We’re stuck in a rut, weather-wise, at least through the weekend. Elevated west/northwest winds and chances of rain will keep the coastal waters less than ideal, but still fishable. It’s the same pattern that’s been lingering since the holiday weekend. The water temperatures are hot and the clarity still isn’t optimum.
Find clear water and you’ll find trout harassing bait schools, which is ideal for throwing smaller topwater plugs. Peak times are earlier in the day before the sun gets too high overhead. Floating grass is becoming more problematic, so switching to in-line single hooks instead of trebles will help shed the salad somewhat. Using weedless versions like the DOA PT-7 or a shad-tail rigged with a skin-hooked worm hook will also work. Don’t discount deeper depths, especially if you get a late start. A slowly twitched shrimp lure or tout just above the grass tops in depths up to 10 feet will produce.
The reds have been scattered lately. If the objective is a STAR-tagged red, concentrate on flooded grass shorelines, oyster bars and rock grass patches. Reds will hump up and eat a plug, but the surefire bet for a search bait is an Aqua Dream weedless spoon. The pink or watermelon versions stand out in the current tannin-stained conditions.
Just want some action? Focus on the nearshore zones up to 20 feet for Spanish mackerel, jacks, ladyfish and bluefish. Watch for schools of bait erupting on the surface and toss a silver casting spoon to the edges of the pods and let it flutter. Adding a light trace of wire leader will slow down the re-rigging chores.
There are plenty of sharks around for tug-of-war. Spinner and blacktips will jump and run like tarpon and can be coaxed into eating a bright red or orange lure, plug or fly. Wire leader is a necessity when Jaws is the target.
Scallopers are finding enough bi-valves for meals, mainly to the east of the Lighthouse. Be sure to have the required dive flags out and watch for folks in the water whenever motoring around.
Snapper and grouper enthusiasts are catching limits offshore in 50 feet or deeper. Live bait and squid are the top offerings. Don’t be surprised when a monster Goliath grouper rocks up the rig, though.
CCA Florida Statewide Anglers Rodeo (STAR) kicked off July 1 and runs through October 4 this year (dates modified due to the pandemic).
You have to be registered to win one of four boat/motor/trailer packages, plus a ton of other cool stuff. Two skiff package prizes are offered for junior anglers, plus thousands in college scholarships. There are plenty of chances to win in addition to the tagged redfish division. Tagged reds have been released in every Florida coastal county, including Wakulla, Franklin, Jefferson and Taylor. Several Big Bend anglers have won big prizes in previous years. Harvesting fish is not required. Catches are recorded by photo verification and then entered through the STAR app or on the web site. Visit www.ccaflstar.com for more details.
High tides will occur just after sunrise this weekend, with the lows bottoming out in the early afternoons. Water exchange will be a modest 1.5 feet. The best bet is get on the water at safe light. That will allow a very high solunar window for an hour or so. A lesser period of feeding activity is predicted for an hour sandwiched around dead low.
Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.