AUGUST RECAP
August 2019 was fantastic. At least 4 years in a row now August has produced some of the best fishing out of the year. Near shore action was on fire with sharks & tarpon but the coolest thing was dialing in a depth and area of about a 30ft roll down that produced a lot of big hammerhead releases and even a release of a giant sawfish. Can’t wait to get back on that action next year! Snook fishing was excellent for those willing to put in the time to catch live croakers or pogy’s. Flounder, whiting, sheepshead, mangroves and even a couple keeper mutton snapper were caught fishing the jetties and inside the port. Offshore was on fire with king mackerel ruling the roost but also a good variety of mahi, cobia, sail fish and black fin tuna in the mix. Bottom fishing for vermilion, amberjack and of course red snapper was fantastic. Grouper fishing was poor but unfortunately that just continues to get worse with every passing year.
NEARSHORE FORECAST
We will lose our Summertime water clarity but no worries because September can bring some great fishing opportunities. Spanish mackerel, blue fish and big red drum will show up toward the latter part of the month and the big sharks will be in the mix to feast upon them. Nothing is simpler or more fun than casting diamond jigs at schools of spanish mackerel and blue fish, save a few for the dinner table and a few for bait. Anchor in the vicinity of these schools and let a half of spanish mackerel or bluefish soak with #6 wire and a 6/0 circle hook with whatever pound test main line you choose depending on how sporty you feel but a reel loaded with 40 to 60 lb braid is a good place to start. Kick back and relax then have a blast pulling on black tip sharks and big red drum when things come tight. Snook fishing should remain very good throughout the month but if the water clarity is absolutely trashed from major storms you might need to wait it out a bit. Triple tail will stack on the buoy chains so hand pick live shrimp or small white baits to your favorite jig head or keep it simple with a knocker rig. The idea is to have your bait sink slowly down in the water column along the buoy chain or flotsam holding the fish. Tarpon fishing typically remains strong and they can be found up and down the beach wherever bait fish are abundant. Slot size red drum, black drum and sheepshead will also be abundant fishing the surf and jetties. Sliding sinker rig with live shrimp or clams will be the best all around baits to use.
OFFSHORE FORECAST
Unfortunately we couldn’t have a endless summer and as I am writing this report we are waiting for Dorian to creep past our coast. Even though I do not believe it will make a direct hit to our area because they never do, it will absolutely turn our fishing on its head. Fishing after a major storm has 1 of 2 options. It’s going to absolutely suck and you will catch nothing or you are going to find a hard edge and crush the place. The water is going to look like chocolate milk but if the stream current is strong and makes a hard change the mahi, sail fish, tuna, and wahoo will be stacked and make for epic trolling. If we have just a gradual change then we are in for a very long day. Amberjack fishing can save the day by fishing deep large structure such as cones and large wrecks. If we get lucky and go a week or so without any other conditions that create large swells the bottom fishing will turn on. Groupers and stringer fish such as vermilion and trigger fish will be on the feed if and when the clarity on the bottom gets better. If we get really lucky and go a couple weeks without large swells then our great live bait trolling we had in August will return. It has everything to do with water clarity.
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