by Capt. Sam O’Briant
We have now transitioned totally from spring/winter to our rainy summer season. The water temperature will be in the low to mid 80s, approaching the uncomfortable range for our local fish. The rainy season can be our fishing friend or enemy. On the enemy side, it can cause us to have to cut our fishing trip short or run for a safe place. Always know where you are and where the closest place to get out of the thunderstorm is. You do not want to be in a thunderstorm, nor even on the edge.
If you cannot get to a restaurant, bar, or any other building for protection, run into a creek. Take all your rods and antennas down. Anchor up and do not touch anything metal. You might even want to raise your motors to avoid a nearby lightning strike traveling through the water and burning out your motors. I have seen this occur in Pine Island Sound. On the good side, the rain also helps keep the water temperature down, thus the fish will stay closer to what we like to think of as normal.
Trout will definitely be up on the grass flats in water from 2 ½ feet to maybe 6 feet. They will also be under the overhanging mangroves. For the larger trout, 19 inches up, white bait or greenies will work best. The smaller trout will readily take a shrimp. Drift the shrimp or minnow under a popping cork, giving it a pop every now and then.
Snook season will be closed starting the first of June. I suggest that we let the snook breed and hopefully build up the snook population. If you insist on catching one, look for them either along the gulf side of the outer islands, in the breakers or under the same mangroves where we find the trout. Minnows can be fished two ways, under a cork or free-lining. If you free-line them, be sure to keep a close eye on your bait. They tend to try to dig into the grass to hide.
Sheepshead have moved offshore to the reefs, along with some of the redfish and snook. Redfish are also widespread, out all over Pine Island Sound. You may find them, like everything else, under the mangroves. Cut bait will work best for them.
There are also sharks and tarpon in Pine Island Sound. If you chum heavily you should be able to entice a shark. The tarpon schools may show up any time throughout the sound.