Overall synopsis of the period:
From hot to hotter! Inshore water temperatures reached 90 degrees by the third week of July this year. The period started with an abundance of large game fish and bait very far inshore. Sharks, jacks, and tarpon were virtually everywhere at one point. The bait was so thick getting them to eat a fly was difficult. This was by far one of the most epic bait runs that we have seen in a while. In June it was bait for miles upon miles inshore. Larger Spanish mackerel made their way well inshore on the first set of big tides. Excessive rain and heat flushed the bait back toward the ocean with the larger seasonal predatory fish. As we moved into July the drum bite fired off which has been on fire inshore. Smaller reds and black drum are firing off in amazing numbers but are highly localized. The shrimp level is at an epic amount. It’s one and done with the cast net. The weather is stable in the early mornings with a good amount of topwater action. Speckled trout were found on the grass line in a few feet of water at daybreak. By late afternoon the storms and winds pick up. The tailing action of the reds is good. This is true depending on the location. It also depends on if you can get to them due to weather conditions. Afternoon fishing has been a challenge especially in July due to daily storms.
Highlights:
A early June cobia I landed and released. This year I heard of a few good cobia being landed in random locations. Hey, my buddy always says, “Fish have fins!”. I took this cobia at an inshore location that I have not seen another person fishing. I had scouted the area and seen them hanging out on the surface several times before. I was pleased that my time and effort paid off. I worked hard to find a nice fish. I also sought an experience of solitude and tranquility. That is hard to come by during Cobia season.
A sheepshead that had the taste for bucktail! I was sight casting another species of fish and thump, this sheepshead smashed it. While not the largest, this experience was by far the most exciting.
I got to watch Grant sight cast this longnose gar. Grant is an excellent fly caster; he saw this gar finning in about a foot of water and placed a fly perfectly for the take. He skillfully landed it on a 6wt, it was a pleasure to watch.
I had the opportunity to fish with six different kids. It was a wonderful time of sharing knowledge. Before running the trips with them I consulted and learned that they all wanted to catch a shark. We were blessed to land and release many different species of sharks during the trips. We are a NOAA HMS permitted charter so we can target sharks legally. There are only two scenarios in which I will target sharks. One is for young kids. The other is for anglers that want to sight cast them on the fly. We had a few inquiries on wildlife watching trips which I agreed to. During the wildlife watching trips, we were delighted to see many sea turtles, dolphins, and rosette spoonbills. An incredible moment occurred while we were watching dolphins. A bald eagle then landed right in front of us on a sandbar. It was within a few feet of the boat.
The bull reds showed up in the beginning of the heatwave and put on a show. They seemed to not stick around inshore where I fish for too long. Surely, they will be back soon enough.
I kept my fly tying bright and simple during this time to spend more time on the water. I focused on a few main topics: Big game, top water, reds, and tail biters. I had several hook ups with good Spanish that came unpinned. I decided to make the two hook surf candy fly. It utilizes a second hook rigged with a haywire twist. My favorite fly’s I tied were the yellow bucktail deceivers. They got smoked by small jacks. You can launch them as far as you want. It’s a great design and has a nice action in the water. I liked them so much that I made them in a variety of colors all on 4/0’s. I also really enjoyed the brightly colored gurglers. It was fun to get trout on them and to jump lady fish.
The drum bite was nothing short of spectacular. My son and I landed 20 on our best outing together, he bested me by landing 14 all by himself. His birthday was in July. I promised I would take him bait fishing, which is something I will do for kids. I went out and got some fresh shrimp, its one and done with the cast net. He said it was one of the best times he had. I sure do enjoy watching him catch and release fish. Teaching him good stewardship of our natural resources in the process is one of the highlights for me. Happy birthday buddy!
A couple of manatees came up to the boat. I was on a flat looking for redfish when I spotted them in a few feet of water. It was an amazing experience. They are so graceful. These encounters remind us that the places we fish are critical habitats for many different species. These places are in need of our protection.
Lowlights:
It is super-hot out there! Stay vigilant on hydration and sun protection. Keep a positive attitude this time of year as great things can happen almost anywhere at anytime so be prepared.
The storms literally seem to form right over the fishing spots! The best bet this time of year is to be out at first light. However, if you are out in the afternoon stay aware of your surroundings and take appropriate action.
Looking forward:
The next period of August thru September is some of the best fishing of the year. I can’t wait to see what happens out there!
Tight lines y’all – Captain Randy.
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