By Matt
Fueyo/Owner at Reel Tight Fishing Charters
With the prickly heat of summer upon us, captains and guests typically like to start fishing early in the morning as the tarpon bite continues into July.
Once on the beach they tuck the boat up close to shore and wait for the sun to expose the beautiful shimmer of the silver king! Our captains then line the boat up with the school as we look for the next tarpon to “roll”. We prepare to launch our crabs (bait) at these 100+ pound fish and then hold on for on an epic battle. Once hooked up with the mighty fish the crew will clear the rods and anything that could get in the way. We strap in for what can be a 10 min fight or a 2 hour battle. These fish have no quit! You have to respect the fish and the angler who both are completely worn out. We revive the fish and make sure they swim off healthy and congratulate our angler on his victory. One thing is certain our crew keep their head on a swivel because we aren’t the only ones in search of the Silver King (Megalops). Big hammerheads, bull sharks and tiger sharks patrol the beach in search of a shiny treat!
We will still
be chasing fish on the beach as well as fishing the back water for them. We
will see them start heading offshore to spawn on the full moon in July. Some
fish have been spotted over 100 miles off shore. Quite the migration from the
beach. In August/September we find the big fish back in the bays and rivers
releasing their eggs into the water.
At Reel Tight Fishing Charters we use 7’6” shimano Terramar medium light rods with 60-80# fluorocarbon leader. A 6-0 7-0 circle hook with a bobber 30”-36” inches from the hook. Our bait is a silver dollar sized pass crab that is very, very alive and ready to swim!
Captain Klopfer’s July Fishing Report
Fishinglidokey.com
July fishing can be excellent, but tactics need to be a little different and windows of opportunity are smaller. It is simply too hot to fish in the middle of the day. Early morning will be the most reliable time to fish, evenings are good too, but frequent thunderstorms can make planning a trip difficult. Anglers who don’t mind fishing in the dark will have success at night, and they will beat the summer heat!
Action on the deep grass flats from the north end of Siesta Key should be very good for speckled trout, along with bluefish, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, pompano, and jacks. A high tide in the morning is favored for anglers to drift the flats and cast Bass Assassin jigs, plugs, spoons, and live shrimp under a popping cork. Netting up a bunch of shiners and chumming the deep flats will usually result in non-stop action.
The flats and oyster bars south of Stickney Pt. down to Blackburn Pt. will hold some nice trout in July, and that area gets very little pressure in the summertime. The key is water temperature; if it is too high the bait and gamefish will not be there. Redfish and snook will also cruise the bars and shorelines in search of prey.
Areas that drop off quickly into three or four feet will be the most productive spots. A hand-picked shrimp is deadly fished early in the morning on a high tide. Anglers choosing artificial lures will score with topwater and shallow diving plugs, scented soft plastics, and weedless gold spoons.
Redfish will begin to school up in July and can be caught in very shallow water The largest trout also prefer shallow water, so don’t be surprised if a “gator” intercepts an offering meant for a redfish. Anglers need to be aware that both speckled trout and redfish are currently closed to harvest, due to the red tide of 2018.
Night fishing will be exciting and productive in July. Lighted docks and bridges attract glass minnows and shrimp, which in turn attract the gamefish. Snook are abundant, but trout, reds, jacks, ladyfish, and snapper will also be caught at night. Live shrimp works very well free lined in the current with little or no weight. A 24” piece of 25 lb flourocarbon leader and a 1/0 live bait hook is the basic rig. Lures will also catch fish, but can be difficult to cast at night. Fly fisherman will score with a small white snook fly such as the Grassett’s Snook Minnow tied on a #4 hook.
Tarpon will still be plentiful in the Gulf of Mexico, although the anglers will not be. The large schools will have broken up, and although the fish don’t show as well, they eat better. Pinfish and crabs drifted out 6 feet under a cork at first light will catch tarpon in July. Point of Rocks on Siesta Key is a proven spot to fish.
Author: Siesta Sand