Do you enjoy fishing with live bait as much as I do? Now is a great time to check your tackle and hold on tight. The hot summer months can produce some excellent fishing action throughout our region.
To begin with, live baits such as shrimp, pinfish, or even fingerling mullet will all work well when targeting a variety of game fish. Anglers can expect the early morning trout bite to be its best during low light conditions. Live shrimp or small pinfish rigged under a popping cork is a great way to hook up with a trout. Fishing these baits in 4 feet of water or less while suspending the bait just off the bottom is a great way to bring one to the boat. Anglers should keep in mind that trout have excellent eye sight. To over come this, I suggest making long cast to a targeted area. This can be done by fishing with a seven foot medium action spinning reel combo equipped with 20 pound test braided line and 15 pound test mono leader. This will allow anglers to cast the bait far from the boat. Anglers can expect trout to be aggressive fighters when fishing on light tackle. During this time of year, many of our trout can measure up to 24” long.
Also, redfish will be in search of an easy meal. During this time of year, water temperatures throughout our region will be warm. With this being said, anglers will want to get early start fishing. Many of these reds will be feeding along channel drop offs, boat docks, bridge fenders and other structure during low light conditions. Sight casting baits to a tailing fish or fishing slowly in a targeted area is key when conditions are calm. During this time of year, many of these reds will measure within the legal slot size limit of 18 to 27 inches.
In addition, anglers will also be able to catch snook. Several of these fish will be willing to feed near old boat docks and mangrove shorelines with steep drop offs. The bait of choice for these fish will be scented jerk baits. One lure that has worked especially well has been Bass Assassin’s 4” Sea Shad (Electric Chicken) when rigged on a 1/8 ounce jig head. When targeting these fish, anglers will want to use a seven foot medium action spinning reel combo equipped with 25 pound test braided line and mono leader. Even though snook season is closed, anglers will want to take a quick photo to help a memory last a lifetime.
Capt. Keith Mixon
Mixin’ Work With Play Fishing Charters
ww.mixinworkwithplay.com
321-212-8484