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Fishing advice from the locals

Hey fellas. We are coming over to Steinhatchee for the fourth of July. We are bringing the boat and plan on scalloping.
My wife is allergic to shell fish so I want to run out and find some grouper, snapper, ect for the wife as well as get the kids on some fish.
From what I have gathered, heading out of Steinhatchee head 240 degree for 20 miles and start looking for bottom. Slow trolling with
mann stretch 30's until you get a hit and mark the spot. Go back and drop a livie..Is there any other info that you pros can help with. This is my first time
over. You can pm me if you don't want info published. Thanks for any info. Ryan

Replies

  • keypondkeypond Posts: 2,017 Captain
    Trolling works great for gags. Live bait works well for gags, reds and snapper. There are several public numbers to get you started...Buckeye Reef, Lamb Spring, the Crack, etc. If you want red snapper, be prepared to run 45 miles at a minimum. Gags can be found much closer in and will open up on July 1st. If you're heading out in the 240 direction, you'll be running by the Family Grounds. Check with Sea **** or River Haven and they can probably provide you with the general numbers for this area. You might troll up a gag or two around there. My guess is you'll be running closer to 30 to really find productive bottom right now.
    Chris

    Reel Time w/Florida Sportsman Guest Host
    Sight Fishing AJ's, Say What
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCSPHOHuw-M&list=UU7OK0PWEO7jknYHsykHcjaA&index=1&feature=plcp
  • Let's Go AmigoLet's Go Amigo Posts: 2,419 Captain
    keypond wrote: »
    Trolling works great for gags. Live bait works well for gags, reds and snapper. There are several public numbers to get you started...Buckeye Reef, Lamb Spring, the Crack, etc. If you want red snapper, be prepared to run 45 miles at a minimum. Gags can be found much closer in and will open up on July 1st. If you're heading out in the 240 direction, you'll be running by the Family Grounds. Check with Sea **** or River Haven and they can probably provide you with the general numbers for this area. You might troll up a gag or two around there. My guess is you'll be running closer to 30 to really find productive bottom right now.

    Thanks. I meant to say 30 miles. Is that area also called the grouper
    Grounds? I got a top spot chart of the area and pluged in all the public numbers that
    You suggested.
  • keypondkeypond Posts: 2,017 Captain
    Family grounds...no it's where people catch sheeps in the winter. If you get out near Lamb Springs on a good weather grouper-in-season kind of day, that's the grouper grounds area. You'll run 30 miles by yourself only to find you're in a parking lot of anchored boats. At 30 miles, your chances of catching grouper go way up. Lots of good bottom out there. Make sure to take some light spinning gear rigged with a jig. The peanut mahi mahi start showing up this time of year. No size or quantity limit on our coast.
    Chris

    Reel Time w/Florida Sportsman Guest Host
    Sight Fishing AJ's, Say What
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCSPHOHuw-M&list=UU7OK0PWEO7jknYHsykHcjaA&index=1&feature=plcp
  • Let's Go AmigoLet's Go Amigo Posts: 2,419 Captain
    Awesome. I will. Thanks for the mahi tip.
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