They say that January and February are not the best time of year to fish the Northern Gulf of Mexico but I am here to ask you, who are “They”? According to my records going back to 1999, with the exception of a few days per month that weren’t fishable weather-wise, this is actually a pretty darn good time of year to catch fish. Could it be that “They” are allergic to chilly temperatures? Well, maybe I have to agree with them there but I’m looking out my window on January 17th and it is at least 70 degrees, sunny and calm, if there IS any wind it is out of the north so the bay is completely flat and THE REDFISH ARE BITING! Chris caught 7 on fly yesterday in just a couple of hours and as I mentioned in an earlier email, on an average day of flats fishing you might hook up 10 - 15 nice sized fish. If the number of Bayfishing boats I saw leaving the mouth of the Apalachicola River this morning on my daily walk is any indication, the speckled trout must be biting well too. Capt. Adam Teat has been offshore several times recently and is well pleased with the grouper catch.

From the Fishing Report Archives -

February 1999 - “Due to an extremely mild winter so far, the fishing out of Apalachicola has been exceptional.” (I wrote that!) Trout in the 2-5 pound range on Top Dog Mirrolures, excellent sight fishing for Redfish - comparable to the prime time of September - November. Stripers have begun to move back up the river. In the potholes on clear water flats we were catching Pompano and Ladyfish up to 3 lbs.

February 2000 - Matt Bennett & his dad had a Winter Slam (Redfish, Trout & Flounder) hooking up 43 Redfish & boating 38 of them. Scott Blackstock caught his first Red on Fly, one of a total of 154 caught for the week (no, he didn’t catch them all) and I enjoyed my Valentines day trip with Capt. Tommy catching Silver Perch. The Bluefish began moving in and Tommy & Chris had a nice catch of grouper & snapper offshore.

February 2001 - As pretty as it gets! Calm sunny days, clear water, Gator Trout & Redfish. Bayfishing trips focus on Reds, Black Drum, Flounder & Sheepshead (Speckled Trout is closed in February) Schools of 200 or more Redfish to sight fish - using a 6 weight fly rod can be very challenging. Tommy got his new Hells Bay 18 wet! February Fishing Forecast - Daily temperatures can range from 35 to 80 degrees, sometimes in the same day (makes it a little hard to figure out what to wear) and the water temperatures begin to reflect the upward trend. Depending on how quickly the water warms, we will begin to see schools of Spanish Mackerel move in with the bait schools and Pompano will begin to appear on the front beaches and at the cut. We will start seeing Redfish & Trout in larger numbers along with Black Drum, Flounder & Sheepshead. Good time to Grouper fish Offshore. Time to come in from the woods & go fishing! What are you waiting for?

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