Snook Fishing remains steady this month for keeper size fish. We have till the end of the month to keep snook then the season will be closed for the summer. Tarpon fishing is picking up along deep water channel edges in the river. Anchor up and soak live or dead large mullet for extra large tarpon. I suggest using 60-100lb leaders with 6/0-9/0 2x circle hooks, this will increase your odds of landing the fish boatside. Expect a few sharks, large jacks, & the occasional 40″ snook as by-catch when targeting tarpon this way. Running the beach nearshore this month can be very productive for sight fishing. Expect to find large schools of bait inside 40′ of water near local beaches. Fishing the outskirts of these bait schools can produce a variety of predators. Tarpon, snook, cobia, jacks, kingfish, bonita, snapper, african pompano, & the occasional sailfish will be lingering along the outskirts of these baitfish schools. Slow trolling live baits around these schools will produce bites. Lip hooking your baits will provide a natural presentation at slow trolling speeds. I also suggest having a cobia jig tied on a large spinner ready to cast at any incoming cobia & or large jack crevalles while slow trolling baits along the beaches around these bait schools. Nearshore reefs & wrecks will hold plenty of goliath grouper if you’re looking to play tug of war with a sea monster. Very heavy tackle recommended, whole bonitas as your bait will get goliath grouper bites every drop. Remember the goliath grouper is a protected species. You can currently practice catch & release only , it is prohibited to remove these fish from the water. If obtaining a picture you will need to get creative with these gigantic groupers while keeping them in the water. The reefs and wrecks will hold plenty of snapper, snook, cobia, barracuda, kingfish, sailfish, & even the occasional mahi. Fishing flatlines on the surface will get occasional pelagic opportunities while on anchor bottom fishing for snapper and or goliath groupers. Chicken rigs or long leader rigs will be effective for targeting snapper on local nearshore reefs. 40-50lb leaders with appropriate weight based on current with live or dead sardines will get plenty of snapper action. Offshore mahi fishing has been excellent as of lately. fishing depths of 90′ or greater will yield plenty of bites with mixed action from sailfish, kingfish, cobia, tuna, & the occasional wahoo.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Jonathan
772 341 2274
www.chaosfishingcharters.com
