Capt. Geoff

Fall has arrived and with it comes cooler weather and shorter days. But don’t put your rods and reels away just yet because here comes the best fishing of the year! Fishermen will continue to find success with live bait but artificial lures should become increasingly effective. Make time to get out on the water, you will be sure to enjoy it!

Redfish have been happily eating live and cut bait fished on the bottom. Mullet especially are everywhere you look and can be easily netted. We’ll rig the bait on a size 3/0 circle hook paired with enough weight to hold the rig firmly on the bottom. You can use this setup on docks as well as on the flats. Leave your rod in the holder and wait for the reel to start screaming as the fish hook themselves.

Artificial lures have started to really produce for trout and the traditional paddle tail design has been awesome. I’ll use a 1/4oz. Trout Eye jighead and tie a loop knot to give the lure even more action. Vary your rate of retrieve as you try different spots for pockets of fish. To make your lure even more attractive, try putting a piece of shrimp on the hook. You can use pieces of live or frozen shrimp and it will put a scent on your lure that fish find hard to turn down.

With the colder water temperature, redfish are starting to form bigger schools. These larger schools make for superb sight fishing on low tides. On clear days, you can see these redfish roving around in circles with their golden backs flashing in the sun. Use patience when approaching the schools and when you make your first shot cast to the edges so as not to spook the school. Jerk shad artificial lures rigged on size 3/0 flutter hooks are the way to go.

See you on the water!

With an ideal set of conditions in place, anglers can be sure that inshore fishing will really pick up in September. The combination of lots of bait, cooler water temperatures and less traffic on the water should make for awesome fishing. While a lot of people will turn their focus to hunting and football, fishermen who save some time for casting a line will be well rewarded.

During this time of year, redfish will begin to increasingly take artificial baits. Plastic lures that mimic the bait fish in our waters are very effective. Zman’s 3 ¾” streakz in smokey shad is a great choice. I pair this lure with a 1/8oz. jighead but conditions may call for a heavier weight. Make sure to change your rate of retrieve as you fish a spot. Sometimes just slowing down or speeding up the pace of the lure can make the bite come to life.

Even with artificials becoming more effective, keep throwing those popping corks. Mud minnows, live shrimp and artificial shrimp have been working well when suspended about 18″-24″ below the cork. Trout and redfish alike will eat these baits as they pass by suspended in the water column. Corks have been working best fished over shell rake and along grassy banks at mid and high tide.

It’s not uncommon to catch bull redfish (36” inches plus) during the summer time at the jetties or at nearshore reefs. During the fall, these big fish come into the harbor and inlets as they track down large mullet and menhaden. Rods rigged for these fish will have heavy test braided line connected to a 50-60lb. leader and 7/0 circle hooks. Fresh chunks of mullet, menhaden or smaller fish are effective baits. Target spots where there are marked changes in depth and wait for your rod to rip over!

See you on the water!

Our fishery is in full swing with lots of bait and an incredibly diverse mixture of fish to target. During August, it will be key to get out early to beat the heat. You’ll not only be more comfortable fishing in the morning but also more productive. The high temperatures in the afternoon can put species like trout down. You may lose some sleep but launching at first light has plenty of rewards.

Popping corks are very effective this time of year. You can catch so many different types of fish: redfish, trout, flounder, ladyfish, shark etc. I use a weighted popping cork so I can increase the distance of my cast. I run an 18″-24″ fluorocarbon leader from the cork to a size 1 circle hook. When your cork drops under water, reel until you feel the weight of the fish and then lift the rod tip. Mud minnows, shrimp and artificial shrimp all work well as baits.

Topwater is a fantastic option when you are starting early. Try to get to your spot just as it is becoming light. Fish will strike topwater lures based on the commotion they make on the surface and aren’t able to see that the lure isn’t a real struggling baitfish. These lures work well for trout, ladyfish and redfish. Heddon’s Super Spook Jr. lures in chartreuse and black or red and white are the ticket.

This time of year you’ll want to carry your cast net not only for shrimp but also for baitfish like finger mullet and menhaden. Finger mullet under a popping cork are deadly for trout and can’t be torn to bits by little bait stealing fish. Menhaden fished live on the bottom with big circle hooks are great for reds and sharks. Fresh cut menhaden or mullet put out a scent trail that few fish can ignore.

See you on the water!

July is one of the most productive months of the year for fishing. The combination of traditional targets like redfish and trout and summer seasonal species like shark, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel make for a very active fishery. Anglers can expect lots of different opportunities during all tides!

The redfish bite has been great. The large schools of redfish have now split up but you can still find pods of twenty to thirty fish, especially on the flats. Putting a scent trail in the water and an easy meal in front of redfish is a tactic likely to succeed. We usually put live mullet or cracked blue crab on the bottom with enough weight to hold it in place. Use circle hooks in size 3/0 combined with a heavy test line and watch those rods rip over!

As for trout, popping corks paired with live bait is the way to go. We have been using mud minnows as pervasive little fish will steal live shrimp right off your hook. Choose a popping cork that you can easily throw and see. Oval corks weigh more and cast farther. Orange can be easier to see than green or yellow when there is chop on the water. Throw your cork in an area with current and you will be catching loads of trout.

All species of shark have appeared. Sharpnose and blacktip sharks have been present for over a month and bonnetheads are becoming more present. The same menhaden mentioned above make for great shark bait. We still use circle hooks but go up to size 7/0. Try fishing one line with a live menhaden and a second with a chunk of menhaden. You’ll find out quickly which one is preferred!

We are witnessing a robust season for Spanish mackerel. We have been finding them in heavy numbers in places where they have rarely been seen. These fish are great fun for all anglers and easy to catch. Cast reflective jigs through schools of busting fish and reel as fast as possible. Expect dynamic action as these fish knife through the water chasing your lure!

See you on the water!