20 fish per day, aggregate, but only three may be striped bass. There are no size limits on hybrids or white bass. Largemouth bass are already moving onto the beds in Lake Wimico and should continue to spawn through April. Spinnerbaits and plastic worms fished along the flats in Lake Wimico, in about six feet of water or less, should be productive. Bag and size limits for largemouth bass are five fish per day and a minimum size of 12 inches. Bream and shellcracker should also be moving onto the beds around the full moon in April. FWC will be conducting creel surveys on the lower river and distributaries, Lake Wimico, and the Intracoastal Waterway through May. Creel surveys are also being conducted on the lower river, lake, and Intracoastal Waterway. Surveys are done to determine the success of striped bass and hybrid stocking programs, although information is collected on all species of fish targeted by anglers.

DEAD LAKE (Calhoun and Gulf counties): Largemouth bass have been on the bed this month. Plastic worms fished along the flats in water up to six feet should be the most productive for bass. Concentrate on coves that open to the south where the northern shoreline receives sunlight throughout the day. These areas, particularly where vegetation is present will warm faster. Bag and size limits for largemouth bass are five fish per day and a minimum size of 12 inches.

LAKE JACKSON: Crappie fishing continues to be good but is beginning to taper off. Minnows fished near Little River and Lime Sink still continue to provide nice stringers. Largemouth bass fishing has been excellent this spring as numerous fish from 5 - 8 lbs. have been landed. Live golden shiners continue to provide the best fishing. The "Rattle Trap" is the artificial lure of choice. The best areas to target largemouth bass are along Highway 27 and Churches Cove.

LAKE TALQUIN: Crappie fishing continues to be excellent. Hammock Creek, Ocklawaha Creek, Harvey Mill Creek and Polk Creek are the hot spots. Hal Flys and minnows are the bait of choice. Look for largemouth bass to move to shallow water in April. Artificial lures such as plastic worms and crankbaits are excellent choices at this time of year. Live golden shiners are potent if you are attempting to land a large "Bucket Mouth".

NORTHWEST FLORIDA RIVERS: Most, if not all, rivers in the extreme western panhandle should have good freshwater fishing this spring, provided water levels are right. The Escambia, Yellow, Blackwater, and Choctawhatchee rivers should produce good catches of largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish (shellcracker). In addition, the upper reaches of these streams are good places to fish for spotted bass, a smaller cousin of the familiar largemouth bass. The upper Blackwater River is a fine locale for anglers to wade-fish for spotted bass, shadow bass and longear sunfish. Lures like the Snagless Sally, Mepps Spinner and Beetle Spin are excellent for this type of wade-and cast fishing. In the bigger rivers the lower reaches, in the tidal deltas, are generally the best places to harvest bass and bream. Live bait is usually best for bream, while traditional plugs work fine for bass. One word of caution: access to the lower Yellow River may be limited at times. Historically high flood waters from Hurricane George damaged boat ramps, and washed a great deal of sand into the bottom end of this river, generally making the mouth of the river shallower than normal. Anglers entering the mouth of the Yellow River should look out for shallow water, to avoid running aground. In general, our last few hurricanes left their marks on local rivers, and anglers should watch out for new snags, changed banks and channels and downed trees, especially in the upper reaches of these streams.