Summer is in full swing, both in temperature and in the amount of fish around to target.
Inshore on the flats, ample amounts of trout and redfish can be found patrolling the shallows in the early hours of the morning, when the temperatures are still cool and the low light offers them the advantage of stealth. This is the best time of day to break out the topwaters or surface lures for some exciting action.
As the day heats up, I like to switch my focus to other fish that reside in deeper water, where the heat of the day has little effect on the way they feed. Mangrove snapper offer plenty of action for everyone and have provided many with a great meal. Other bottom fish to target inshore this month are red snapper and black sea bass, all of which provide phenomenal table fare.
Strong outgoing tides are still getting the big bull reds fired up around the bridges as they patrol the surface looking for crabs. When the tide is ripping hard, you can throw big topwaters or flat-lined crabs to waking fish or fish blowing up on the surface. If the tide is not falling hard, you can always use your electronics to spot the redfish down deep and drop either a heavy jig or Carolina-rigged live bait down to them. Remember, with them being catch-and-release at that size, to handle them with care and release them healthy.
Just off the flats and in open water throughout the bay, you can still find pretty good numbers of Spanish mackerel. While I rarely target them specifically, I do catch quite a few as bycatch when fishing near drop-offs, points, and while flat-lining over deeper structure. Mackerel have incredibly sharp teeth, so using a light wire leader when targeting them will definitely increase your success rate.
This has been a great year for tarpon. Although a lot of fish have already made their way through our waters, there are still enough around to make it worth your while to get out and try to catch one. Since they are only migrating through our area, you may have to run and cover significant distances to locate schools of fish. Try not to pressure them too much. Take your time and try to get in line with their movement. Tarpon will scrutinize most offerings; however, they will eat artificial, live, and dead baits. If you catch one, do not remove it from the water. If you want a photo, take it boat-side or jump in the water with it.
Good luck! If you have additional questions about what's biting, how to catch them, or if you would like to book a trip, I encourage you to give me a call or shoot me an email.
