Fishing Report brought to you by Chris
with Skinny Water Lures.
Since it’s August, now is a great time to talk about summertime
tactics for catching Redfish, Snook and Trout.
Let’s start with Redfish:
- Early morning and late evening: Redfish are most active during these times when the water is usually calmer and the sun is not too high in the sky.
- Shallow waters: Summer redfish tend to move into shallower waters, typically 2-5 feet deep, to find food and avoid the hot summer sun.
- Structural features: Look for areas with structural features such as drop-offs, ledges, and potholes, as redfish often congregate around these areas.
- Soft-bottomed flats: Redfish often feed on crustaceans and small fish in soft-bottomed flats, especially during the summer months.
- Topwater baits: Use topwater baits such as poppers, spoons, and frogs to entice redfish to strike.
- Soft plastics: Soft plastic lures like curly tail grubs and shad-tailed worms can be effective for redfish, especially when worked slowly on the bottom or suspended under a cork.
- Live bait: Live baits like shrimp, crabs, and mullet can be irresistible to redfish in the summer.
- Fishing around bait schools: Redfish often feed on baitfish schools, so look for areas with a concentration of baitfish and cast your line accordingly.
Now, here are some effective techniques to help you catch more snook during the warmer months.
Snook:
- Focus on structure: Snook tend to congregate around structure like mangroves, docks, and bridges during the summer. Look for areas with abundant vegetation, as snook love to hide and ambush prey in these areas.
- Fish during dawn and dusk: Snook are most active during these twilight periods when the water is usually calmer and the sun isn’t as harsh. Use this to your advantage by targeting these times for better luck.
- Use smaller lures: Summer snook tend to be less aggressive and less willing to chase larger lures. Opt for smaller jigs, spoons, or topwater baits that imitate smaller baitfish like pilchards or sardines.
- Choose the right colors: Brighter colors like chartreuse, yellow, and orange can be effective for summer snook, as they stand out against the clear water.
- Fish slow and deliberate: Snook in the summer can be finicky, so slow down your presentation and give them time to find your lure. A steady retrieve or a slow-paced jerkbait retrieve can be deadly.
- Target areas with current: Snook often congregate in areas with current, such as river mouths or tidal channels. This allows them to conserve energy while still finding food.
- Use live bait: Live bait like pilchards, shrimp, or crickets can be incredibly effective for summer snook. They’ll often strike these natural baits with gusto.
- Look for snook in transition zones: Snook often move from one area to another in search of food or shelter. Look for areas where different habitats meet, such as where a mangrove creek meets a sandy beach.
- Fish the edges: Snook love to cruise the edges of structures like piers, docks, or seawalls. Cast your line parallel to these edges and work your way back towards you.
- Pay attention to water conditions: Summer storms can stir up the water, making it cloudy or murky. On days like these, look for areas with clearer water or use lures that can penetrate the murkiness.
Summer tactics for Speckled Sea Trout:
- Morning and late evening: Speckled sea trout are most active during the early morning and late evening hours when the water is usually calmer and cooler.
- Topwater lures: Topwater lures such as poppers, spoons, and frogs can be effective for speckled sea trout during the summer months. Look for areas with a good population of baitfish, such as mullet or shad.
- Soft plastics: Soft plastic lures such as curly tail grubs or shad-tail worms can be used to imitate the baitfish that speckled sea trout feed on. Try using a slow, steady retrieve to imitate the movement of a live baitfish.
- Jigs: Jigs tipped with shrimp or other soft plastics can be effective for speckled sea trout in summer. Look for areas with structure such as rocks, wrecks, or sunken logs.
- Live bait: Live bait such as shrimp, fiddler crabs, or mud minnows can be very effective for speckled sea trout during the summer months.
- Tightlines: When fishing with live bait or soft plastics, use a tight line to prevent the fish from swallowing the hook and to set the hook quickly when a bite occurs.
- Fish slowly: Speckled sea trout can be finicky eaters during the summer months, so it’s often necessary to fish slowly and deliberately to entice them to bite.
- Pay attention to water temperature: Speckled sea trout tend to prefer warmer water during the summer months.
Tight lines!!