With all the hot water flowing into the Carolinas, this is time to take advantage of some of the tropical varieties that are here now. These species include cubera and mutton snappers, as well as some of the unusual grouper species like red and speckled hinds. Bear in mid, these species are here year-round in some of the deeper water (off the break), however, these species are now moving into the shallower (125- to 150-foot) water.
The other benefit of anchoring in this 125- to 150-foot water is the wide variety of customers on the light line. With or without the use of a block of frozen chum, the light line will produce bites from the bait going down and the grouper/snapper coming up regurgitating squid and minnows, but I strongly recommend the use of commercially available five-pound boxes of frozen chum. There are as always dolphin, kings, wahoo and tuna, but this is the best time of year to catch a white marlin or sailfish on the light line.
One of the best baits of all is a LARGE live cigar minnow or sardine under a kite or free-lined, but one of the most overlooked baits of all is a squid…the same frozen squid that come in one- and five-pound boxes. Depending on the current, you may need a small amount of weight to keep the squid under the surface. You might consider a 7/0 Chin weight. Not only does this give you the weight to keep the squid below the surface, it will not allow the squid to spin in the current. A squid that spins will NOT get bit. For trolling, slow trollng or light lining, check out our website for a video that explains how to rig a beautiful squid on the Chin Weight.
Another benefit of the hot water is the spawn of cigar minnows and sardines. This is the time of year that large yellowfin tuna and wahoo are caught inshore (20-35 mile range) on the huge schools of bait. Live pogeys have been responsible for many wahoo on these inshore places; however, I personally believe the wahoo are in there eating cigar minnows and sardines, so I would offer them a cigar minnow or a sardine. Slow trolling a squid on the downrigger may also be just the ticket for these tuna or wahoo.
As always, good fishing, be safe and take your kids fishing. This will provide memories that they will retain for life, and possibly get them into a healthy hobby that will last their entire lives.
Details on squid rigging and more are available on www.barefootfishing.net. Click on “video” and then into the “how-to” section.
Keep ya drag tight,
Capt. Tim Barefoot
Barefoot Fishing
www.barefootfishing.net
910-617-7637