[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t’s July and one thing is for sure, its blazing hot outside!! You can still go out and catch any available species in the area, its just a little tougher. Bay fisherman will see more action fishing really early in the morning, in late afternoon and around the lights at night. The water in the Choctawhatchee Bay will rise above 90 degrees during the day and slow fishing down. I am not saying you can’t find a good bite mid day with a good tide, its just a lot less consistent.
Being on the water before the sun comes up is a good way to start your morning on any fishing trip, however, for this time of year its a must when fishing in the bay. The first 2 hours of daylight are going to produce most of the action. When the bay water feels like warm bath water and when you reach in your livewell and it feels like your slow boiling your bait, your going to have to work for it. The sunset bite is your other option if you don’t make it out for dawn patrol. Fish the last hour and half of daylight when things are starting to cool down and the sun is really low.
Anglers not wanting to be in the sun at all this time of year will opt to fish at night. Fishing for redfish on the out going tide at night under the Destin Bridge is productive year round. Pitching topwater lures around the grass on the north side of crab island will yield some nice reds at night too. Last but not least the numerous lighted docks that line the shorelines in our bay will be holding trout and redfish. Fishing the brightest lights that are fixed closest to the water will hold the most trout and reds. Lighted docks in a foot of water and 15ft of water will be holding fish if your fishing a good light.
You have a lot more options when fishing in the gulf than you do in the bay during the hot days of summer. One of these options is bottom fishing at night in the gulf. If you haven’t tried it you are definitely missing out on some non stop action. Weather should decide if you go or not because it helps to have a calm night when anchoring up. The incoming tide seems to be best for this type of fishing because of the clean water. I first load up on live cigar minnows, threadfins and spanish sardines. Catch as many as I can before the sun goes down, your going to need them. I have found that water less than 100 ft offers more action. I tend to fish 70-80ft. of water. Once you’ve anchored over your chosen spot turn on your underwater lights or lower a hydro glow light into the water. Your definitely going to get your limit of red snapper, but its the mangrove snapper I like to go for. Night time fishing for mangroves is the only way to catch good numbers of large mangroves and we usually get our limit. Your standard slip lead rig or knocker rigs will suffice on 30lb main line. Give it a try and you will be surprised by what you see…