 July has been a very active month for fishing the flats and inshore waters. Clearwater Bay and St. Joseph Sound in Dunedin have been on fire with all of the shallow water species showing up on the incoming tide. Moving around to different flats at various stages of the tide has been the most productive pattern.
On all of my charters, clients have caught 20+ trout. Some of these trout have been 20 inches or bigger. We caught many lady fish, lots of black tip sharks, and some of the biggest mackerel I have ever caught. We also caught a few scattered redfish and mangrove snapper to add to the fun.
Weather has been cooperating for the most part. The water temperatures are near 90 degrees and the afternoon air temps are reaching 95. As long as you can keep moving with the tide and check different flats and grass areas out, fish will be found.
Kent and family, Gaye, Lindsay and Travis, joined me as we set out to explore the active flats of Clearwater Bay. As the tide was coming in, mullet were jumping and bait fish were flipping on the surface. The first couple of grass areas we fished produced several smaller trout and some lady fish. A great way to get things started. We were using live white baits or scaled sardines fished under a float.
Our next stop was another of the many grass flats that dot Clearwater Bay. The family of four caught over 40 trout with four over 20 inches. They landed lots of high flying lady fish and several black tip sharks. They also caught several mackerel of which one of them measured in at 33 inches and weighed almost 10 lbs. Lindsay did a great job fighting the fish to boat. By far the biggest mackerel I have ever caught.
The fish were released to fight another day and I released the Toppert family back to the beautiful Hyatt on Clearwater Beach to continue their vacation. http://www.clearwaterbeach.hyatt.com/
Tony came aboard on Friday and we went searching for some of our summer time fish. As we were cruising by the pass, I saw some tarpon rolling on the surface in Clearwater Pass. Tony had brought his fly rod and took it out for several casts at these tarpon. We drifted a couple of times in the area where the fish were rolling and Tony placed the fly in the perfect location. The tarpon were playing more than feeding as is the case when they are rolling. So we moved on.
We stopped at several locations and they produced numerous trout, lady fish and mackerel. I was hoping to chum up lots of mackerel so Tony could catch them on fly, but they were scattered and not very active. Tony did get his biggest trout ever of 21 inches.
As the water temperatures reach 90+ degrees on the flats in the afternoon, it is most important to have that incoming tide and moving water to produce the best action. Most all of the fish in the shallows this time of year are very lethargic and need lots of TLC and chum to get them active. Most fish will feed at night on the flats when the water temps are a little cooler. With a little patience and the right tide, catching a trophy fish in 91 degree water is no sweat. |
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