Greetings fish fans. As tarpon season comes to it’s end, we move in to our summer pattern of fishing. The trout have done their spawning thing in the grassy bottomed bays, and it’s time for snook and redfish to take the stage. From Key Largo in the eastern end of Florida Bay to Flamingo and west, the snook have been chewing the paint off of a ¼ ounce Hank Brown’s Hook Up Jig. It doesn’t seem to matter what color it is as long as it’s chartreuse. Look for the mangrove shorelines where there is some current moving and throw the jigs tipped with a live shrimp. As you ease along with your trolling motor or push pole, cast up current and bounce them back along the bottom. Fish to 10 or 12 pounds are not too uncommon, but most fish will be in the 22”-26” range. Just remember that you can’t keep a snook for dinner until September 1st, and then only if it is in the slot of 28”-33”.
Redfish will be pushing up on the flats to sunbathe during the summer months. Redfish are kind of like me, they prefer it warm. If you get one of those slick calm summer mornings, look for them to be tailing up a storm. Reds can be caught with many different techniques and a variety of lures and baits. I prefer a soft plastic jerk bait fished on either a 3/0 worm hook or a 1/8th ounce XL Hook Up Jig. Top water plugs such as a Zara Spook or Top Dog will get a lot of attention too. Gold spoons and inline spinner baits also produce their fare share of strikes. If a fish is moving, make sure you get the lure well past him and out in front of him. You want to retrieve the lure right in front of his face. If the fish is tailing, you have to make sure you bring it very close or he won’t see it. When a fish tails, it is concentrating on something that is trying to hide from it, so when he sees your offering, it will draw an arm shaking strike.
There is a new place in Key Largo for you to buy live bait and supplies. It is located under the new bridge on U.S. 1 and is called Pontoons. They have bait, drinks, snacks, rental boats, and also a boat ramp. Stop in and see them. Tell them Capt. Kerry sent you.
Until next time, good tides and keep the Sun to your back. ><)))>
Capt. Kerry Wingo
305-394-1383
www.tailsupfishing.com
