By: Capt. Bart Marx
Hello fellow anglers! Its July in Southwest Florida and the snapper bite should be in full feeding mode. The American Red Snapper is one of the most targeted species in our area. This year we get two months to harvest two per day per angler. That can be some expensive fillets to run out to one hundred feet plus of water. Just to harvest two of these great eating fish. When I go I try to plan on stopping at some good bottom to get some mangroves or some lane snappers too. And if I have time I like to chum up some yellow tail snapper and pick up a few of them if possible. And on some good hard bottom find a keeper gag grouper. If you do make one of these runs be prepared to troll for a fresh bonito they make great cut bait for the snapper. And they are great fun too. And if you don’t have a boat to make those 
long runs there should be plenty of sharks and tarpon along the beaches to find something to put some heavier tackle to the test. And the goliath population keeps increasing they put up a good fight if your back is young enough to take that kind of abuse too. And this month the snook should be migrating to their final spots to spawn. They can be found from forty to fifty feed deep around structure / artificial reefs. Also, they stack up along the beaches usually close to some bait balls. Inshore close to points where there is moving water and a little bit deeper cut. Go and cast the net and get some white baits so you can chum them up and put a hook in one and catch one the big girls. Check to make sure the FWC regulations in your area as they have been making changes all summer, to determine if you are in an area that you can harvest one. If you would like to come along with me on my boat for a fishing charter give me a call, or if you would prefer to take out your own boat, I can go with you on yours so you could learn how to fish in Southwest Florida if you are new to the area, just give me a call or e-mail captbart@alphaomegacharters.com or phone is much quicker 941-979-6517. If you have friends coming to visit from the north and like to fish for summer break. I also have gift certificates for birthday or whatever type of a gift. So always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{