By: Joe Sheaffer
Summer’s heat is upon Southwest Florida. We start fishing earlier to beat the heat of the day and our inshore fish are trying to find ways to deal with the warming water temperatures. The fish will be shallow early and will look for deeper water or hide under the mangroves to escape the warmer conditions. The tides tend to be higher this time of year and larger volumes of water can create good current swings. Current is always important for fish and this time of year it can really be the difference between a successful day or a tough fishing day. Ideally, we look at the change in the tides to create current and how we will fish certain areas. In some situations, an incoming tide can be more productive and sometimes the outgoing tide seems to be better. There are times when the tide is slack, and the wind creates the current. The current not only helps with the oxygen levels but it also dictates how fish will position themselves to feed. Current will help move bait along towards structures where predators are waiting to ambush to also feed. Increased oxygen levels are very beneficial for the fish and can be a major reason fish are in certain areas. Current definitely plays a major role in how I plan my fishing day. I prefer to fish into the current when possible but more importantly finding structure with current flowing on or around it is key for a successful day. Taking the time to plan your fishing trips around tidal movements can definitely give us anglers an advantage anytime of the year but especially during the summer months. Using this information along with online satellite maps to identify types of structure and tidal forecasts can increase our odds for success. Focus on areas with a solid current flow and you should be in an area that is holding fish. Stay cool and keep casting!