It was in the words of one Jimmy Buffet that stated, “Trying to reason with the hurricane season.” Looks like this year’s hurricane season has fired off early with Tropical Storm Bonnie giving us a wet weekend. With water temps being very hot the cooling rain won’t hurt anything on the inshore scene. Offshore the surface temps are hot but the bottom is cold in the 60’s and there is a strong thermo cline out there.
Inshore the mackerel and trout bite are still on fire on the deeper grass flats. Mac’s can also be found all over the bay especially near the ship channels. When catching the fish I like to chop one in half, use the head portion, cast it up tide and let it drift back on a heavy, tarpon size gear if you will, for black tip, grey reef, bull and hammerhead sharks. On light tackle, per say, what a blast. With the small baits all over that’s all you need, but you need a lot and a chum block is a bonus. Just put the small baits on a long shank hook and let it float back while chumming with more small baits or cut threadfins, and hold on it shouldn’t take long.
Off shore the near shore wrecks are still holding plenty of fish, from snapper, grouper, AJ’s and goliath grouper. Out further in the 180’ the American Red Snapper are open for business. In closer in the 50-60 foot range there are plenty of Gag and Red grouper to be had. Be sure to have a flat line out as there are still kings and mahi mahi around and the occasional sailfish.
Be sure to tune in on Saturday mornings at 6:30 on News Channel 8 WFLA for The Reel Animals Fishing Show and listen to Captain Mike on 970 AM WFLA from 6-9 am on Reel Animals Saturday. Call in on Sunday’s to WDAE 620 AM The Sports Animal for the T.A. Mahoney Reel Animals Fishing Show to win some cool fish gear from 7-9 am. Also visit our website @
www.reelanimalsfishingteam.com or call 1-866-GAMEFISH to book your fishing trip of a lifetime and until next week, “Do yourself a favor and take a kid fishin’."
