Beaches, bridges, piers, bays, bayous, and state waters along the Florida Panhandle currently do not have any fishing closures. They are wide open for fishing, swimming, or boating.
The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have expanded the “off-limits to fishing” zone in federal waters to the west due to the wind and current pushing the spill that direction.
Even if you are planning on making a trip offshore to do some deep bottom fishing there is plenty open area out there to fish, but you may have to change your game plan a little. 
Archive for May, 2010
My friend Trevor wanted to try this kayaking thing, so I took him out to some flats. We got on the water before sunrise and threw out some topwaters. The sun came up rather quickly so we switched to the gold spoon. Man was this ever the bait of choice! I guess I had all the luck since I pulled a redfish out of every other dock. First fish was a beauty. He ripped the line off the 3000 and went for a dock. Luckily, he turned south and started to give in. He came up boatside and I pulled him out.
Perfect upper slot
At the next dock, it only took about 3 casts to find another. Got him to the yak and grabbed the camera. Another beauty
We continue our drift and work an area that looks fishy. I threw two times at the same spot and didn’t hook up. 3rd time was the charm and a red swipes the spoon. Good lookin fish for sure.
Trevor is getting pretty frustrated as he hasn’t hooked anything. He finally gets a red to eat and fights him to the boat. Another nice slot
We drift to the last set of docks and deploy the stickit. I stood up on my seat to see if I could spot anything. I throw blindly and once again, a red takes the bait. Near the boat, I could see two more swimming with him. I yell to Trevor to throw in for a chance at a double. We could see the fish rush his spoon but he didn’t eat. Oh well…I landed mine and took a pic
Wind was kickin, so I threw in one more time. Right in front of the yak, I watched a speck eat the spoon! Quick fight and he’s done.
There have been no changes to banned fishing areas for a couple of days now. Everything is open for fishing, except a portion of federal waters approximately twenty miles offshore. A good amount of cobia are still being caught along with pompano, redfish, trout, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel.
The grassflats in the sound have been producing redfish after redfish. Today, I took the yak over to one of my favorite spots and tried out the gold spoon. With the stickit out and me standing up on the seat, I could see the reds slammin the spoon. What a cool sight! I sat for 30min on the same spot and hooked five reds. One had to be 30+in as he brought the 3000 down to half spool. It killed me when he came off! At the end of the day, I had 5 reds in the boat and lost 3. Great day on the water!
Chris Dunn
There have been no changes to the areas banned from fishing! Fishing is good, so whether you fish inshore, offshore, or at a local pier or beach now is the time to go…
Fishing is still wide open for inshore, piers, beaches, and state waters. The closed federal area offshore has been extended, but fishing within approximatly 25 miles is still open.
The closure will be in effect for 10 days, from May 7, 2010, through 12:01 a.m., local time, May 17, 2010, unless conditions allow NOAA Fisheries Service to terminate it sooner.
