The fishing is excellent. With hot days, the harbor water temperature is producing excellent bites of most species in the harbor. All day fishing trips are not happening. Anglers leave their docks early in the morning, and after three to four hours of fishing, return. This should be of no surprise to most, as morning temperatures are a bit cooler. Fishing in the afternoon with temperatures running into the mid to high 90’s makes conditions very uncomfortable for humans, not so for fish. Anglers are reporting morning bites to be excellent. Catches of snook, redfish, trout, shark, cobia, gray snapper, jacks, Spanish mackerel and an occasional flounder are all on the bite. Bag limits are very common. Anglers fishing from kayaks are doing great, trolling is producing large mackerel and ladyfish, and the use of live bait is by far the most productive.
While the fish are active in the warmer water, many anglers are reporting problems with the heat. Keep yourself covered from sun exposure. Hats with large brims are a must. Sunscreen applied to your face, hands and other exposed body parts should be used. Lots of cold water to drink at regular intervals is a must. I did not follow my own advice early in the season and found myself in the emergency room being treated for heat exhaustion. In my conversation with the attending physician, she said she had never seen so many cases of illness due to heat exposure. You can enjoy fishing in this type of heat but take care of yourself.
Now back to fishing. Anglers have reported that certain artificial lures have been producing great catches.
- The 3- and 4-inch white paddle tail soft plastic lure, used with a chartreuse jig head, is by far the number one lure catching fish. A fast retrieving seems to attract the fish. This lure runs just under the surface with a quarter ounce or lighter jig head. That same paddle tale with a chartreuse tail has also been working.
- If you prefer fishing the surface, the use of a Heddon Saltwater Super Spook lure in the 4-inch model in white or cream color is driving the snook crazy.
- If you prefer hopping an artificial bait along the bottom or under a floating cork, the use of a Gulp Shrimp in penny or natural color in either 3- or 4-inch variety is producing redfish and most of the bottom species.
- If you like to troll at speeds of 2 to 3 knots, use the Clark Squid Spoon in 3 to 3 1/2-inch variety. This trolled spoon is working well. A short piece of wire leader attached to the spoon, and again to a 5-foot monofilament leader will attract the mackerel and ladyfish.
- Don’t forget the great shark fishing now going on in the harbor. A stout rod and reel equipped with at least 50-pound line and a three-foot wire shock leader holding an 8/0 or large circle hook will work just fine. A nice chunk of lady fish about three inches wide on that circle hook is the preferred bait. Sending the bait out in a free line drift about 50 to 75 feet from your drifting boat should work just fine. Most sharks will run 20 to 150 pounds, but a 200 to 300 pounder can also show up. Remember never boat a shark. Release the shark at the side of the boat by cutting the wire shock leader. If you use a non-stainless hook, that hook will rust out in a short period of time. A stainless hook is a death penalty if hooked deep. Have fun and watch the heat.
