[dropcap]A[/dropcap]ugust is here, and so are the dog days of summer. No worries about catching fish this month, as every dog must eat. Avoid the mid-day heat if you can. The bite usually fades with the mid-day burn. Instead, focus on the early morning and late afternoon. Many great fishing stories have been made on a slick summer morning or after the afternoon showers have passed.
Ochlocknee Bay is a great summer fishing spot. Its deep water channels give shelter to fish seeking cooler water. Fish the bars and deep cuts between the bars for some redfish, flounder, and trout action. August is also prime time to catch and release that big Black drum. The bridge will hold fish, but also look for tailing fish around the bars. Look for that big jagged pink tail, and toss it a blue crab or Gulp shrimp, then hang on.
Dog Island Reef is a summer playground for fish. The reef will be loaded with mackerels, ladyfish, and bluefish. There will also be a nice trout bite if you can get your bait below the other toothy critters. The Dog Island Reef bonus will be a passing cobia or a school of big redfish. Be prepared for anything.
St. Teresa never loses much in the summertime heat. You just need to target trout and reds on the outer edges of the bars. Turkey Point Shoals is a great place to start. There have been plenty of jacks swimming the flats. Look for busting water, and key on the baitfish schools. If tarpon is your target, this is a great place to start.
St. George Island has it all in summer. Both passes will hold plenty of hungry fish. Every fish in the gulf will be close by. On the bayside just move off the hill a little to find the trout bite. Concentrate on the 4 to 8 foot depths. There is a boat launch inside the state park that is an awesome place for kayak fishing. Nothing needed but a bag of Gulp shrimp and a 1/16 ounce jig head.
Offshore the bite only seems to get better with each passing season. The closed seasons are a menace to offshore fishermen and tackle shop owners. That being said, the quality of fish being caught only gets better. There are plenty of kingfish roaming the 10 mile mark and plenty of snapper and gags to catch, too. Federal waters remain open for gags this month. You better check your local regulations on everything else.
If you need a professional guide or a day on the water, give us a call. The boats are always rigged and ready! Inshore light tackle is what we do. Enjoy your August.
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