Flounder Full House in South Walton

One more week and it's looking for new tackle under the tree. Merry Christmas! The north part of the country may be looking at snow and sleet for winter weather but here at the beach we are still looking at white sand and fresh fish.

It's cooler and we are wearing jackets instead of swim shorts but the fishing is as good now as anytime during the warmer months. We are still catching limits of Flounder on every trip and the jacks are thick as well. There seem to still be plenty of Vermillions out a bit as well as Triggers in State waters ( where you can still keep 'em).

I was lucky enough to run a couple charters on calm days since my last reoprt and got to "play fish" this morning as well with a couple locals. It's great (and rare) anymore when I get to catch fish too! Flounder fishing is sure enough fun even for an old fishhead like me!

A couple of locals with a few of our 30 flounder limit from this morning.
 

These guys had a great catch of Flounders pretty quick and then we ran "way" offshore to chase the Big Jacks...... that one on the right was just over 40 pounds!.......the "big ones" got away.

These guys had a limit of Flounders in about 2 hours... so we went out another 3 miles and got a limit of lesser jacks too!

The Flounders should stay hot in close (30 to 70 ft) for another couple weeks before they spread back out. The Greater Amberjacks should come in a little closer and get a little hungrier as the water cools and the Amberines and Vermillions will gradually move out a little deeper as the water temp drops. Yesterday we ran out almost 20 miles and the surface temp was still right at 69-70, it has droped to 59 on the beach on the cool mornings. The fish will do what they have done for a living for thousands of years, moving in and out along with changes in the water temp. As long as you are aware as to what the temp is doing you shouldn't have any trouble filling up the box!

I'm sure I'll run a bunch of trips (weather permitting) between Christmas and New Years so look for another report and fresh pics right after the 1st. In the meantime I hope Santa brings you that new rod and reel you have been drooling over.