By Capt. Jamie Thrappas, Yellow Dawg Fishing
June is wide open fishing at and around the inlet! With it being one of the first true warmer months I always try to get on it early so we can ensure success and beat the heat. One of my favorite things to do in June is target slot and over slot redfish on tide switches that happen as close as possible to first light. Live baitfish like mullet, pinfish, croaker, and even cut lady fish or mullet will all produce. Once that tide switches and the bite closes I like to switch gears and target mangroves and flounder. One of my favorite baits to use for flounder and big mangroves in the summer are mud minnows. These baits out perform everything in my opinion, with live shrimp being my second favorite to use. I catch flounder in moving water around structure on the sandy or flat bottom.
The trick is using a shorter leader like 12″ is about perfect as you want that minnow to be closer to the bottom. The second trick is using a circle hook and not trying to set the hook, you literally want to let the fish hold the bait for a few seconds (30s in my opinion) before you start to reel in steady and then, net the fish! The last thing you want to do is get a doormat to the surface and lose him in the mid air as you try to flip him in the boat, trust me it sucks! I also get my biggest mangroves each summer on mud minnows. They are harder for the snapper to get off the hook than shrimp and man I have gotten some stud mangroves near the inlet even as big as 18″ which is a really good inshore snapper!
It’s definitely warm out, the weather has been great, and the fishing has been getting better so give us a call to go fishing or get out there yourself! As always if you see us on the water say hello!
