Lanark July Fishing Report
July is midway through the “dog days of summer” when it comes to the heat. Forgotten Coast anglers will need to set the alarm earlier to take advantage to the peak bite of the day. Fish will start to change their habits as the summer progresses and anglers will need to adapt as well.
Look to target redfish and trout on the early morning or late evening high tide. These fish have been holding to deeper water during the day and moving in shallow to feed early and late. The key to catching a trophy is to slowly work this structure looking for cuts or channels between bars. These areas will hold predator species ready to eat your perfectly placed bait of choice. The guides choice of artificial baits being used are topwater plugs like the Heddon One Knocker in bone or the Mirrolure crome and bone. Soft plastics are also a sure bet around oyster bars. Rig up a 1/8 OZ jig head with a Gulp shrimp or Slayer SST Minnow and work it slowly over the bars. This technique is a sure bet to coax a red, trout or flounder to the ice chest.
Carrabelle River and Ochlocknee River have been loaded up with reports of plus size drum and redfish being caught on the outgoing tide. These oversized monsters can be caught using anything from soft plastics on a jig head to a blue crab or shrimp. The evening hours work great for these monsters but they can be caught throughout the day as well. I have fished areas from Alligator Harbor to St. Joe Bay and there have been numerous big drum feeding on oyster bars. These fish are not shy and can be sight fished just yards away.
The snapper bite has been fantastic this year inside State and Federal waters. Most of the fish we have been catching are in 50’-110’ of water. We are using all types of frozen baits, live pinfish and big bucktail jigs. Cobia and kingfish continue to be the topic of conversation for July for near shore anglers all across the Big Bend.
River mouths during the summer months can be the most productive areas to fish. The key to July is to find good moving water around bars, rocks and docks. Look to catch fish early and often. So get out, support your local tackle shop and bend a rod!