Oh the dog days of summer are here, and the bite is on! Day time air temperatures in June are hovering around 90 degrees each day, which has now brought the average water temperature up to 86 degrees.
We have been fishing the shallow flats in the early morning up until about noon, and then again late in the afternoon after 4:00 until sunset. The regular mid day storms are more regular as the month progresses, so why not take advantage of a mid day break off the water for a dip in the pool, a little nap, and a nice meal before heading out for an evening trip.
We are now fishing 90% on the outside flats and have pretty much left the backwaters for the summer. The Snook will be feeding on the outgoing tides along the beaches and troughs. You can "match the hatch" and throw them some nice live Threads or Pilchards, or you can fish both soft and hard artificials that resemble these live baits.
The Tarpon are here now in their best numbers of the year. You can look for them in the shallow grass flats as they are looking to eat during the coolest hours of the day…… morning and evening. I like to toss out a live ladyfish, or large Pilchard on a baitrunner reel. I like to use 50 lb braided line, tied to 6' of 60lb fluorocarbon leader, and an 8/0 circle hook. Set that reel into baitrunner mode, wait for the strike, and don't forget to point at the Tarpon as it jumps!
Trout are around in good numbers.
Fish the flats on the incoming tide with your favorite bucktail jig, Gulp shrimp, or just about any other soft plastic jig…. Tipped with a small piece of shrimp.
Mangrove Snapper are also around in good numbers around the mangrove roots. All you need for them is some live shrimp threaded on a small 2/0 hook. The trick to hooking the snapper is to let them take the shrimp for a few seconds before reeling in. Usually you do not even need to set the hook, as they will do this on their own as they try to run away with your shrimp.
Captain Pete Rapps
Hailing out of Chokoloskee Island Park Marina, Chokoloskee, FL
Capt. Rapps offers expert guided light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Park and is happy to accommodate anyone from novice to experienced anglers. See online availability calendar and booking info at www.CaptainRapps.com or call 239-571-1756
