The seatrout bite has been consistent all summer! Several fishermen who strictly target tarpon during the summer months are fishing for seatrout. The tarpon bite has been fair at best. The seatrout bite has been consistent. Lots of small seatrout and larger fish as well. The pattern appears to be changing from a beachfront pattern to tidal creeks. Seatrout are still carrying roe. Nonetheless, their bellies appear to be flat appearing as if they have partially spawned. The best tarpon fishing is likely still ahead. The bite for small sharks has slowed. The bite for big sharks has heated up! Capt. Tommy Williams has landed several giant bull sharks. Large black tips can also be found around the beachfronts. Joe Thomas landed a large jack while trout fishing in an interior river. More and more jacks are popping up! There are lots of mullet in the rivers and creeks. The water temperature is still in the mid 80’s too hot for an ideal redfish bite but ideal for toothy fish. Mullet jumping out of the water at crazy angle are likely indicating sharks in the area. Bonnet head sharks have been the most numerous. Black tips are also present. It’s not unusual while fishing for seatrout to hook up several bonnet heads. Bonnet heads are usually closer to the structure. Bonnet head sharks often feed on crabs pinning their prey against the mud bank. Black tips are more likely found in the current. Ladyfish are present but thus far we haven’t seen school of this fish. We’re catching a few single here and there. This summer remains to be a good year for flounder! The flounder bite has gotten consistently better since shrimpers were required to place a by catch reduction device on their nets. Small redfish, first year fish, are about 12 inches. Lots of trash fish in the rivers. Schools of pinfish and yellowtail can deplete a quart of shrimp in little time. Those fishing near wrecks have done well on spadefish and spainish as well as few large catches of tripletail.
Tides for the coming week (Aug. 21st. – 27th.) should provide plenty of opportunities for good fishing! The tides the week before last were bigger than predicted. It can happen. Morning tides are softer than afternoon tides. Nonetheless the highest tide afternoon tide is at 7.6 feet well within the “good fishing” range.
Hope this of help! Practice catch and release (particularly for redfish and large roe seatrout)!
Good Fishing! Capt. Jack McGowan