Another month has flown by and here we are, looking at what August will bring. More red drum on the flats with flounder mixed in, croakers and pigfish are going on the chew and ladyfish are found in the lights at night.
For red drum, topwater will work all day if you look in water depth of about two feet. Gold spoons and paddle or thump tail grubs rigged on a worm hook retrieved at a steady pace will surely get you strikes. With the live bait, I prefer popping corks drifted over the oyster rocks and grass flats, this will also get you flounder almost every trip. When using slip rigs, use the smallest weight you can get away with. I like using 1/4- 3/4 ounce weights.
For croakers and pigfish, natural bait is king but there are many baits that work well. A simple two-hook bottom rig with a 1/0 hook is fine, and again, use the lightest weight you can get away with. Shrimp, my favorite, squid, and Fishbites are all great. Look for croakers and pigfish around the ends of oyster bars and around channel mouths with shell bottoms, also deep holes will hold them as well.
Ladyfish are one of the most fun to catch inshore fish that I know to chase after. They make great runs, then jump and fight till they give out. Ladyfish have very large eyes and can see very well for nighttime feeding, so stealth is key. Topwater is to me the most fun way to chase after them and I prefer the clear Zara Spook. Another great bait is a clear DOA shrimp or grub. For bait, live shrimp is king, with no weight and a very small treble hook, size #8 or #10. During the day, you will sometimes find them feeding on glass minnows. At those times, a 19MR MirrOlure is key to getting them to bite…try a Sliver Luminescence Clear color or a Sliver Luminescence black back. Most of the time, one of those will work.
As always, be safe on the water and watch out for the other guys, as they may not be watching out for you.
Captain Lee Parsons
910-540-2464 • www.gottaflyguideservice.com</em>
Located In Wrightsville Beach at the Bridge Tender Marina
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