The dog days of summer have arrived!
It seems like we are having the doggiest of dog days lately, but the bite is just as hot (I couldn’t help myself). The main target in the greater Pasco area won’t have any scales but will be just as tasty. Scallop season will be open until August 18th and has just kicked off as of this writing with great success. Scallopers swimming around between the Anclote and Cotee rivers are filling their bags quickly, and if recent years have taught us anything, they will still be in the same areas for the entire season. The deeper grass flats on the east side of Anclote Key are also a popular place for those who can snorkel in slightly deeper water. If you are fishing around those areas, please be mindful of dive flags!
Meanwhile, on the shoreline, redfish are schooling in big numbers on the shallow flats throughout the day in search of crunchy things to eat. Early morning and late afternoon produce a better bite, especially on the outgoing tides. We are in the dead middle of cut-bait season for them and will be for a while as the water temps are hovering around the high 80’s. Cut some fresh pinfish into chunks and freeline them out in front of the schools on a 2/0 hook and wait them out. It usually isn’t an aggressive bite, so be patient! 
Snook have been stacked on the beaches on Anclote, but have been extra finicky this year. Nighttime fishing is your best bet, but they will eat during the day. The better bite is usually when the sun is higher, rather than early mornings, and they will eat a variety of live baits. I like to cast the bait up on the sand and slowly pull it back into the surf. Once the bait starts swimming, flip your bail open and let me look as natural as possible. You will be able to see these fish and know if you get an eat or not.
Lastly, we have had an uptick in flounder bites in the area lately. The mouths of the rivers, deep channels, or anywhere that you can find fast-moving water are good places to look. Get your bait on the bottom and use something that can stay there in the current. A heavy jig head with an artificial or egg sinker and live bait will do the trick.