Trailering our boat down there next week and staying by Indian Pass, does anyone have any suggestions on fishing spots and/or things for the wives to do in case they need a break?
Lots of good spots down there. You can fish St. Joes Bay for reds, trout and flounder. It’s very shallow averaging about 5-6 ft. I think the cobia run is about over, but there are usually lots of Spanish macks off the beaches. Not sure what size boat you have but there are some artificial reefs close to Panama City. I think the red snapper season is still closed though. Good luck.
My wife and I camped at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park three years ago this weekend. We didn’t have a boat with us, but we did rent a kayak for a day and try our luck in St. Joe Bay. We put in near the boat ramp in the park, then drifted over the shallows to the north of the ramp. Despite having nearly zero previous saltwater fishing experience, we were able to pick up a few trout using DOA shrimp under popping corks. I’d heard the “bomb holes” behind Black’s Island were THE place to catch fish in the bay, but that would’ve been a pretty far paddle for us in the kayak. In the evening, go to the Indian Pass Raw Bar, grab a beer and sit on the front porch. If they’re not already there, the locals and guides will eventually show up and share some of their knowledge.
As for things for the wives to do, there’s not a lot other than fishing and laying on the beach, but that’s sort of the appeal of the place. Port St. Joe and Apalachicola are neat little fishing towns with some local restaurants and shops, but that’s about it.
Great area and great suggestions. If scallops are in season, that is a must.
Scallops doesn’t open until around the first of July. Its always a Saturday opener.
Sorry, can’t help much with Port St. Joe area. I grew fishing east of there Apalachicola to St. Marks. Apalach is a cool little town and some good marine type art in some of those little shops downtown. But if the wives need a getaway like shopping, gonna have to send them to panama city. As previously mentioned, not much happening in that part of Florida, which is the main appeal to a lot of us.
You don’t say what size boat. My $0.02 just based on that whole stretch of gulf is fish for trout inshore or grouper offshore. I still haven’t figured out how to catch fish here like I could there. The grass flats are fantastic and the grouper are dang sure easier to find than here.
FWC site should have all the reefs listed by county. At least they used to. If you can’t find it let me know and I have them saved in a PDF I believe if I can find it.
Also you can check out floridasportsman.com forums to see what’s biting and where and to ask for advice.
and bigbendfishing.net
The majority of the folks are east of PSJ, but there are a good many as far west as PC
We are taking 22ft Sea Fox.
Thanks for all of the information provided so far. Those websites should be enough to get me through till departure day.