June is off to a hot start and July is looking really good. Unfortunately, its hot out there! I mean really hot. Looking forward to some rainy days to cool of the water and flush the fish out. Higher water levels have been great for fishing allowing us to pound the mangroves and catch an abundance of fish. You have to be careful with your bait during these summer months.
The warmer the water the less ability it has to hold onto dissolved oxygen. Which means you really have to monitor your bait. You can’t black out your livewell and you also need to wait for the tides to come up. Getting in too shallow first thing can result in sluggish bait or even your bait dying and it can die quickly. So, for most days with an incoming tide, I like to fish some deeper water spots first thing and wait for that fresh water to push onto the flats.
Two other things you need to take into consideration before pushing onto the flats. Days after heavy rains you can find low oxygenated water on the flats especially close to the mangroves where creeks run out of. That fresh water can kill your bait fast. Also, you need to allow that sun to come up to allow the seagrass to start photosynthesizing and releasing oxygen into the water. These are some things that a lot of guides don’t think about and quickly find themselves with a livewell full of dead bait, and all that hard work of netting them was for nothing.
With that being said the fishing has been solid the past two weeks. The trout bite has been very good with some larger trout being caught in the 22 to 24-inch range. We are also catching a bunch of sharks while trout fishing, which has been excellent for the trip I have kids on. Kids just live catching sharks.
The snook bite has also been very good but the best production has been on the middle to later half of the incoming tide. This has allowed the water levels to come up and with it being so hot and hot water temps the snook are really seeking refuge under the shady mangroves. There have been a lot of decent snook being caught from the 24” to 35” range, but we have hook several giant snook, but unfortunately have been unable to land them. They know exactly what to do and sometimes getting bit under the mangroves is already a recipe for disaster. Still if fun feeling the power of those big girls and the thrilling agony of defeat!
The redfish bite has been steady, but not great. It seems like once you can find a stack of them you can get them to eat, but finding them has been tough. Some days you get on them good and other maybe one or two. It been a little stranger and atypical this summer for reds, but they are bound to show up. Seems like days after a good rain is when I am finding more redfish. Biggest red we landed as of late was 33 inches, but most are in the 24 to 30” range.
Tarpon are starting to show up in their mid-summer and late summer areas. For me, tarpon are a fish of opportunity as I don’t typically seek them out unless requested and again its tarpon fishing. They may be there but don’t want to eat. Tarpon are ranging in the 20 to 60-pound class size. I call these fun sized tarpon as they go absolutely bonkers when hooked.
White bait and pinfish have been the key so far this summer. Artificial paddle tailed jigs for trout have been working well and the top water bite for snook and redfish is always exciting and can produce some bigger fish. I recently went out to test my new power pole move trolling motor and on my second cast with a topwater I got absolutely hammered by a big redfish.
I have plenty of availability for July as June is almost booked up. If you are looking for some great inshore action or even want the challenge of catching a grand slam (snook, trout, redfish, tarpon) July and August will be the best time in my area. Book your trip today. Fishing is fun!
Capt. Bucky Goldman of BAG’EM FISHING CHARTERS