Capt. Billy Norris
Summertime is here and the bite is hot! Even though the world seems to be turned upside down at the moment, the fish don’t mind in the least. With the arrival of rainy season, our fish have switched into their summertime patterns in full force. The stars of the show in the backwaters have been snook and redfish. As the water temperature rises, these fish become more active and aggressive; so a fast moving, lively bait is your best bet. Pilchards or threadfins are the go to, but quick moving artificials will also produce quality fish. Target the backwater fish in the morning or late afternoon, as the hot midday temperatures can cause fish to be lazy. If you are going to fish the height of the day, look for fish in deeper holes and cuts where the water stays cooler. In addition to snook and redfish, there are plenty of big, drag peeling jacks pushing through the flats.
Nearshore has been equally spectacular. The tarpon are here, and catching the Silver
King can lead to an unforgettable day on the water. For tarpon, big threadfins or crabs will be your best bet. In addition, the permit bite has been on fire! On a calm day you can sight fish them, but in rougher waters head to the wrecks and throw crabs to get yourself hooked up. The wrecks have also produced plenty of big sharks and goliath grouper if you’re looking for something with a little more pull.
Summertime is also my favorite time of year to target snook cruising the beach. The fish move in schools up and down the coast with fish ranging from small 20-25 inches to studs in the 40 inch plus range. When snook move to the beach they change color. Their backwater olive-drab color changes to silver, making them harder to spot. Once you find them, try to intercept them and don’t cast at them. Also, always make sure your bait moves away from them, as a prey would never naturally swim towards a predator. Anyone who has ever fished snook on the beach is all too familiar with snook swimming up to the bait just to turn their nose up at it. Have patience and it pays! Fishing is great and will only get better as summer goes on! Contact Captain Billy to book your trip today!
http://www.palehorsefishingcharters.com
