CRESTVIEW — On the Emerald Coast, there is something for every angler, whether they prefer freshwater or saltwater fishing.
And North Okaloosa County residents don’t have to travel to the Gulf to have plenty of fishing fun.
Crestview High School outdoor education teacher Ernie Martin says that, for the patient angler, this is the perfect time to catch bass.
“The last few weeks, I’ve seen at least 14-16 bass over 8 pounds that were caught and released on (fishing) beds," Martin said.
“This time of year … most of the bass are in either pre-spawn or spawn mode. Some of them will be starting to go to post-spawn. The fish are cruising the banks, getting ready to pair up and reproduce and building their nests.”
However, while the fish are mating, they are less likely to feed, which means there’s less of a chance they will strike your bait because they are hungry.
But Martin said that doesn’t have to be a problem for anglers with the right game plan.
“This time of year, I like to power bait fish. If I can catch them on a crank bait and a spinner bait and a jerk bait, that’s going to happen. If I have to slow down, I’m not going to like it, but I’ll do it in order to catch the fish.”
It’s important to know the fish's natural habits and how they react to different live and artificial baits, Martin said.
“If you can see those fish on the bed, you are going to need to figure out what to throw at them,” Martin said. “My favorite thing to throw at them is any kind of soft plastic that I can see.
"Remember, they are not feeding, they are protecting (their bed).
“He or she is going to pick up that bait and spit it out of that bed and go back to guarding those eggs or those fry.
"So you need something that doesn’t have a big body that you can get a lot of hook in so that you can catch that fish.”
DID YOU KNOW?
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers an incentive to anglers who throw big fish back in the water.
Anglers who catch and release a freshwater fish weighing 8 or more pounds are eligible for $100, $150 and $200 gift cards redeemable at Bass Pro Shops or Dick’s Sporting Goods, along with other prizes.
Learn more at www.BigCatchFlorida.com.
Email News Bulletin Sports Editor Randy Dickson, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Catching bass in a grass bed