Light southeast winds, calm seas, and the relentless summer sun, drive water temps into the high 80s off the Treasure Coast in August. While conditions like this may be ideal for boating and diving, offshore fishing usually slows down a little. But don’t put the rods away just yet! Last year we saw some amazing dolphin fishing way out deep in August and there are a few other fish that can withstand the almost 90 degree waters without becoming parboiled too. Snook, jacks, tarpon and permit will be migrating along the beaches, as will cobia, which are trying to feed on freshly hatched turtles as they make their way to open water. Dolphin wahoo, blackfin tuna and sailfish will be along the reefs and current edges of the Gulf Stream and these hot summer months are the ideal time to put a bait deep on your downrigger. We use a Cannon 10 TS for its dependability and its auto cycle feature, which triggers these lazy summer fish into a reaction bite. It’s definitely a good idea to have a wire leader on this bait as wahoo, kingfish and barracuda are likely to eat it. We primarily pull ballyhoo as baits aboard Off The Chain, but we like to throw a bigger artificial lure into the mix as well. Since we started using them a few years ago, Scylla lures have been working exceptionally well for us. We pull ours in the short rigger with great success. If preferred, live bait, as always, is a great option this time of year, and easy, as long as you can find it, but even then, trolling might be the way to go and give you a slight advantage this month. While there are some fish around, it seems like they are extremely concentrated this time of year and by covering more ground a little faster, you are able to find them more frequently. Once you find a target rich area, then set out the live baits and focus your efforts there.
Various snapper, amberjacks, cobia and the occasional grouper will be found along the reefs and shallow water structures and anything from cut bait to jigs to live bait will work well for them. Check out Captain Rocky’s report for more detailed outlook on the reef and better ways to target those bottom dwellers. Finally! What better way to celebrate August than with a swim? Lobster season starts on the 6th so get your stamp and be on the lookout. Not just for bugs, but for divers too. There are always a number of boating accidents and lost divers this time of year, so take extreme caution and stay clear of dive boats and be on the lookout for divers who may have become separated from their boats. Whatever you decide to do to wrap up your summer, I hope it’s Off The Chain. Looking forward to fishing with you soon.
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