August fishing can be a challenge sometimes, but it’s always a fun time. The cold-water upwelling is still around and causing issues for bottom fishing and finding bait. By cold water, I’m talking about the yearly thermocline. Just because you can’t get a bot- tom bite going doesn’t mean the bottom fish don’t come up in the water column a little. Get on the wrecks and chum. You will find the cold pushes the fish up. They try to get to the warm water level. It’s not uncommon at all to see amberjack, snapper, cobia, mangroves, and many other species not far from the surface. Picking out the biggest fish can be fun especially for your charters.
Mahi – cold water really pushes those mahi up in the gulf stream as well. Get out there and put your best baits out, now is the time to get them. If you have no luck out deep, go to 8A and troll fast through the reef. We catch many fish, even wahoo on 8A. Kingfish should continue to do well, many fish in the 40/50 lbs. class have been caught recently. Pelican flats’ 70 foot line is a great place for kings, as well as 8A.
Nearshore beach fishing is going to really be picking up. Tarpon are there and rolling every day. You can slow troll them or just drift in the mornings with live bait. We have caught them on everything. Chunk baits, live baits, and artificial. There is not much they won’t eat. Beach fishing in the 20-30 feet is a blast. You’d be amazed how shallow all these fish come in. Kings, bonito, jack crevalle, and many other extreme fighting fish. Look for schools of bunker. If you find them, you fill find the fish. Shark fishing is about as good as it gets right now. If you’re looking for some fun with the kids, anchor up in 20 feet off the beach and hold on. Bonita and king are excellent bait for the toothy critters, and they will definitely eat tarpon baits.
