Author: skipper97

With the boiling heat, litany of thunderstorms and mats of floating grass, coastal fishing is a tough proposition right now. Fortunately, this weekend’s tides are lining up for an optimum window, but it’s going to mean zero-dark-thirty starts for inshore pursuits..

The bite has been hit and miss. Water temperatures in the backcountry are hovering around 90 degrees. But the fish have to eat sometime, so the prime times are very early in the mornings, when the water is the coolest, or just before dusk. The last few days have made evening trips hazardous, however, with severe thunderstorms, lightning and very strong wind gusts. With the peak high tides coming just before daylight this weekend, anglers can expect periods of high feeding activity between 6 and 8 am. More than 2.5 feet of water will drop out around lunch-time. If you do want to keep on fishing during the heat of the day, try depths from 8 to 12 feet if seas will allow. A DOA 1/2-ounce shrimp or Sureketch tout bounced slowly along the bottom will put some trout in the box.

Redfish, which are much more heat tolerant, are even being finicky in the sauna-like conditions. Aqua Dream weedless spoons and rattling top water plugs are accounting for those that are in a feeding mode. Z-Man paddle-tails and CAL swim baits are other options to try.

There are plenty of other species inshore right now. Jacks, ladyfish, flounder and sea bass all represent likely by-catch. Sharks are prowling the inshore waters as well. Live pinfish, finger mullet or pilchards suspended under a cork are the best option for those who prefer using bait.

This marks the closing weekend of the 2020 Florida Gulf red snapper season. Seas and winds are predicted to be at moderate speeds from the South. But the chances of thunderstorms will mean keeping a watchful eye on the horizon. The best action is happening 65 feet or deeper using live bait or squid.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

Coastal game fish have settled into the hot water/summer patterns. For temperature-sensitive trout, that typically means early or late windows when the water is the coolest, or for very short spurts when the tidal flows and lunar effects are strongest. For the upcoming weekend, with the low tides right around dawn and strong early afternoon peaks, a topwater lure would be a great choice early, followed by a shrimp jig or tout worked deeper later in the day.

Water clarity has improved considerably, but with all the boat traffic lately, floating grass can be a problem. Plugs with treble hooks are easily fouled. Replacing those with in-line single hooks can help, or switch to weedless offerings.

Redfish don’t mind hot water like their spotted cousins. Look for them along flooded shorelines, tidal creeks and submerged oyster bars. Pink Aqua Dream spoons continue to work well, although gold or silver are effective alternatives. If you catch one, fan cast the adjacent spots as odds are good that one redfish is not alone. And if you catch one with a streamer tag, you’d better be registered for the CCA STAR tournament or you’ll miss out on great prizes. Visit www.ccaflstar.com for more details.

Summer time is also mixed bag time. On any cast, it’s possible to catch a different species. Jack crevalle, bluefish, ladyfish, black sea bass, flounder, catfish and Spanish mackerel are all possibilities. If your trout reel is suddenly emptied in the blink of an eye, it could have been a big cobia, shark or tarpon. You just never know. The big boys can be targeted, if you gear up accordingly. Live bait, such as pinfish, mullet or pilchards are great enticements, along with swim baits, big bucktails and eel jigs.

The weather patterns have stabilized just in time for the weekend. Light winds are on tap, with only the slight chance of afternoon showers. The big concern is the heat and sun. Take precautions for both.

With the tidal predictions, the peak feeding windows will be the last couple hours before the tide crests in the early afternoons. Flows will be strong in advance of Tuesday night’s new moon.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

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.

Weather has been the biggest factor with inshore and nearshore fishing the last week or so. Frequent strong thunderstorms that pop up quickly can create tricky situations on the water, so check the forecast and stay vigilant while you are out there.

The water clarity continues to improve. There is still a slight reddish tint inshore, but the fish have adapted. As is typical this time of year, floating grass can make using treble hooks problematic. If you can’t find snag-free zones, switch to in-line single hooks or use weedless lures.

With water temperatures into the mid- to upper-80s, going early is the name of the game right now. The flats bite is generally turning off before noon, but those on the water shortly after dawn are finding cooperative trout on topwater plugs and jerk baits. Color doesn’t matter quite as much as action and commotion. The fish are aggressive, so a faster retrieve is in order. Rapala Skitter Walks, MirrOlure Top Dogs, Storm Chug Bugs and Heddon Super Spooks top the list of hard plastic offerings. DOA’s PT-7 weedless version will ease through the thick stuff.

Once the sun gets higher and the temperatures climb, a transition to deeper depths may add to the fish box. Try working a DOA 1/2-ounce shrimp or Sureketch jig slowly over the tops of the sea grass in eight to 10 feet. The trout will be there seeking refuge from the heat.

Redfish are much more tolerant of hot water. Toss an Aqua Dream weedless 3/8-ounce spoon along flooded shorelines, over oyster bars or around rocks/rock grass patches to bring drum to the net. Reds will also gladly inhale a jerk bait or topwater plug that passes in front of their nose.

Flounder, sea bass, jacks, ladyfish are all thick right now. Spanish mackerel and bluefish will be hammering the bait schools in the nearshore depths. Sharks are plentiful and don’t be surprised to see a tarpon rolling on the surface in the early morning hours. Both fish require heavier tackle. A large popper or swim bait will fool both.

Snapper and grouper enthusiasts are finding keeper fish offshore when winds/seas allow. Live pinfish won’t go unmolested, but squid and dead menhaden will score bites as well.

CCA Florida Statewide Anglers Rodeo (STAR) kicked off July 1 and runs through October 4 this year (dates modified due to 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 lots of chances to win in addition to the tagged redfish division. Tagged reds have been released in every coastal Florida county, so they are out there swimming around right now. Harvesting fish is not required. Catches are recorded by photo verification and then entered through the STAR app or on the web site. www.ccaflstar.com for more details.

Expect strong tides this weekend coming along with the full moon on the 4th. Lows will be early mornings, with more than two feet of flooding water by mid-afternoon. Winds are expected to be westerly at moderate levels. Peak solunar times will be an hour around dawn and the last couple hours before the afternoon crest.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

Conditions in the bay are improving, thankfully. It has taken awhile for the run-off from recent storms to cycle through, but the water is clearing up. Even it places where tannin stain is still present, fish are around and cooperating.

With summer in full swing, water temperatures are now a significant factor. Trout especially are not too fond of super-hot water. As ambush predators, low light conditions are optimal so combined with early and late periods when the water is coolest or has started to cool back down are the prime times to target specks. And the best way to do that is with a noisy topwater lure that attracts their attention. Heddon Super Spooks and One Knockers, Storm Chug Bugs, Rapala Skitter Walks and the many surface options in the MIrrOlure arsenal will trigger explosive strikes. If floating grass is a problem, the DOA weedless PT-7 will snake through with ease.

As the sun and temperatures rise, doing deeper will still produce. DOA shrimp and CAL shad tails, Sureketch touts, Z-Man minnows and other soft baits rigged with light jig heads will score trout, reds, flounder, sea bass and assorted other finny critters. Adding a squirt of scent gel like the Pro-Cure flavors or suspending the offerings under a popping or clacker cork will also attract attention. Natural colors are never a bad choice, but it the water is stained, something that stands out like glow or chartreuse is often eaten first.

Redfish are much more temperature-tolerant. Try a gold or pink Aqua Dream weedless spoon over flooded oyster bars, submerged grassy shorelines or past structure in the tidal creeks to entice the reds. The copper drum haven’t been on fire lately, but quality fish are still being caught.

Speaking of quality redfish, the 2020 CCA Florida STAR tournament kicks off July 1 and runs into October with the virus-adjusted timeframe. This statewide event features tagged redfish that could win a choice of four sweet boat/motor/trailer packages. There have been several big winners in the Big Bend and tagged reds have been released in every coastal county across the state. There are lots of other great prizes, multiple eligible species and college scholarships for junior anglers available. You have to be entered to win, so sign up before that “Big One” really gets away. Visit www.ccaflstar.com for more details.

Cobia, sharks and tarpon are available for those who want more pull on the line. Be sure to gear up accordingly and remember, a $50 tarpon tag is required to boat a fish. Keep whipped ones in the water instead and take a quick snapshot to preserve the memories.

Snapper and grouper diggers are finding tasty meals mainly in depths of 50 or more. Live and dead baits are the top producers. Don’t be surprised to find a Goliath grouper or bull shark “rocking” you up or emptying a spool, either.

Winds are expected to be favorable through the weekend. There’s always a chance of pop-up thunderstorms this time of year, so keep an eye on the skies and always pack rain gear. Decent high tides will crest in the early morning hours (good timing with lower light), with corresponding solunar feeding periods. Another feeding opportunity will present itself for an hour or so sandwiched around the early afternoon lows.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

The impact from Tropical Storm Cristobal is finally showing up, unfortunately. With the marsh, tidal creeks and rivers all draining, the water on the flats ranges from slightly silty to downright stained, mostly with reddish tannin. As in three-day-old tea. Those conditions will be even more evident near Deep Creek and other tributaries that have flood gates in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. Water temperatures on the flats still register in the mid-80-degree range, though.

As a result, anglers will have to make some adjustments. The first would be the willingness to move around until clearer water is found. That often entails shifting deeper, which with the warmer temperatures, isn’t a bad idea anyway. The depths around the refuge boundary line are cleaner and trout will take a shrimp jig or tout slowly bounced just above the bottom. Another option is to work the flats that have suitable structure like rock piles, sandy pot holes and rock grass. The prime forage right now for bigger trout is bait fish, so lures that mimic pinfish, finger mullet and pilchards are good choices, especially retrieved in low light conditions. In other words, early morning forays just as dawn is breaking. Soaking real bait fish under a float or clacker cork will also attraction attention from a variety of fish.

Redfish are a little more tolerable of discolored water and higher temperatures than their drum cousins. If the water is stained, the pink Aqua Dream spoon is the top choice, followed by gold. Adding a squirt of Pro-Cure scent will also increase chances of detection. Noise is the other trick to use when the water is cloudy. After all, you can’t catch ‘em if they can’t find what you’re offering.

Shifting deeper is another option. Spanish mackerel, jacks, bluefish, maybe even small king mackerel and cobia are available from the stake line on out. Watch for diving birds, showering bait to tip off location.

When the weather/seas allow, offshore enthusiasts are finding cooperative red snapper, with lanes, mangroves and vermilion mixed in. Gag and red grouper are also being landed. The prime zone is 60 feet or deeper, according to the reports. Live bait, squid and dead baits are the top offerings.

Sunday’s new moon will usher in strong tides, so the feeding activity should be robust despite the water situation. Tides will be low in the early morning hours, with nearly four feet of incoming water by mid-afternoon. Peak feeding times will occur an hour or so around daylight and again the last two hours before the afternoon high crests.

With the weather pattern (high pressure, easterly winds) changing, things should get back to more normal summer-like conditions by next week and hopefully the water will clear up quickly when it does.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

What a pleasant surprise! Despite the recent heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Cristobal, the East Flats were still exceptionally clear mid-week. That’s good news for anglers and snorkelers who plan to hunt scallops when the season opens up next month.

Water temperatures haven’t cooled off, though, so going early is still the best opportunity to target trout. Quality fish, including some true bucket list sizes, are falling victim to top water plugs at daylight or shortly after. Rapala Skitter Walks, MirrOlure Top Dogs and Heddon Super Spooks top the list. Noise and action are more important than colors since the trout are reactionary hunters. But black/silver, gold and white/red head or pearl are never bad choices. If the floating grass is problematic, the DOA PT-7 weedless soft lure will snake through the thick stuff and cast like a bullet. Once the sun gets up, switch to mid-column options like shrimp lures or Sureketch touts or Z-Man shad on light jig heads.

Redfish catches have been steady lately. Flooded oyster bars, submerged grass and tidal creeks are holding the copper drum. The above lures will work on reds too, but I’ll almost always have an Aqua Dream spoon handy. If the water is stained, go with gold. For clear conditions, the watermelon or chartreuse patterns work well.

There are not too many cobia being caught lately. That’s likely due to rougher seas and rain. The brown bombers are still around and the likelihood of finding some is good all summer. Chumming around structure is a way to draw them in. Once close, a Gag’s Whip-it Eel or bright bucktail jig is usually too tempting. A frisky pilchard, finger mullet or hardhead catfish (remove the spines for safety) are seldom refused, either.

For big game, tarpon are around in increasing numbers. These silver herring require medium-heavy tackle with at least 30-pound test line and large capacity reels. Tarpon are often hooked unintentionally on trout tackle and it doesn’t last long. To target them, however, early morning patrols when the seas are calm will reveal rolling fish or big wakes as they swim just below the surface. DOA BaitBusters, Sebile Swimming Mullet and MirrOlure 65M plugs will all work on tarpon. If you do whip a fish, they must remain in the water. Boating a tarpon requires a $50 advance tag, but take a photo boat-side and let it go instead. These pre-historic giants are long-lived and replica mounts are excellent if you want a keepsake.

Red snapper season opens today, so there will be lots of congestion at the area ramps through the weekend at least. Plan accordingly and please practice common courtesy and safe distancing.

Winds will be moderate through the weekend, although the pattern of pop-up rain and thunderstorms is expected to last through Saturday. The quarter moon won’t produce very strong tides. The water exchange will only be about a foot. Highs will be mid-morning before falling off by mid-afternoon. Expect a period of high feeding activity for an hour either side of the crest, which is good timing with cooler morning temperatures. An average solunar window will occur the last hour of the falling afternoon tide.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

It’s looking more like a boat maintenance weekend instead of fishing, thanks to Tropical Storm Cristobal. Even though the track is expected to stay in the central Gulf, seas and rain bands aren’t going to make it too much fun along our stretch of the coast, most likely. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, use the time to prep tackle or do routine servicing on the boat, outboard and trailer.

This past week hasn’t been very conducive, weather-wise, either. Pop-up showers and thunderstorms have been rumbling through with regularity. Hopefully next week will usher in the return of more typical summer patterns.

The usual line-up of game fish are coming to the net for those who have made it out. Trout, flounder and reds top the inshore list. With the rising heat, early and later are the prime times for seatrout, an ambush predator. Look for them in the tidal creeks and back bays, plus the grass flats out to about five feet deep. Topwater plugs like the MirrOlure Top Dogs, Heddon Super Spooks/One Knockers and Rapala Skitter Walks are all producing big fish, albeit for short windows of moving water. Once the sun heats up, switch to something that sinks slowly in the water column. Sureketch touts, CAL shad tails and DOA shrimp worked with the lightest weight possible will trick specks. For a little more attraction, suspend the jigs under a clacker or popping cork. A live pinfish or finger mullet floating under a cork behind the boat will also trigger strikes.

Redfish are roaming the flooded shorelines around grassy points, oyster bars and deeper holes in the creeks. Rock grass and the adjacent rocks are also prime holding zones. The topwater bite for reds was hot last weekend. An Aqua Dream weedless 3/8-ounce spoon is another proven winner.

Tides will be strong this weekend based on Saturday’s full moon. Lows will bottom out in the early morning hours before cresting more than four feet by mid-afternoons. Keep an eye out for lighting and be sure and pack the rain gear if you go.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

“Even though summer isn’t officially here yet, the patterns have definitely shifted into hot weather mode across the Big Bend. That typically means early and late are prime feeding times, especially for trout, or going deeper to cooler water. With ambient temperatures into the 90s and the water getting bath-tub warm, adjustments will generally help improve success rates.

Trout are ambush predators anyway, so low light conditions enhances their surprise tactics. Noisy topwater plugs tossed at dawn or dusk are often savagely pounded by specks looking for an easy meal. If floating grass on the surface is a problem, consider switching to in-line single hooks or weedless versions like the DOA PT-07. And don’t be shocked if a hungry redfish doesn’t hump up behind the lure or it isn’t attacked by a marauding jack crevalle or cruising tarpon. If you do decide to try deeper for trout, add just enough weight to get down yet still stay slightly off the bottom. CAL shad, Sureketch jigs and DOA 2.75 shrimp or the 1/2-ounce versions are excellent for this type of prospecting.

Along with topwaters, redfish are slurping down jerk baits and Aqua Dream weedless spoons. Water clarity may be cloudy in places due to the recent rains. If that’s the case, the pink Aqua Dream spoons really pop, along with the gold standard patterns.

There were more good reports of cobia, grouper and tripletail from the long holiday weekend. Eel jigs, big bucktails and swim baits will tempt brown bombers into striking. Shrimp lures are enticing for trips. There are plenty of Spanish mackerel around in the nearshore depths, while big sharks will provide plenty of sport for those who want a real tussle.

For the next three months afternoon sea breezes often create choppy conditions and pop-up thunderstorms. So keep an eye on the horizon and don’t take any unnecessary chances. Lightning on the water is a very scary situation.

Winds and tides should be favorable for the most part this upcoming weekend. A decent flood of water will crest mid-mornings before dropping back out by mid-afternoon. According to the time-tested solunar tables, you can expect very good action the last couple hours before the morning peak, followed by another shorter window of opportunity the last hour before dead low.

Be safe out there and please practice common courtesy at the ramps and on the water.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.

The stars are aligning for a great holiday weekend, fishing-wise. Coming off Thursday’s new moon the tides will be strong, the winds and seas are forecast to be favorable and the fish should be chomping. The only caveat will be the extra boat traffic due to the holiday, so be prepared for longer waits at the ramps.

The big news the last week or so are the reports of very large cobia being caught. The water temperatures are in the upper 70s and the ling are crisscrossing the Big Bend in good numbers. Trophies up to 80 pounds have been landed. Cobia can be found around most structure and even sometimes cruising along the flats. It may be solo fish or pods of several members. A medium-heavy spin outfit with 30-pound test braid with a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader will handle most ling. Al Gag’s Whip-it Eels and larger swim baits or bucktail jigs will entice the fish, as will live pinfish, catfish or eels. There is a new federal size limit, so be aware of your location and measure carefully before putting one in the box.

Trout and redfish continue to be cooperative and can be found from the backcountry creeks and bayous to the open flats. Depths of six feet or less are prime zones, although don’t hesitate to try deeper with the warmer water. Soft-plastic touts, minnows and shrimp lures are the standard options. A noisy surface plug twitched over the tops of flooded grass or oyster bars will score nice bags as well. With the aggressive pattern, colors don’t matter as much as presentation, but it’s hard to go wrong with natural-looking black/silver or olive/pearl. With the winds and rain this past week, water clarity might dictate mixing a little gold into the repertoire as well. Both reds and trout will gladly slurp down a wobbling Aqua Dream weedless spoon, too.

This is the ideal time for diversity, if you’re tired of chasing trout and redfish. Tripletail and flounder are here in good numbers. A DOA shrimp or Sureketch jig will trigger strikes from either. Some hefty Spanish mackerel are in the nearshore depths hammering bait pods. Use a shiny casting spoon or Gotcha lure to pick macks off the edges of bait. For big game action, sharks will definitely bend the rod. Blacktips and spinners are great sport and will gladly eat a swim bait lure.

Winds are expected to be south/southeast at low volumes through Monday. Mid-morning low tides will be replaced by nearly two feet of incoming water by mid-afternoon. With the brightening lunar phase, very high feeding activity is forecast for a couple hours after the high has peaked, along with the last hour before dead low.

Please practice common courtesy at the ramps and on the water. Maintain social distancing and operate the boat safely. Law enforcement will have a presence all weekend, on the lookout for boaters under the influence or those who violate fisheries laws.

Finally, remember the reason for the Memorial Day holiday and give thanks to those brave American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure our freedom.

Copyright 2020, Capt. Dave Lear. All rights reserved.