Keaton Report November 30 December 1

Don’t say I didn’t tell you. I told you it was as good as it gets... well Everyone I talked to caught a limit Saturday

when the Southwest breeze came up for the first time in weeks the trout were just eating it up. Folks caught them on topwater, hard jerkbaits, suspending baits, live bait, soft plastic and plastic under an Original Cajun Thunder.

But Capt. David Malone and his son, Allen and I went Friday and caught six trout quick in the 15+ knot breeze around 8:30 to 9:00 a.m. five on a

Assassin 5” rigged on an offset 5/0 Daiichi worm hook un-weighted (Chartreuse Ghost) and one on a Renegade plug while fishing 2 – 2.5 feet of water.

Then when the tide finally pushed back against the w-i-n-d they quit as quickly as they started so we went looking for reds and released a 26” red and kept a 21” red.

After two trout mixed with the reds we moved out to 5.5 ft. and caught 7 nice keeper trout in as many casts on live shrimp under Back Bay Thunders.

Saturday, I had Jim, Zack and Kendall Bruchey of Moultrie, Ga. and we left the dock at 9:30 and we had 20 trout with three over 20” by 12:00 noon. We picked up four keeper red fish and came on in around 2:30 - 3:00 p.m.

We fished with live pinfish and shrimp under Back Bays in 3.0 – 3.5 feet of water.

This report from Dave Bosch of Tifton, Ga.

“Fished on 11/23 with Calvin and Peng Chee also of Tifton. Finished with a limit of SST( spotted Sea Trout) and reds with our 3 SST over 20. Caught the first half early in the rising tide on plugs. Calvin had great success with the Rapala X-rap. We also caught a few on Catch-2000's and Bite-a-baits. The Catch was red/white, the Bite-a-Bait in clown. Switched over later to shrimp when the sun came up higher and caught most of the balance and reds on those. We caught most of our fish in 2.5-3.0 before the tide came up and 4' later on. Great time on the water, water temps started out a cool 56 warming to 62.”

Cecil Stalnaker of Ft. White , Fl.

Photo Cutline:

2614 Donna and Wayne Walker of Gainesville, Florida with their catch from 11/8/18

2614 Donna with a 4+ lb. 23.5” trout taken 11/8/18

Keaton Report 11/15-16/18

Trout have been simply ‘off the chain’ as the kids would say before this latest Blow Saturday. We had six days of limits in a row for my charters. We had perhaps the heaviest box of fish, since the spring, last Thursday, for Donna and Wayne Walker of Gainesville, Florida. We had two trout over 23” and a 22” trout as well. Wayne lost a 7+ pound Spanish at the boat and we had a 5+ pound Spanish in the box . Wayne also caught two sand trout, while not so unusual, yet he caught them on live pinfish and the largest one was touching 17 inches! Six Black Sea Bass were also in the mix.

Water temps are coming back up and holding around 70 degrees; but will be going back down by time this is published. We were fishing mostly with live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders and the fish were cooperating in 3.5 feet all the way out to 6.5 feet of water just depending on which conditions you had either calm or breezy. We took good keeper trout each trip on Assassin’s 5” shads in Limetreuse Ghost and Arkansas Shiner. I have also caught a bunch of fish on Assassin’ NEW Chartreuse /White Sea Shad both bouncing and rigged up under an Original Cajun Thunder.

I would expect the colder weather this weekend to shift the live bait bite over to shrimp and if the water temps get below 65 degrees, we should see some suspending baits take trout in the shallows. I would try MirrOdines and Catch 2000’s.

Keaton Report 11/9-10/18

“Trout Trout Trout ! “was the cry for my charters the last four days, as we have caught limits each day, despite cold and rain( all day long Sunday)

The Gulf water temps dipped to 63 –64 degrees as of Saturday Morning but were back up to 71 degrees as of Tuesday afternoon. The drop didn’t slow the trout down a bit as we caught trout anyway.

Besides limits we have also caught our one per angler over 20” each day.

My charters were throwing live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders; while I have been bouncing Assassin’s 5” shads on a 1/8 oz. Assassin jighead. Croaker Shad, Limetreuse Ghost and Arkansas Shiner have all

taken nice keepers as has the NEW chartreuse and white Sea shad, both bounced and under an Original Cajun Thunder. I have been fishing in 5.5 – 6 feet mostly since the cool snap; but did land five nice keepers

Tuesday in 3.5 feet on top of the hi tide.

Capt. Dave Malone of Cedar Isle had two Great trips for his party of three, including 17 trout Monday with three over 20” one which was 24 inches! Capt. Dave’s crew was tossing live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders as well.

Jonathon Sisson was down from Gainesville, Ga. and caught some beautiful trout for he and his son-in-law who bested a 23” trout on this first-ever trip out for Speckled trout from Keaton Beach. ( Trout Fishing Capital of Florida) Jonathon was fishing with hard jerkbaits in 3 - 5 feet.

This report from Dave Bosch of Tifton, Ga.”Fished from the 1st to the 3rd with David Stewart, Bob Jones, and Chris Norman all of Tifton. Picked up limits of trout each day and a few scattered reds. Water temps warmed up to 72 on the 2nd, but dropped down to 64 early on the 3rd. We had our best success from 3-4' fishing with an assortment of shrimp, pin fish, and plastics, all under Cajuns ( 24" leader). Had good success with the swa (Salt Water Assassin) smoke wagon 5” shad “

Keaton Report 11/2-3-/18

Well the trout had settled down a bit after that last front as of Sunday and Monday for Billy Pillow and Seth Harper of Perry, Fl.

who caught 10 trout on live pinfish under Back Bays in 3 – 5 feet of water.

Tuesday, Terrell Smith joined them and the lack of breeze took the bite away from them as they landed 6 trout and 7 bsb . Half of the fish came in on Assassin’s chartreuse and white Sea Shads under an Original Cajun Thunder. and half took live pinfish under Back Bays.

Now the catch(es) of the day were two reds over 40” both caught by Seth, one, on a live pinfish; then one over an hour later ( and two miles away) caught on Assassin’s NEW chartreuse and white Sea Shad under a Cajun Thunder.

Water temps had come back up around 70 – 72 degrees but the front this weekend will likely send it back down in the 60’s.

October 26, 2019

Keaton Report October 26-27 2018

Wow what a difference a day makes...Saturday I had Jimmy Brandon and James Ragsdale of Conyers, Ga. out and we had a Speck-tacular day with a really nice limit of 15 trout with three fish over 20”. W caught our trout in 4-0 – 4.5 feet of water with live pinfish under Back Bays.

Then on Sunday the water temps had only dropped 2 or 3 degrees but as the front went through so went our bite. The trout just quit on us and we managed only 4 fish despite fishing from Spring Warrior to Dog Head ( off Piney Point) We caught one fish north and one fish in three separate spots south and only had two short trout. We had a 5 pound Spanish ( Jimmy) and three BSB for the day.

I saw Terry and Bubba Revels of Tifton and Moultrie, Ga. respectively, cleaning their limit of trout Saturday afternoon and they also bragged on the “Bite” saying they had caught good trout all day. They also fished with live pinfish under Back Bays.

I also spoke to Doug Garwood down from Dalton, Ga. with his wife Janine who landed 8 trout Saturday, then caught only 2 Sunday and 3 on Monday. Doug reported the water temps had dropped to 67 degrees by Monday down from 81 –82 Saturday. Tuesday afternoon, however, Doug and Janine had 5 trout including a fish around 6 pounds over 25” long and a 24 “ redfish ( Janine) all on Renegade Magnum Lazer Minnows. Water temps were back up at 70 degrees.

This weekend’s forecast is ugly, as is the few days before it, so I doubt many will go out in the rain and 15 –20 knots North west w-i-n-d-s but if you do Good Luck maybe it will lay down by Sunday for a little fishing time.

zach bruchey of Moultrie, ga.

jim bruchey of moultrie, ga.

Of course this was written before the storm hit so I don’t know if I will still be here or what the aftermath will bring/leave

Before the storm our trout were on fire. I had limits of 20 , 15 and 15 trout with one fish over 20” per angler each day .

Had the Hardegree boys from North Ga. out Friday and we caught beautiful trout all day. A great day with some great folks as was each day ove the weekend.

We caught trout and reds on live pinfish and pigfish under Back Bay Thunders in 4.0 – 5.5 feet of water.

Saturday I took Aaron and Lindi Griner from Alapaha Ga. out and we had a wonderful day with a slow morning due to a tide-equalizing east w-i-n-d , BUT then when the tide turned we caught ten trout , first two keepers on my Assassin “acid rain” sea shad, then the bite was ON and we caught 8 trout in under 20 minutes. We also had two nice reds for the day as well.

Sunday, I had my buddies Jim and Zack Bruchey of Moultrie , Ga. out and we waxed 15 trout and two nice reds.

Hope to send you a report next week.

Keaton report October 5-6 2018

james Ragdale and Jimmy Brandon , nice mess

Keaton Report

October 5,6 2018

Trout fishing was great this past week as we caught limits each day for three in a row on board One More Cast.

Capt. Dave Malone and I fished Friday and landed a limit of trout in under two hours fishing with live Pinfish under Back Bay Thunders from 4.0 – 4.5 feet of water. The tide was slow coming in with a 2.8 ft. range yet the bite was great.

Saturday, I had Jimmy Brandon and Jimmy Ragsdale down from north Ga. and we caught a limit of trout with three over 20” including a 23.5” fish for Mr. Ragsdale. We had ten trout in 58 minutes then took an hour to catch the last five. We went out at 11:30 a.m. and fished ‘til 5:00 p.m. Our fish were in 5.5 – 5.0 ft.

Sunday, this same duo had their limit and I caught four nice keeper Assassin 5” shads under an Original Cajun Thunder in Croaker Shad and Grey Ghost. We also threw back a bunch of shorts and caught catfish, lady fish and three sharks due to the lack of breeze soon after we got out. None of our trout were over 20” due to the slack w-i-n-d as well.

Reds have been tough for me up north of Keaton as I haven’t figured them out the last week or so. Reports have reds being caught south towards Steinhatchee.

keaton report september 28, 29 2018

Keaton beach report September 28, 29  2018

Trout fishing has been “off the chain” as the kids say “Outstanding” as I say with limits of trout easily caught with one fish over 20” per angler each of three trips this past week. We are catching our fish on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders in water from 4.0 ft. to 6.0 ft. deep. The key depth is 4.5’ >5.0’ on the incoming tide with hours 2 – 4 ( of the 6-hour tide) the best overall bite.  I have continued to use a 32” length leader of TrikFish 30 lb. clear mono despite the stained water. If you move into water with less than 12”- 15” of clarity you would need to shorten your leaders.

I had Billy Pillow, of Woods ‘n Water Fishing Team fame , from Perry, Florida out Friday last and it took less than an hour-and-a-half fishing time to land our 10 trout. We had two over 20” as well.

Sunday, I had David Abrams of Tallahassee out with his two buddies, Mike Abrams and Clifford Dunaway. We brought in 11 trout  to 23” but released well over a dozen more keepers including four over 20” one over 24” I figured weighed 4.5 pounds. The trout heard we were releasing them and just had to have our baits. We caught them on live pins under Thunders in 4.5 – 5.0 feet. We managed one red but struggled to not find any more in an hour plus fishing time.

Monday, I took Don Garner and Kent Thornton of Valdosta, Ga. and again we took a quick limit of 15 quality trout with 3 over 20” in just over two hours fishing time and had one redfish.

We saw more ballyhoo on the surface this week than I had seen in a long time.

This weekend the key will be to work the early morning incoming tides for trout then hope for a redfish or two on the falling tide. Since the water has been clearing up a little our reds may have pulled back in closer to the hill to find them some crabs to eat!

keaton report September 22 -23 2018

Keaton Report 9/22-23/18

I expect Great fishing at Keaton this weekend with the early morning low tides and  a decent forecast to match. Find  stained water clear enough for you to see you baits under your Back Bays and Original Cajun Thunders and you should have success.

We had limits of trout for Cecil and Gwen Stalnaker of Ft. White, Florida, Friday with three trout over 20 inches long in the creel. We also had two reds which were just out there mixed with the trout for no particular reason. This was the couples first trip ever to Keaton Beach and first time fishing with live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders. We caught our 15 trout in 5.5 to 3.5 feet of water.

Saturday Saw a limit of nice sized trout for Robert Vason of Mt. Dora, Florida who bested a 23” trout for his top fish of the day.  He started off with three fish on three baits. He fished with live pinfish under Back Bays while I caught my share on Asssassin’s 5’ shads in the Croaker Shad pattern rigged up under an Original Cajun Thunder. We fished 6.0 - 4.0 feet of water having to move out of too much stain and turbid water as the west w-i-n-d would close out the bite on each drift.

Keaton Report Sept 14 - 15 2018

Keaton Beach report September 14 –15 2018

Trout were biting  this past week, when the breeze would carry you, but they would hold off

when it would cause you to hover...pretty much a common problem while drift fishing the grass flats.

We managed 8 trout for the Mike Sugar trip Saturday and did a kind of “bus stop” style of fishing picking up one here and one on the next stop and finally getting three fish on the final drift of the day. Missed a few, but generally it was slow  with only the breeze to blame, cause we had Great folks and Great bait and they just weren’t that interested in us.

The Zach Knowles benefit Tourney out of Rockys on 98 came in as follows:

Trout

Ashley Mock 3.18

Steve Taylor  2.83

Arthur Wilson 2.18

Red

Arthur Wilson 5.60

Jordan Tyler 5.44

Phillip Shiver 4.70

wish I had more but that’s what I have and all I can tell you is if that crew only came in with one 3 pound trout...man, the fishing was tough!

Jimmy Douglas went Tuesday, with Curtis Johnson, and Jimmy Benefield all from Homerville, Ga. and they brought in a limit of good trout to 19” fishing with live pinfish under Back Bays and Cajun Thunders from 5 – 6 feet of water.

keaton report August 24 -25 2018

gwen with a great trout

gwen stalnaker of ft.white with a fine red

Keaton Report

8/24/18

The water is as dark as it was back after T.S. Debbie in many places offshore dark water runs out to 40+ miles according to some divers who went down Saturday in 74 ft. and had zero vis until they made it 18 ft. deep then had crystal clear water to the bottom. Go Figure ? Our trout were cooperative Wednesday for Billy Pillow and I. Billy landed a 26” red on the first bait of the day from 6.5 ft. We fished water in which you just could just barely see your live pinfish at 34” under your Back Bay. We also had a 12 knot breeze. In an hour of falling tide we brought in 5 trout and the red then they quit as soon as they started.

This weekend holds great early morning tides which should produce trout from 5 – 8 ft. depending on whether you wish to use a Cajun Thunder with your bait or try and bounce a jig and plastic. Some guys I was talking to ( sorry didn’t get the names)  were jigging earlier in the week and had 4 – 5 trout  each day using Candy Corn and Stinky Pink Assassins from 7 – 8 feet of water off Keaton.

Keaton Report august 17-18 2018

Keaton Report August 17-18 , 2018

Trout have been more cooperative this side of the dark stain, as I sent Jimmy Douglas down to waters below Yates and he managed a limit for he and his partner down from Homerville, Ga. last week using Assassins under Cajuns.

With that info under my belt Billy Pillow and I fished in the stained water up north of Warrior, for over 4 hours Friday, only to have our baits die of exhaustion until I finally moved back down this side of Adams Beach and lo and behold on 6 baits we caught four trout and 2 houndfish before the rain front ran us back to Keaton.

Sunday, the 12th, Skipper Zimmerman of Macon, Ga. emailed me  “ tomorrow North 5.5’? “ where upon my answer was to be “Stop between Adams and Yates 4.5’ – 6.5” then I sent “Any Good?” Monday evening; Skipper’s reply : “5.5’ where you said, weather ran us in 4:30 p.m. Skipper and crew were tossing pinfish under Back Bays and Cajuns.

All I got this week except, “dang it will it ever stop raining?”

keaton report august 10-11

george Thurman with his grandma Gail Gavin holding his fish

Keaton Report 8/10,11/18

Better morning incoming tides with the New moon should produce better boxes of trout this weekend as the tide was falling throughout the day last weekend.

I had Gail Gavin of Perry with her Grandson George Thurman III  out Sunday and we fished a falling tide and almost no breeze; yet bested 8 trout and one Black Sea Bass fishing in 5.5 – 6.5 feet of water. This was George’s first-ever trip out on the Gulf and this six-year-old caught a 24” trout weighing just under 5 pounds. We also had a 23” trout in the cooler. The fish were fickle and we would catch only one a stop, like last Saturday, due to the too-little breeze situation. Our best drift of the trip brought in 4 of the trout with the best breeze accompanying the drift. We fished live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders to land our fish.

Saw a bunch of ballyhoo probably pushed out and south due to the rainfall of late. Didn’t see anything feeding in them; but the water had less than a foot of visibility where the most bait was. We caught our fish in dark stained water with approximately 24” of visibility. If you must fish plastic shorten your leaders under your Original Cajun Thunder to less than the visibility or else don’t expect the trout to be able to find your offering.

Keaton beach August 3 -4 report 2018

photo cutlines:

2458 Jamie Giles of Phenix City , Alabama with a redfish caught July 26

david hall

2463 David Hall of Jax, Fl. with a 21” trout one of 15 caught July 27

Keaton Report  8/3,4/18

Trout fishing has been very good of late with limits caught on three trips in a row on board my One More Cast charters. The full moon, Friday last, made for strong tides and great fishing.  The water was stained such that I couldn’t see our baits under the Thunders over 18” deep. The catfish were a plague when the breeze wasn’t blowing, especially on Saturday.

We had 15 trout for Jamie and Logan Giles of Phenix City, Alabama Thursday, July 26 with two reds as well.  we had two trout over 20” long. We fished 5.5 – 6.5 feet of water to catch the trout and moved in to 4.5 ft. for the reds.

All our fish ate live pinfish and pigfish under Back Bay Thunders. I saw more rain minnows ( hatch from some specie as yet unidentified) than I had seen of any whitebait all year Thursday.

Friday, I took David Hall of Jacksonville out with his son-in-law Josh Hayden of St. Augustine, Fl. ( both first time out with me) and we had a Great trip and brought in a fine box of trout including a 27” monster trout for David ( his largest-to-date) The Sow trout weighed 6.4 pounds and ate a 2” pigfish under a Back Bay Thunder in 4 feet of 89.8 degree water at 2:00 p.m., ( So much for the Yankee outdoor writers who think trout are all cooling it in spring-fed creeks or out in deep water or in a trough or hole somewhere and only bite early and late in the day when it is Hot summertime) We also had one redfish, yet lost a red approximately 35-40 inches long out 2 miles offshore while drifting a flat. Live pins and pigfish were the ticket again.

Saturday, I took Robert and Charles McLeod of Valdosta, Ga. out and we brought in their limit of trout and had one red again. The bite was slow with a single trout each drift/stop  from 5.5 – 7 ft. of water and then when I decided to move in to 4.5 ft. and look for a redfish; we landed 4 trout and one red on the last drift of the day which ended :30 after the hi tide.

keaton report July 27 -28

The trout were biting well Wednesday, as I fished an hour and had 4 catfish back-to-back then caught and released a 24” trout and then another cat( all over 5 pounds each); then kept a 21” red for supper a 21 “ all in 4.5 ft.

So I moved out to 6 ft. and caught a limit of 5 trout and released another red in just under 45 minutes time. The water was so dark you couldn’t see the pinfish in my livewell in 4 ft. then about half that dark out in 6 ft.

Perfect ...gotta love that color.  Oh the 21” red had 11 spots. And yes I caught them all on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders ...thanks for asking..... I saw more ballyhoo up in 4 ft. than I have all year; maybe corralled by the too-fresh water towards the hill?

keaton report July 17-18--2018

Trout have been moving out as have the reds according to several reports I had this past week. Pete and Kay Giddens of Ocilla, Ga. had their limit of reds Saturday and Monday with 6-7 trout each day . They were fishing with live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders in 5.5 – 6 feet of water. Pete said they couldn’t catch a fish under 5 ft?

Spoke to several boats taking out at the ramp who had caught good trout in 6 – 7 feet of water the first of the week.

Last Friday, Jimmy Douglas of Homerville, Ga. with Curtis Johnson had their limit of ten trout using various colors of Assassin plastic both bouncing and rigged up under the Original Cajun Thunders.

All I got this week.

Keaton Report July 13-14 2018

son and grandson Brown

;Keaton Beach Fishing Report July 13 – 14 2018

Trout fishing has been great this past week as evidenced by my trip Saturday for Steve Brown  of Cedar Island and his son and grandson down from Ft. Payne, Alabama. We brought in 16 keepers despite having a falling tide for all but 2 hours in the early morning and being chased by a storm which shortened our trip by an hour. We caught 6 trout on the incoming tide from 3.5 – 4 ft. then, when the tide stood still, we moved out to 5.5 – 6 ft. and caught the balance. We caught all our trout on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders.

Tuesday, I had Sammy Rogers and Ricky Davis of Cochran, Ga. out and we had an exceptional trip. We caught a limit of three reds to 27 inches; then threw back a 29” red and had 5 trout all from 3.5 – 4 feet of water. I moved out to a flat in 5.5 – 6 ft. and we finished up our limit of 15 trout. We had three trout over 20” long and our 15 weighed  a whopping 33.7 pounds! Not bad for a 95 degree day with a bluebird sky in July! Of course we caught our fish on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders. This was Sammy and Ricky’s first trip out with me and they had a blast catching a great cooler of fish.

Keaton Beach report July 6,7 - 2018

marty zorn

photo cutline: Martin(Marty) Zorn of Knoxville, Tennessee with a fine 27” red taken July 2, 2018

The recent rains and w-i-n-d Monday stirred the water up and I had to back down off my areas to find new fish for my charter Marty, Sam and William Zorn of Knoxville, Tennessee./ previously of Perry, FL.  a few years back (14) I believe Marty said. Anyway we had one opting not to fish due to a severe headache; but Dad and William managed to catch 9 trout and two keeper reds. Marty had top honors with the largest red, his was 27” long ( his first-ever red)  William also had his first–ever red 23” and trout 19” on this trip. Marty also had the largest trout, a fine 23” sow.  We found our fish in 4.5 – 5 feet of water and caught the trout and reds mixed in the same two drifts. The w-i-n-d was doing about 15 knots.

We caught all our fish on live pinfish hanging 34” under a Back Bay Thunder. If you made a good “pop” you got a hit..... not and you didn’t. Essential to make a loud noise with your Thunder due to the stained water and the w-i-n-d. If the current trends hold expect to need your Original and Back Back Bay Thunders to raise fish this weekend. Find the “right” stain and you should find the bite.

I saw Pete ad Kay Giddens of Ocilla, Ga. and they had caught their limit of trout and reds both Saturday and Sunday. They were fishing live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders also. photo cutline: Martin(Marty) Zorn of Knoxville, Tennessee with a fine 27” red taken July 2, 2018

The recent rains and w-i-n-d Monday stirred the water up and I had to back down off my areas to find new fish for my charter Marty, Sam and William Zorn of Knoxville, Tennessee./ previously of Perry, FL.  a few years back (14) I believe Marty said. Anyway we had one opting not to fish due to a severe headache; but Dad and William managed to catch 9 trout and two keeper reds. Marty had top honors with the largest red, his was 27” long ( his first-ever red)  William also had his first–ever red 23” and trout 19” on this trip. Marty also had the largest trout, a fine 23” sow.  We found our fish in 4.5 – 5 feet of water and caught the trout and reds mixed in the same two drifts. The w-i-n-d was doing about 15 knots.

We caught all our fish on live pinfish hanging 34” under a Back Bay Thunder. If you made a good “pop” you got a hit..... not and you didn’t. Essential to make a loud noise with your Thunder due to the stained water and the w-i-n-d. If the current trends hold expect to need your Original and Back Back Bay Thunders to raise fish this weekend. Find the “right” stain and you should find the bite.

I saw Pete ad Kay Giddens of Ocilla, Ga. and they had caught their limit of trout and reds both Saturday and Sunday. They were fishing live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders also.

keaton beach report June 2018

2414 Jennie Barnes of Perry, Florida with a fine 22” trout caught June 26

stone and jared

2404 Stone and Jared Singletary of Thomasville, Ga. with a true “double” on redfish.

Golly do I love scallop season. I fished two trips this week and hardly saw two boats each day. It is wonderful that everyone is after the little mollusks.

Sunday, I took Jared and Stone Singletary of Thomasville, Ga. out and we had a limit of 15 trout with two over 20” and three reds to 25” We threw back four more keeper reds including one 26” long. Stone caught his first–ever redfish and it was a fine one, 24” long! He later caught two more including a larger fish than the first. We fished 6 - 7 feet for the trout and 3.5 – 4 ft. for the reds. All our trout ate live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders. Water temps were as high as 85 degrees Sunday. We had 9 trout on the incoming and then went redfishing on top of the tide then caught the balance of our trout limit on the falling tide.

Tuesday, I had Jennie ( sp.) and Eddie Barnes of Perry , Florida out and we caught another limit of 15 trout with 3 over 20” long including a 22” trout for Jennie. Jennie also caught her first-ever redfish, 24” long. She was elated! We had six trout from the deeper 7 ft. flats when I decided to look for a red as it was slick as...wellyouknow the rest... Then after three quick reds, we had also caught two keeper trout, so we moved back out to 6 - 7 ft. and caught the remaining 7 trout to finish our limit. The tide was just peaking as we finished our business. All our fish came in on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders.  The water temps in the Gulf were up to 87 degrees when we left.

The first hour or so of the falling tide should be good this weekend as the hi hi (tide) is going to the lo lo (tide) in the late afternoon after this full moon Thursday night.

photo cutlines :

jennie Barnes

Keaton Report June 15 -16 2018

Cal beanblossom

2391 Cal Beanblossom  of Sylvester, Ga. with a 23” trout 6/12/2018

laura gavronsky of St. Augustine Fl.

laura's 5.15 pounder out on the boat 

Keaton Beach Report June 15 –16

Wow, This past Saturday I had three ladies fishing with me in the Nauti-Girls tourney out of Steinhatchee and Laura Gavronsky of St. Augustine, Fl. was one of these three. Laura caught the winning trout in 2016 fishing on board One More Cast  in the Nauti-Girls tourney that year.  Well, Anita, Janice and Laura had all caught some nice trout on the first three drifts out in 6.5 – 7 ft.  despite the flat calm slick conditions. It was still and it was HOT. I decided to cool us off and move to a shallower flat ( 4 –5 ft. ) Well, just as we got there on Laura’s first cast and Bang! the Back Bay Thunder never stopped as it hit the water. She set the hook and the reel started screeching and the line was peeling out and then suddenly the fish buried up ( or went to ground) and stopped moving. I got Anita and Janice  to pull their lines in and I drove over behind where the fish had nosed up. Well, it worked and the fish took off again only to repeat the burying up part again. This time she came up by herself and as she rolled on the surface I saw it was a big trout. After a gnarly dash under the boat I netted the fish for Laura. Her second first-place winning trout a 5.15 lb. 25.5”  beauty. Yes, Laura won first place this year as well! Congratulations Laura. We came in with four reds and 12 trout. Three over 20” long.

This week trout fishing has been good if you could get the weather to go. We dodged the storms, Tuesday, for over two hours running from one, in front of Jabo, south driving down below Piney Point before turning around and heading back up towards Warrior then settling in on some dark water in 3.5 – 4 feet and wound up with 13 trout three over 20” including a 24” trout for Eric Mullis of Sylvester, Ga. down fishing with Cal Beanblossom and me. We also had three reds to 24” we caught them all on live pinfish under Back Bay Thunders.

Wednesday was the best day of the week, for weather, with beautiful blue skies after an early morning shower. I had Kaylan Love of Jax. Florida and Don Ware of Cocoa Beach and we bested 15 trout with two over 20” and released two reds over 29 inches . We caught the trout in 5.5 – 6.5ft. and the reds in 3 feet all on live pins under Back Bays.