Is it July already? The first sixth months of 2019 have just flown by. Summer and the heat that comes with it is here. Though we will have some of the warmest temperatures of the year, July almost always offers us some of the calmest seas of the year. There will be plenty of opportunities to get offshore this month, but I suggest you get out early to beat the heat and the thunderstorms or head out in the late afternoon and fish after dark.
There should be plenty of dolphin available offshore, but you will likely have to run 15 to 20 miles out to find them. Be sure to get out there early because the bite will likely shut down as the surface temperature warms with the heat of the day. Closer to shore, there will be some good size kingfish moving in on the reef. Target them by trolling sea witches rigged with bonito strips behind a planer or drift dead ballyhoo or sardines on old school triple hook rigs. Be sure to use enough lead to get your bait down to where the fish are.
At night, the snapper bite should be on fire. Drop the hook in 60 to 80 feet of water and start chumming. Be sure to use a chum bag with the larger holes so the chum flows freely. Rig 12 to 15 pound spinning outfits with 3 to 4 feet of 20 pound fluorocarbon and tie a 1/0 circle hook or yellowtail jig to the business end. Best baits are live shrimp, small chunks of bonito or ballyhoo and silversides.
Keep reelin,
GENE DYER
Editor & Publisher
Coastal Angler Fort Lauderdale
fortlauderdale@coastalanglermagazine.com
(954) 680-3900