Tuna trips have been red hot fire and I have no reason to believe that it will slow down anytime soon.
JUNE RECAP
June was on point up until the last three days of the month and then the wheels fell right off it. Few kings, tarpon, sharks, and goliath grouper to be caught closer in but the lack of live bait had the fishing along the beach overall slow. Pelican Flats was the place to be most days with incredible king mackerel fishing along with a few mahi in the mix. We had several days where just keeper size amberjack and cobias charged the baits to add to the excitement of the kings. Thermocline conditions and being in the right spot at the right time made for some great mangrove snapper and trigger fish fishing by fishing baits above the thermocline.
JULY NEARSHORE FORECAST
Live bait is key so make sure you find it and be prepared to commit some time to searching it out. Tarpon will be keyed in on the pilchards and smaller pogys and you will usually find the tarpon just outside the bait, especially early morning, but not always. Look for rolling tarpon as you run down South or up to the North searching out live bait. The goliath groupers are on any structure that is shallow because the cold water is here and they are doing their very best to stay warm. Live jack crevalles are sure fire baits but soaking a bonito or king mackerel head will trigger bites also. Shark fishing will be very hit and miss depending on how cold the water gets on the bottom with the thermocline.
JULY OFFSHORE FORECAST
The summertime grind is upon us. July is one of the best months for sea conditions, but can be tough fishing for anglers that don’t have the correct mind set for this time of year. Super clear water, spread out fish, cold water on the bottom and water temperatures too warm up top. How do we have success when fishing conditions get tough?
The key to success is mind set. You should always be fishing for the right reasons, but you absolutely must be fishing for the right reasons in the dead of summer. You go fishing because you love the water, and you want to get away for the day to enjoy time with family and friends. The fish will bite, it just might be slower action, so take the time to engage in conversation, tell fish stories and tall tales of past adventures and I guarantee, before you know it, that right bite will come along, and you will be making memory’s in real time.
Summertime fishing is a grind. The morning bite is typically better than the afternoon, so morning half-days or shorter 7-hour days are ideal. Don’t have your heart set on filling the freezer because it is not likely to happen; but, having fun and a couple fresh fish dinners is totally doable. Be ready to capitalize on opportunities because most good days are made in minutes by being ready to capitalize on opportunity.
Live bait trolling will produce some nice king fish along with hard fighting jack crevalles, barracudas and bonitos. Be ready with a jig or live bait because cobia will swim up in packs, curious of a struggling king fish or other fish but at times they go down just as quick as they come up. Amberjacks will often swim up in the same manner as the cobia, so be ready. Mangrove snappers will come to the surface and eat baits so be ready with what it takes to trick them into eating a bait with a hook in it. Tuna trips have been red hot fire and I have no reason to believe that it will slow down anytime soon, so be sure to take advantage of calm seas.
We look forward to continuing on with a great Summer but remember to keep your focus on what is really important.
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