Summer is
in full swing bringing hot, humid days and the possibility of thunderstorms
almost every afternoon. That does not mean fishing is poor, it can actually be
very good if you plan accordingly. Look for the best fishing early and late in the day when temperatures are coolest, try to coordinate the better tides with this part of the day. Of course thunderstorms are a strong possibility on any given day, fishing the morning tides is a lot more predictable. However, fishing after an afternoon thunderstorm can be very good. If the sky clears a few hours before the sun sets this is a great time to hit the water.
Redfish and mangrove snapper will
be in the sights of many inshore anglers, both thrive ithe warm summer
temperature and fishing for both should only get better as the month
progresses. Anglers will score with
redfish using two very different techniques: first, and this is generally a
very early or very late in the day strategy, is sight fishing.
The
second method, much easier and also very productive, is fishing under the
mangroves islands over the higher tides. Not as much stealth is required here,
fish are a lot more settled with the added water over their head, plus they
feel the security of the mangrove roots and over hangs.
While
mangrove snapper will be caught targeting redfish under the mangroves, anglers
targeting the tasty fish will look to areas with structure. Inshore this
includes the gulf passes; Redfish, Captiva and Boca Grande all have rocks and
ledges that attract snapper and other fish. Also, bridges, docks, piers,
jetties, artificial reefs, and any other submerged debris piles are sure to be
likely snapper hotspots. In the gulf, most of the near shore artificial reefs
and underwater structure will hold mangrove snapper and some big ones.
If you are looking for something
more challenging there is plenty of sharks around to test your will. Sharks
ranging in length from 3 to 10 feet are roaming inshore waters and often in
water shallower than you think. Look for
sharks in areas holding other fish. If you have a spot that’s good for
mackerel, ladyfish, bluefish, trout, etc., chances are good sharks are nearby.
Make sure to use a wire leader and fresh bait always works best. It’s a good
idea to leave sharks in the water and either unhook or cut the leader, it’s
safer for both fish and angler. We have a lot of different shark species with
different regulations; some are illegal to remove from the water and some have
size restrictions. If you plan on inviting a small tasty blacktip home for
supper, do your homework and learn to identify the different species.
While the height of tarpon season
peaked last month, July is still a great month to hook a silver king if you are
targeting them or not. Don’t be surprised if one blast a shark bait or a big
one blows up on your lure while targeting trout on the flats.
There’s a lot to catch in July
without much competition from other anglers. Fish the best tides if you can,
prepare for the heat, and watch for those thunderstorms, and you will learn
it’s a great month on the water.
No comments:
Post a Comment