OFFSHORE- Dolphin fishing was good again this week, especially for those making long runs to find the fish. While some dolphin have been caught in 300-600' of water, the better bite seems to start close to 1000' of water. Out that deep it is semi-pointless to spend much time blind trolling; instead look for debris, birds, weed lines, or other "fishy" signs to find the dolphin. Keeping a couple small jet head lures rigged as quick deploy baits is a great way to get an idea if the area is holding fish. If it is, slow down and put the normal trolling spread out or break out the live baits. A few marlin gave been hanging around the dolphin schools, as a few wahoo down deep. If a big school of small school dolphin shows up, it always pays to shoot a deep jig down a hundred feet or so and rip it up. A wahoo lurking under the dolphin will rarely turn it down! In closer to the ledge a few blackfin are still being caught during low light periods of the day. Trolling small feathers and skirted lures will get tuna bites, but few things beat a nice sardine fished under the kite as the sun is starting to set. Keep the terminal tackle to a minimum and the leader light for the best luck with the blackfins. The July full moon is coming up...it SHOULD be a wahoo catching kind of weekend. Highspeed trolling will produce some wahoo this weekend, as will keeping some baits down deep via trolling sinker or planer. A horse ballyhoo, split-tail mullet, or big bonita strip will all get the wahoo's attention. The bonita are here in full force along the 120' ledge, and provide for some fun light tackle fun (and also make some great bottom bait!). Snapper fishing has been good this week, with some nice catches of yellowtail and muttons coming in. A few stray cobia still being caught as well.
INSHORE- If your into catch and release snook fishing, now is the time to go. For those looking to rack up some numbers fishing small lures and shrimp around bridge fenders and dock lights will pay off. Those looking to target big snook will find fishing the bridges at night to be the best bet. Big swim baits and flair hawk jigs are a great choice for getting bites out of the big girls, just be careful when handling and releasing the spawning females. The mangrove snapper action inshore has picked up, and should continue through the summer. Small pilchards, sardine chunks, and live shrimp are all great choices for the snapper right now. Look for the snapper to bite best at dusk and into the evening. Still a fair number of sheepshead, and a few black drum, roaming the intracoastal these days as well.
SURF/PIER- Snook have invaded the surf, and are lots of fun to target now for fun catch and release action. Those looking to fool the snook with lures(and flies) will find the best action early in the morning and then again late in the afternoon. If you have no choice but to fish in the high sun part of the day, try to time it around high tide if possible. Live baits(croaker, sand perch, whiting, etc) are the ticket for getting the biggest snook right now along the beach. A few schools of tarpon moving along the beach, but not big numbers. Shark fishing at night is still producing some nice fish along the beach.
SHOP UPDATE- Having a lot of fun in the new shop. Lots of new stuff, and lots of work, but overall its been very enjoyable. We are super stoked on all our new stuff (Bluefin USA, Smith Optics, SWC) and still have some new things in the word as well. New stuff coming in almost daily, so be sure to come by and check it all out!
Thanks For Reading,
Todd
INSHORE- If your into catch and release snook fishing, now is the time to go. For those looking to rack up some numbers fishing small lures and shrimp around bridge fenders and dock lights will pay off. Those looking to target big snook will find fishing the bridges at night to be the best bet. Big swim baits and flair hawk jigs are a great choice for getting bites out of the big girls, just be careful when handling and releasing the spawning females. The mangrove snapper action inshore has picked up, and should continue through the summer. Small pilchards, sardine chunks, and live shrimp are all great choices for the snapper right now. Look for the snapper to bite best at dusk and into the evening. Still a fair number of sheepshead, and a few black drum, roaming the intracoastal these days as well.
SURF/PIER- Snook have invaded the surf, and are lots of fun to target now for fun catch and release action. Those looking to fool the snook with lures(and flies) will find the best action early in the morning and then again late in the afternoon. If you have no choice but to fish in the high sun part of the day, try to time it around high tide if possible. Live baits(croaker, sand perch, whiting, etc) are the ticket for getting the biggest snook right now along the beach. A few schools of tarpon moving along the beach, but not big numbers. Shark fishing at night is still producing some nice fish along the beach.
SHOP UPDATE- Having a lot of fun in the new shop. Lots of new stuff, and lots of work, but overall its been very enjoyable. We are super stoked on all our new stuff (Bluefin USA, Smith Optics, SWC) and still have some new things in the word as well. New stuff coming in almost daily, so be sure to come by and check it all out!
Thanks For Reading,
Todd
