[dropcap]J[/dropcap]uly is here, and the fireworks aren’t the only thing to look forward to this month. Everything from tarpon, permit, cobia, and kingfish along the beaches, reefs and wrecks, to sails, mahi, tuna, wahoo and swords offshore, and grouper, snapper and jacks on the bottom.
Whatever fish you might be looking for, it’s probably right off our coast in July. Some of my favorite fish to target this month are permit and tarpon that cruise our beaches, nearshore wrecks and rock piles. Live crabs work well for both, and big tarpon on the beach are a sucker for pretty much any live bait. If you’re seeing the fish but not getting bites, try switching to Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon, dropping down in leader diameter, and adding a few more feet. It’s extremely abrasion resistant, and ever since switching I have definitely noticed an increase in bites.
I really enjoy daytime sword fishing this time of year also. The possibility of multiple fish hook ups is not uncommon in July and often you’ll have a mahi or two swim up to you while you are out that far too. Trolling a spread of the small mahi/ahi lures by Scylla Lures on the way out and in is a great way to catch fish and save fuel on that extended trip. You can pull them fast enough to get where you’re going and they stay in the water extremely effective. I prefer 8-to-10-knots. I believe Scylla is offering a deal on the set I’m talking about right now, and they come professionally rigged too.
As much as I love doing all of the above, my absolute favorite type of fishing in July is for tuna. Yellowfin and blackfin tuna migrate along the east side of the Gulf Stream. A quick day trip to the east side, or a night or two in the Bahamas will have you running and gunning using the radar to find packs of birds and schools of feeding fish. Trolling, chunking or live bait, they all work, so whatever you enjoy most should do the trick. The main thing is long fluorocarbon leaders, fresh line and good tackle. When you hook these fish you really need to stick it to ‘em because it’s not uncommon to lose one to the sharks every now and then if you leave them out for too long. Steady rhythm and pressure is the key to catching them fast and not pulling hooks. Weather is a key factor for those trips, but when it’s nice, there’s nothing better. Whatever you decide to target this month I wish you the best of luck and be safe. I hope your next trip is OFF THE CHAIN!
