BACKCOUNTRY / BAY / INSHORE:
There is a fair bit of fresh water in the bay and it has affected the visibility a little, but it hasn’t hurt the fishing at all; just adjust a bit by choosing brighter colored lures. Soft plastics with white, yellow, or chartreuse are working well for speckled trout and redfish on the flats, as well as most gold spoons. When it comes to all the choices for top-water and suspending lures, go with ones that have a noise maker to help the fish find your lure in the murkier water. Live baits are always a safe bet, but if the action is slow, tie on one of the various types of popping corks on the market, about 18 inches from the hook, and you are sure to get things going. As usual for this time of year it is really hot so the pattern of fishing shallow water early and moving to deeper water when it gets hot, is in effect. Check the grass flats around the mouths of the bayous and the docks for schools of redfish moving in and out of the deep water, holding in the shade under the docks and boats. Flounder are being caught on the sandy drop offs and potholes near the edges of the flats using soft plastics on a jig head bounced along the edges. There are also plenty of mangrove snapper and sheepshead around the bridges, jetties, and shallow structure; use bottom rigs with just enough weight to get it to the bottom, baited with shrimp, crabs, or cut bait. Lots of Spanish mackerel are being caught trolling or casting spoons or jigs especially around the tide lines. The pass is full of big redfish and will feed on top during the outgoing tide. Use small blue or fiddler crabs free lined near the surface. On the beaches, there are some nice king mackerel being caught trolling and flat-lining live baits; cigar minnows or thread herring work best.
OFFSHORE:
The snapper and grouper bite is going strong and some really nice scamp and black snapper are being caught as well. It’s all being done on bottom rigs, but the trick is to get through the schools of trigger fish and amberjack that hold over the wrecks. There are also some big kings being caught on those same structures. Live cigar minnows and pinfish will work great, but if live bait isn’t an option, frozen cigar minnows will still put fish in the freezer. Around the weed lines, tide lines, or any random floating structure, there should be plenty of chicken dolphin found, as well as the occasional triple tail. There are also reports of sailfish being caught near shore and some really big wahoo have been landed too. Anytime you go fishing, but especially offshore, be sure to know the updated seasons and ever-changing regulations, and the difference between state and federal waters. Nobody wants to end a great day fishing with a ticket!
Spend some time taking family and friend fishing, those memories will last a lifetime. See you in the salt!
CAPT. DARYL SHUMATE
Liquid Native Charters
850-624-6968
Liquidnativecharters.com