August Fishing Report

Well with the heat wave already here in full swing and the water temp in the 80’s the beach action is on fire with Flounder, Shark , Kingfish, Bonita, Tarpon, and more. Slow troll live mullet or pogy along the beach between 30 and 50 foot of water for your Kingfish and Sharks. You can also troll a naked or skirted ballyhoo for the Bonitas and Kingfish around the near shore wrecks as well along beach. For the Tarpon look for them rolling along the beach and drift a live crab or the biggest shrimp in the bait tank in front of them. The Flounder are on and by the near shore wrecks use a live shrimp on a fish finder rig and slowly drag it along the bottom. If you are looking to stay in the rivers beat the heat and try you luck night fishing for Trout, Snook, and Tarpon. Target the well lit docks or local bridges with live shrimp, finger mullet and pinfish. Free line a live shrimp and finger mullet around the docks for the Trout and smaller Snook on the outgoing tide. Now if you want to fish the local bridges use a larger finger mullet or pinfish on a bottom rig. I like fishing the last hour of incoming to the first two hours of outgoing and also the last hour of outgoing to two hours of incoming tides. Just remember that Snook season is closed until the end of August so please handle with care and release them to be caught again. If you are looking to get into the Redfish start early in the morning around oyster bars with bait fish on it with either a soft plastic swim bait or jerk bait in natural colors on a light jighead or weighted weedless hook. If the low tide in the morning try using a top water in a mullet pattern or white along the edge of the oyster bar. You can also use live or fresh cut finger mullet in the same areas if you do not plan on using artificial lures. Mangrove or Grey Snapper are plentiful this time of year. Look for the deeper holes and or creeks with some type of structure. Use live or dead shrimp or even small pieces of fresh cut bait. I like fishing for them on a falling tide but you can still get them on the incoming tide. Now you freshwater guys and gals start early in the morning with some top water near pads and grass for Bass on the St. Johns river switching over to shiners as the sun comes up. You can also find them schooling in the main river or in and near the springs where the water is cooler. The Bluegills and Bream should be around the deeper docks. Use crickets and wiggler worms under a float set at 3 to 4 foot. For the local pond hoppers fish a suspending or slow sinking bait as the bass will be in the deeper parts of the pond as the sun gets higher.