By Capt. Jamie Thrappas, Yellow Dawg Fishing
August is a hot and rainy month, but the water is warm typically (hopefully this upwelling subsides) and if everything aligns right the fishing should be good or even great! The fall mullet run is also right around the corner. Basically if I were you, I’d go fishing!
As I suggested in the previous few months early morning is the key. Reds, snook and tarpon will be on patrol at the inlet. I’d get a variety of bait as every day seems to be different, but shrimp, pinfish, croakers, and mullet should be a good mix to get your lines tight. We use side scan to mark fish then go up current and drop bait back to where they are sitting.
You can use 3-4 oz egg sinkers in ripping current to get bait down to the bottom, pinch weights to fish the middle water column, and free line to cover the surface. Pitch your lighter rigs up current ahead of the boat in between your boat and the rocks, I’d say 15 yards is a good distance to sit to avoid snagging and let the bait just keep drifting back and repeat. I suggest 20-40 lb fluorocarbon with at least a 3 ft leader and a 4/0 circle hook.
There should be a good bite at the inlet and the nearshore reefs for flounder most of August, if you can find mud minnows you should get rewarded for getting a line wet. I’d also recommend spending some time throwing larger paddle tails at rolling tarpon early in the morning, there’s nothing like hooking into 80+ lb fish before you finish your coffee! As always good luck and if you see us in the water say hello!!
