By: Capt. Billy Norris
Temperatures in the 90s, daily afternoon storms to cool it off, and calm seas make summer an excellent time to get out on the water! Currently, we have no issues with red tide, hurricanes, or any other summertime surprises. Both backwater and offshore have been producing quality fish, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
To start, bait has been relatively easy to get your hands on. Chumming the grass flats has been producing pilchards and pinfish. If you’re looking for something a little bigger, the beaches have large schools of pilchards moving up and down the coasts. Look for them in the trough just offshore from where the waves are breaking on the shoreline. For threadfins, I’ve been finding plenty of them offshore in 18-25 foot of water. I’ve been able to get them with a big net, but if you can’t throw a big offshore net then a Sabiki rig works as well.
The backwaters are fired up with the usual summer suspects and there have been plenty of snook chewing pretty much anywhere you look. Mangrove shorelines, passes, and the beaches have all been producing some quality fish. The trout bite has also been great. For trout, drift the flats using either live shrimp or an artificial imitation, I prefer either gulp shrimp or a DOA. Suspend the bait under about 3 feet of 20-30 pound leader and snap it across the flats. Trout have been aggressively taking that setup, as well as some mixed in pompano. In addition to snook and trout, some redfish have also been making an appearance. The water is still a little bit warm for reds, but as we move into fall that action should pick up.
Offshore has been on fire and the nearshore wrecks and reefs have been producing a variety of species. This past month we’ve caught tarpon, cobia, snapper, jewfish, gag grouper, sharks, big reef snook and more. Live baits are always the go to, but if you can’t catch bait, try your luck with frozen.
Further offshore, the red grouper bite has been great! Don’t forget, red grouper closed on July 1st, so may want to wait to target them until they open back up. American red snapper have also been eating well. For whatever reason, the bigger fish seem to be a little farther offshore this year, with most of the larger individuals coming from 90+ miles offshore. However, the 40-60 mile range has been producing as well. We’ve been catching plenty of big mangroves, flag yellowtail, african pompano, all types of grouper, cobia, and some humbling sized sharks. A trip offshore this time of year can be very productive, although you need to make sure to keep your eye on the weather. From June through September, it is the norm to have a beautiful morning, followed by building clouds, and finally a short but heavy thunderstorm in the afternoons. Make sure you keep your eye on the sky if you’re running far!