Matt Wegener, an angler from Pensacola, sets the trolling motor on his Hewes Redfisher, suddenly stationary in the current of the Escambia River. Eyeing the roots of cypress trees for pockets of still water, he ties on a crawfish-colored crankbait, imitating one of the many native crawfish, or crayfish, that call Florida’s waters home. Crawfish are so useful when targeting bass that he keeps a range of imitations in his tackle box, including soft plastic Texas-rigged craw baits and jigs with soft plastic craw trailers.
Across the state, over 50 species of crayfish range throughout Florida. In fact, only a handful of states have more crayfish varieties, all within the southeast (Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Mississippi and Arkansas). Many varieties are plentiful, and—if you are inclined to catch your own for…
