Thirty to forty knot wind from the south and southwest has stirred the Gulf up pretty good...the combination of a full moon and calming seas should make for an interesting weekend. The turbid water will make pelagic fishing tough because the bait pods have scattered and most area pelagics go deep after these storms.

What has worked well in the past is bottom fishing for grouper and in-season snapper species after a big blow. I will target nearshore structure out to 7 miles since the winds were blowing from offshore, and those area's will now hold bottom fish that may have been recently over pressured in red snapper season.

Mexico Beach has one of the largest artificial reef area's in state waters, some as close as 3 miles from shore. After storms pass and especially on a full moon, these structures should be very productive for gag grouper, vermilion snappers, and black snapper. My plans include some night fishing on this moon, with a big underwater light attracting the squid, and recycling the squid for black snappers. Use very light flouro-carbon leaders, small 2/0 or 3/0 circle hooks and just enough weight to get the bait sinking slowly while free lining in the currents. If the bite starts slow, use some chum chunks of spanish sardines or cut squid, but not too much or you'll catch a bunch of sharks.

Capt. Mitch Coleman
Floridaze Adventures Charters
mcoleman54@yahoo.com
Mexico Beach, Florida