Fishing Report/Outlook 7/16

Offshore-  Lots of scattered weeds, strong currents (2kts on the inside up to 4.5kts outside of ledge), and green water out past the ledge has made trolling inside of 200' challenging.  Find the areas with less weeds and pull your baits with a wire leader with some sort of skirt in front of the bait (pink or purple skirts have been producing fish).  I recommend making your own leaders using a #8 wire and leaving the tag end of your wire long enough that it extends past the point of the hook (see pic below).  Keep your baits closer to the boat and you will get less snags.  From 75'-110' expect to see kingfish, bonitas, and the occasional dolphin; 110'-300' bonitas, wahoo, and dolphin.  If you're dead set on catching dolphin and want to avoid the bonitas find blue water which could be anywhere from 300'-1500'.  

If you are looking for steady rod bending action take some live sardines out to 120' and hold on! Bonitas are in full force on the ledge and make for some very exciting fishing.  If you want to catch less bonitas and have a shot at bringing home dinner, slow way down! Dead baits or a jig that doesn't drop too fast will help curve the bonita bites.

Stay in shallow for snapper 90' or less and fish a chicken rig with squid or bonita chunks or a slide sinker rig with 1oz-3oz of lead and a 6'-8' 30 lb leader.

Inshore- Snook fishing remains hot and this is the time of year to catch big snook on artificials! During the day fish smaller artificials like the D.O.A. shrimp or cal, and at night or early morning and evening hours your larger baits flair hawks, swim baits, and large plugs will get the job done.  Snook are spawning this time of year and are catch and release only through the summer, have some respect for these fish...we're all really impressed with your instagram and FB pics but if you can't take a quick picture of a snook and get it back in the water without dropping it 5 times on your boat or concrete leave the snook in the water.  

There are a few big jacks roaming around the intracoastal chasing small schools of mullet if the snook aren't biting and expect to see some tarpon show up in the next few weeks.

Pier- Croakers, whiting, and sand perch are at the pier. Use small pieces of shrimp and enough weight to keep the shrimp close to the bottom for these tasty fish.