Summer will certainly be different this year. Luckily, fishing has been an essential activity and even with the COVID-19 restrictions you can Still enjoy fishing. It will be a different Fourth of July this year! Water temperatures are warm so look for docks and mangroves that provide shade to help the fish cope with the hot weather.
Docks are usually very productive all year for us. I like to fish docks and mangroves during the summer. Redfish like the shade and a DOA shrimp can help you hook up on a nice red. Top water lures are good to use early on the flats. There have been some nice trout this year and it’s a great way to fish for them on the grass flats. Snook season being closed, I generally try not to target them in summer.
Bridges will be producing snapper (enjoy your freshly caught snapper with a sweet strawberry salsa), drum and sheepshead during July. Live or dead shrimp will be hard for them to resist. There will be larger snapper in the river around structure and along channel edges. Watch the tides and fish the slower sides of them for best results. Whiting will continue to be in the surf with the occasional bluefish and Spanish mackerel. Watch for the glass minnow schools to flood into the river and you will find lots of action surrounding these small bait fish! Jacks, Spanish mackerel and bonito are a few of the fish that love to feast on the glass minnows.
I like channel edges for a variety of species as the water temps get into the upper eighties. Incoming tides will bring in cooler water and that’s a good time to fish! Try Harbor Branch, Queen’s Cove and Bear Point this month for some good action. Enjoy fishing this summer!
Remember, as always, fishing is not just another hobby……it’s an ADVENTURE!
Good Fishing,
Captain Charlie Conner
www.fishtalescharter.com
captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com