[dropcap]J[/dropcap]une is the month that the fishing is the only thing that is hotter than the month itself! Backwater fishing in the river and creeks around Southport is really good this month. Just remember that speckled trout can’t be harvested this year until June 15. But you can catch and release all you want until then. Trout are suckers for a Billy Bay Halo Shrimp under a popping cork this time of year and don’t overlook topwater, my favorite! Red drum are tailing in the marsh- es and we have been having some real good high tides lately to really enhance that style of fishing for the drum. For this type fishing you can’t beat the gold spoon. And, if you rig a spinner in front it’s just that much more at- tractive to the reds.
Backwater flounder are biting well now. You can’t beat a live mullet minnow for these, but don’t overlook the Gulp Baits, they work mighty fine as well.
We have been having a very good year on big cobia this year and also some nice king mackerel have been around and mixed in as well. Live bait has been doing really well and Delco Cheetah Cat Cobia Jigs are working well also.
The nearshore Spanish mackerel and bluefish have been doing great on #1 and #2 planers with 00 and 0 Clark Spoons being pulled at around six- to seven-knot speeds. I like to spruce my spoons up with Pro-Cure’s Saltwater formula Gel Scent. I know it helps draw more strikes! Also, the nearshore shark fishing is red-hot now and fresh bait is the choice of the sharks. Some have been really big, in the 200+ pound range.
Offshore, the grouper and bottom fish bite has been about as good as it gets. Live baits like jigged-up cigar minnows are candy for grouper, while squid and cut baits will fill the box with big black bass, triggerfish, and various other bottom-hugging species. If you have never tried Tim Barefoot’s Decoy Jig, just bait one up and give it a try… you will be the one that gets hooked in the end! Big grouper love ’em!!!
The Gulf Stream is about as hot as I have seen it for awhile. The mahi-mahi bite this year is off the charts! Get on a good weed line and pitch chunk or live baits and you most likely can fill your limit of these hard-fighting, beautiful colored, great-eating fish. As for the wahoo, just put a ballyhoo on a Laceration Lure and go get them. Mixed in are blackfin tuna that will crash the same bait.
If you haven’t been fishing yet, now is the time to go. And if you get the chance to take a kid fishing, you will never forget or regret it! Till next time, God bless you all!