Summer pattern – Hot Temps and hot fishing

If you haven’t noticed, we’ve finally fallen into our summer pattern and by pattern I mean hot.

Temperatures in the mid to upper 90s are an everyday occurrence now which in turn is brining those water temps up too. Flats fishing is still producing a bite, although you may want to try fishing early mornings when both air and water temps are slightly cooler. Typically while doing this I’m noticing the bite to be more consistent — not to mention the cool air of the morning is definitely easier on my clients. I’m experiencing rallies of catch-and-release snook during these early morning trips, which is great. Most catches are falling in the 20-30 inch range.

Now, as the morning heats up and gets toward noon, I’m migrating to deeper water where spotted seatrout are lurking. Flats in depths of 6-8 feet remain slightly cooler towards the grassy bottom, which is a refuge from the heat for these trout. Also, as we’re catching trout we’re finding bluefish, Spanish macks and even a jack or two to mix up the action a little.

Lastly, nearshore structure is producing mangrove snapper and flounder. If you’re looking for food fish, these two are some of the best. The snapper are a little way to bite so I’m instructing my clients to free-line small shiners or hatch bait slowly back on our chum slick. As for the flounder a 1/2-ounce knocker rig baited with a live shiner is resulting in fish in the 15-22 inch range.