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 Still On The Flats
Big Bend friends,
Humble apologies is all I have for not submitting a report in such a long time. I was recently scolded by a customer who told me they checked in from time to time to read what I posted. Yes I’ve been busy, but plain old sorryness is the only excuse I have.
I have had a great 2011, in fact the number of trips was a personal best.
River fishing has been disappointing so far, especially for those who enjoy creek and river fishing. It just has not been cold enough. There are some Trout and Reds there, just not the numbers we had this time the last 2 years.
The good news is Speckled Trout and Redfish are still on the flats. With water temps in the mid to upper 60′s shrimp, pinfish and their predators are there also. You may have to look a little harder, but focus your effort on flats adjacent the river and major creeks. Days with sunshine and south breezes will be best.
Fishing success is “right time-right place”. I guided the Menken family recently to one such day. The kind of day you have to move because the Trout were to big! And when you cast your jig you didn’t know if it would be a Red or Trout until you were able to feel the pull.
Anyhow, we are having a great fishing this mild winter. Offshore fishing has been very good as well.
Thanks for reading,
I promise to be more frequent, Good Fishing.
Captain STEVE KROLL
GOD BLESS, MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR
This Steinhatchee Fishing Report
is from Steinhatchee, Fishing Guide Captain Steve Kroll
- A Good December Steinhatchee Redfish
- Dinner! AKA Steinhatchee Speckled Trout
Diversity in Steinhatchee, a Speckled Trout AND a Redfish
