Bullred Charters | Florida Redfish Guides, Big Bend Saltwater Fishing Guides, Econfina River Fishing with Captain Bry Martin

WATERS REMAIN DARK AS TEA!

Well folks it’s the same old song! The waters out of the Econfina and Aucilla Rivers remain dark as tea. So the scalloping has been pitiful out of the Econfina River. But it is not all bad you don’t have to go far to gather your scallops. Just head towards the Grey Mare back towards St. Marks and start looking for the boats. Scallops have been plentiful towards St. Marks this year and it’s about the only place the water is clear enough to see.

With the dark waters the trout fishing has actually picked up the last month or so due to the waters cooling down a little. Good reports have been coming in from folks fishing the 6 to 10 feet of water ranges. Also some limits have come in from as far out as 12 to 14 feet of water the past couple of weeks. Most all catches have come from fishing on bottom using the Berkley Gulps (pearl whites, new penny, and even pinks). The inshore fishing along the grass line has not been very productive lately, I’m guessing the tannic acid in the shallow waters still have the fish buggered up a little?

Reds have really been scarce the last month or so also maybe due to the tannic acid in the shallow waters. The top water fishing has basically been at a stand still out of the Econfina and Aucilla Rivers. This will change as the waters start to clear whenever that happens? Some reds have been caught as far out as 6 to 7 feet of water. With all the bait fish moving into the flats it’s not a bad idea to be ready in a moments notice to cast into the pods of bait fish.

Best Bets for the month of September will be to continue to fish the 6 to 10 feet of water on the flats for trout using the Berkley gulps and fishing on bottom. Try fishing cut bait close to bottom around any of the off shore oyster bars you might know of for reds. And if it’s scallops you’re after head towards Grey Mare and start looking for the boats. Remember to drop me a line or photo at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or my website at www. bullredcharters.com.  Also call for fall discounts being offered on charters starting in September. And as always don’t forget to include the children in all outdoor activities.

DARK WATER AHEAD!

Well folks its August and I guess by now you know the scallops are few and far between due to Tropical Storm Debby unless you can find some clear water. Down here at the Econfina the water is almost black in color out to about 6 to 7 feet. Out in the 8 to 10 feet depths the water starts to clear a little but that’s a little to deep to scallop for most. Word is that there are scallops over towards the Grey Mare back towards the St. Marks River. With scallop season being extended this year to the 23^rd of September maybe the waters around the Econfina will have time to clear so scallops can be harvested there!

The trout are still scattered with most being caught out in the 8 to 10 feet depths. Fishing the deeper waters using the Berkley Gulps (pearl whites and even the electric chicken) seem to be doing the best when jigging off bottom. There’s a lot of smaller fish out there so you have to stay after them to get a limit but it can be done.

With all the fresh water coming out of the river and creeks it seems to have the Reds a little mixed up right now. You can still catch them you just have to find the right point or creek. Fishing the points on the higher tides using Top Water plugs, spoons, or even a Berkley Gulp slow on bottom will produce a bite if you’re in the right place at the right time. Fishing the creeks using cut bait (since there’s no shrimp this time of year) will also produce a bite.

The mullet are definitely out of the question right now since you couldn’t see one if he was there. You do see some jumping but you can’t throw on what you can’t see and you definitely can’t see.

BEST BETS FOR AUGUST would be to fish the deeper waters in 8 to 12 feet depths using the Berkley Gulps jigging off bottom for Trout. Fishing the grass lines and points during the higher tides using top water plugs like the Super Spooks, Skitter Walks, or even the Berkley gulps on a jig head will catch Reds when they’re there. And most important make sure to keep boating safety in mind while on the waters with scallop season being in and keep a keen eye out for diver flags and divers. Don’t forget to drop me a line or a photo about your trip at www.bullredcharters.com. And as always don’t forget to include the kids in all those outdoor plans.

Trout are scattered but still out there!!

Well folks it’s July and I hope you have cleaned up those mask and snorkels!! Scallops seem to be pretty plentiful just about everywhere. Remember the limits are 2 gallons whole scallops per person or 10 gallons whole scallops per boat. If you want to clean them on the water it’s 1 pint of meat per person and no more than ½ gallon meat per boat. Also make sure you have your dive flags flying when in the water and make an effort to stay within 300 feet of divers-down flag on open waters and within 100 feet in rivers, inlets and navigation channels. Scallop season runs from July 1 through September 10.

The trout bite continues to be pretty good if you’re in the right place. The trout are scattered on the flats so when you pick one or two up on a drift make the same drift again. Trout are still hitting top water plugs during the early morning hours on and around the points and grass line. Most of the trout are being caught out in 6 to 8 feet depths of water tight lining off bottom. A few are still coming from under corks using the Berkley Gulps. Don’t count out the deeper water either in the 8 to 10 feet depths. At this time of year you really have to move around until you locate them unless you’re lucky enough to be able to fish everyday so you can keep up with them.

Reds are also being caught on the points and grass line using the Gold Spoons, top water plugs like the Skitter Walks, Top Dogs, and others. Fishing these points during the higher tides will produce these Reds. If you really want to catch the larger Reds and have the patience just drift through some of the shallower bays throwing those top water plugs and spoons. And as always if you don’t have the patience just pull into the deeper creek runs that have some oysters in them and fish the live shrimp on bottom.

The mullet are kind of hard to figure right now. One day you see them bunched up everywhere you look the next day they’re so scattered you couldn’t catch a mess if you wanted to. So make sure you load the net before you leave just in case it’s one of those days they’re everywhere. Best Bets for the month of July would be to fish the flats on bottom in 6 to 8 feet of water where the bottom is sand and grass spotted. For the reds fish the points, grass line areas, and any other shell bottom you know of using the Gold Spoons, top water plugs, and even the Berkley Gulps on a jig head on bottom.

Don’t forget to send me an e-mail or photo on my website at www.bullredcharters.com. Make sure to include the children in all your outdoor plans and be safe while on the waters especially during scallop season.

John Ladson of Vidalia, Ga. and Grandson Gray Barbee were fishing out of the Econfina river with Capt. Bry Martin when Gray hooked up with this huge speckle trout estimated to weigh in around 7lbs. After the battle was over believe it or not young Gray opted to release the huge trout to help the future of the trout population. NOW THAT’S A SPORTSMAN.

Trout are in the deeper waters!

With the temperatures during the month of May being as hot as they’ve been the trout have definitely moved to the deeper waters. We’ve caught fish in 8 to 10.5 feet water depths over the past month. Although it seems most of the trout have hit the deeper depths there are still some to be caught in the shallow waters using top water plugs and under corks in the early morning hours before the sun hits directly overhead. Fishing shallow water early in the morning hours with top water plugs like the Skitter Walks and Top Dogs will still produce a few trout and some of the larger reds. But to catch limits of trout it seems you’ve got to get off the hill where the waters are a little cooler and the fish are lying on bottom.

Denise Martin caught and released the over the slot red on a recent fishing trip out of the Econfins with Captain Bry Martin of Bull Red Charters.

Fishing the morning hours with the top water plugs will produce reds with some still being over the slot. If you can get a tide where you’re fishing an out going tide early in the morning you are sure to catch your limit of reds. Fishing the creeks using the old faithful live shrimp is also almost a sure bet for a limit of reds. I have also heard from a good source that if you pitch Berkley Gulps to the grass line during the higher tides the reds really tend to hit pretty hard.

The mullet still seem to be quite plentiful out of the Econfina and Aucilla Rivers so don’t forget to throw that net in the boat before you leave. Most of the mullet I’ve been catching aren’t real big but they sure are tasty. The points to the East of Long Point seem to keep mullet.

Best bets for the month of June would be to fish the deeper water in depths of 8 to 10 feet on bottom for the trout using Berkley Gulps. Fish the grass lines and points during the higher tide pitching Berkley gulps and fishing the top water plugs early in the morning will produce reds and possibly a trout or two. Don’t forget to check and start cleaning up those scalloping mask and snorkels as scallop season will begin in July. As always drop me a line or send me a photo on our website at www.bullredcharters.com. And most of all play it safe while on the waters and don’t forget to include the children in all the outdoor plans. Let’s get geared up for some fun in the sun!

The Roberts family returned to get in on some of the spring fishing action. Trent and Lyla show off a nice board of fish they caught on a recent charter out of the Econfina River with Captain Bry Martin of Bull Red Charters.