With temperatures still in the upper to middle 90's and the heat index over 100 the past two weeks, the fishing has been tough for sure. I have been hitting the water at 5am to 5:30am and I'm off the water by at least 11am. Speck fishing has been pretty good in the wee early morning hours and it tapers off around 8am.
The near shore King Mackerel bite has been a little slow this week, but when the gulf starts to cool down a bit it should start to pick up. There have been some good catches offshore in the 120ft to 200 ft range.
The big story the past few weeks is about all the slot Redfish that have been caught on some of the flats and docks. Using live elys, small pinfish, and Berkley Gulps 3" Natural Shrimp have been working well for me. I have also caught some nice big bull Reds in the pass by drifting live baits, and have also seen them come to the surface to feed, and that's when you better have a top water plug ready!
Just off the beaches near Ft. Pickens I have been seeing some big schools of Jacks, and just a few days ago we hooked up a nice 25lb fish and a few more in the 15 – 20 lb class.
Small black tip sharks are also cruising the second sand bar, and a fresh-cut ladyfish is always a good bait to entice a black tip, but be ready for a fight, as these pesky creatures don't come to the boat easily.
Fall is just around the corner, and with all this warm weather I'm sure I am not the only one saying: Bring it on! I'm ready for some fall and wintertime Red fishing. The annual Redfish run starts sometime around mid October and ends near mid March, just in time for the annual Sheepshead run.
So if you have never caught a redfish over 20 lbs, give me a call this fall and we'll get you hooked up on the Mega-Bite!
See Ya on the water.
Capt. John
