Steinhatchee Fishing Report By Captain Steve Kroll
Hey Steinhatchee & OutdoorUpdate.com fans, we are still enjoying a shallow bite for Speckled Trout, mostly on cutbait. Persistant use of light weight jigheads like the Saltwater Asssassin 1/16 oz with a 5 inch pink or Electric Chicken Assassin tail will work.
If you like casting plugs you have to look for areas clear of floating grass, which are few and probably will remain that way through the summer. Try going weedless, Texas style, if larger Trout and Redfish are your target. Limits of large Speckled Trout (one trout per person over 20 inches) have been common.
Redfish have been more difficult the last couple weeks. They are very scattered on the grass flats. Also, I have reports of large numbers of Reds inside, meaning up in the marsh and creek and tidal holes.
If you read my reports, you know I often mention water temps and the influence on location of fish. Having said that, this year has been different, very mild winter, little rain, and currently some cool nights and mornings ( for May ). I’m just saying things have been different and changed some fish patterns.
It all just adds to the challenge of hunting fish. We do have Cobia, Spanish Mackerel, Tarpon, and yes, I have seen scallops. So come see us.
GOD BLESS, Good Fishing and Be Safe
Captain STEVE KROLL
This Steinhatchee Fishing Report is from Steinhatchee, Fishing Guide Captain Steve Kroll
Three Keeper Steinhatchee Redfish
Nice Steinhatchee Trout, The Kind You Take Home To Mama
Steinhatchee Redfish Wanting To Be Released
Steinhatchee Fishing Report
Here I sit at the desk looking out the window at my pond. It’s a beautiful day, it’s an admin day, and like any other business, however small, one must do paperwork and pay bills.
Last week the Trout bite was like a summertime bite, slow on shallow flats, and slow to good on the deeper flats (6-10 feet). I don’t look for the change unless we have another front bring us a cool down. The closer to summer we get, the less impact fronts have on us. I included a picture of a customer, Carl, holding a 10 pound Jack Crevalle he caught on Trout tackle. This is what you can expect in May as I mentioned in my last report, a variety of species. You can have non stop action all day.
I also included two Trout photos, one about 8 inches and one 23 inches. I am not sure if it was the mild winter, but have caught more of these very small fish than I ever remember. And not just me, every one is experiencing this. Which brings me to a point, do everything you can to handle gently and release unharmed.
If you fish with GULPs, FEEL for your jig often, so you will detect the fish, however small, set the hook, reel them in and release. GULP is a great bait, but it kills more short Trout by gut hooking than anything else I know. I know this sounds silly to some, but concentrate during the retrieve, in the long run it will make you a better fisherman and you’ll kill less under size Trout.
Redfishing this week will be better than last, we have better tides to work with. Reds are still bunched up making them easy to miss, it also makes them more agressive. Have fun be safe.
GOD BLESS, Good Fishing and Be Safe
Captain STEVE KROLL
This Steinhatchee Fishing Report is from Steinhatchee, Fishing Guide Captain Steve Kroll
A Nice 23" Steinhatchee Speckeld Trout
Many Trout Were Small On This Day
Nice Jack Crevalle Caught In Steinhatchee, Florida
Hey Steinhatchee Fans
The last few weeks have been fantastic on the flats off Dixie and Taylor counties.
Limits of Speckled Trout and Redfish are common, and considering the Red limit doubling to two fish per person with a boat max of eight fish, I have wondered if I would need a bigger fish box on the boat. We have managed fine with the 80 quart engel fish box. Of course we still have a day when things are tough or it seems like the only Trout biting are 14 31/32″ or less. On the flip side I have had a couple days moving out of large Trout was the only way we would complete a limit catch for the day. This is what we refer to as a luxury problem!
Redfish are bunched up as usual this time of year. On a calm day they are pretty easy to find. With a ripple on the water they can be easily missed by a couple of boat lengths. Salt Water Assassin, Gulps, and cut bait will do the job.
We also have Spanish Mackerel, Black Sea Bass and Cobia catches being reported. The end of April and into May we should see larger, keeper size Cobia on the flats.
May is the time of year that you can catch the most different species in a day. The record for my boat is 17 different species in one day! Another fun challenge to keep up with when you spend a lot of time on the water.
GOD BLESS, Good Fishing and Be Safe
Captain STEVE KROLL
This Steinhatchee Fishing Report is from Steinhatchee, Fishing Guide Captain Steve Kroll
A Nice Days Catch
A Good Steinhatchee Speckled Trout
A Steinhatchee Redfish, It's What You Go To Steinhatchee For
Steinhatchee Fishing Report, Water Temps Bring The Flats To Life.
I know it’s March and it is supposed to be windy every day, but so far there have only been a couple of days too rough to work with.
Water temps have made it to the upper 60′s and the flats have come to life. We are catching Speckled Trout in the shallow flats and the deeper flats as well. Also the last several days we have caught our limit of oversize Specks.
Warmer water has turned on the Redfish in their usual places, such as shell bars and hard bottom areas. Reds are bunched this time of year, making it easy to miss them. They seem to be very aggressive when bunched up though, meaning they will chase down baits, including topwater. Very exciting!!
I included a photo of myself with a couple of nice upper slot Reds caught yesterday.
GOD BLESS, Good Fishing and Be Safe
Steinhatchee Fishing Guide Captain STEVE KROLL
Captain Steve With Two Nice Steinhatchee Redfish
Speckled Trout And Redfish Are On The Flats
It’s going to be interesting to see how Spring comes in this year.
As you all know, the winter has been very mild. Speckled Trout are on the flats with Gulf water temps in the 60′s. I still find the bigger Trout near a creek ditch or pothole. But remember, if you flush them, it’s over. So approach to within casting distance quietly. Cast your Saltwater Assassin 1/16 oz jighead with an Assassin 5″ shad to the far side of the pot hole or ditch and let it sink without to much slack, so you can feel the strike as it falls. If it’s windy, watch your line to detect strike.
Now I know this all sounds complicated, but when it works you will be raising your minimum keeper size to 16″ or 17″ inches. Or the luxury problem, having to move to find smaller fish to finish your limit, because everything in the hole was over 20″s !
My customers and I have caught more Redfish on the flats this winter than I can ever remember winters past. It does take the right day. By that I mean high tide 11 am or later, sunny and warm, not too windy. The reds will come out and play. I use the same bait I cast for Trout mentioned above. Again, a slow retrieve is the only way you’ll get bite.
This kind a fishing does require some recon, a GPS and polarized sun glasses but can be most rewarding.
At this writing there have been some great Sheephead catches at the Steinhatchee reef.
GOD BLESS, Good Fishing and Be Safe
Captain STEVE KROLL
This Steinhatchee Fishing Report is from Steinhatchee, Fishing Guide Captain Steve Kroll
Steinhatchee Redfish, This Is What you Come To Steinhatchee For.
Speckled Trout Caught In Steinhatchee, Florida. Another Reason To Visit Steinhatchee
