It is hot down here in Florida now but we still have fishing opportunities. Our best bet is to get out early and have fun before it really gets hot. Evening can be productive also if it’s not stormy. Some Tarpon are still in both Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor. Snook may be opening up the first of September, but we don’t know for sure yet—Fish and Wildlife is still thinking about it. Redfish are improving now. Speckled Trout are abundant and hungry still. Mango Snapper are teasing us and should come on strong anytime. Spanish Mackerel are not thick but can make the difference if you are prepared. If it’s too hot get in the water, travel north for scallops or south for crawfish down in the Keys.

Early morning fishing may be the most consistent time to catch fish now. If minnows are not your thing, soft plastic or other lures will get you going before the sun comes up. Develop someconfidence in your lure selection and it will pull through for you. Observe the action boatside before you cast out. Many of us overwork the lures action.

Tarpon are available if you missed out earlier. They are scattered around the bay and harbor. Some will still run the beaches but not very dependable. An experienced guide can help your odds and help you learn more about Tarpon and fishing. Live baits are fine; try pinfish or any larger minnows. Several plastics work also, the
special “Tarpon-sized” BaitBuster is the most popular selection. Carefully look for single rolling fish on calmer days to locate Silver Kings now. You must stay quiet if you want to catch these laid-up fish!

Snook are around but did get hurt last winter. We have enough fish down here, but I hear others did not fair so well. Florida Fish & Wildlife had not made their decision, as of press time, on the September opening. Either way we will enjoy some catching; since most are out of the slot anyway, we need to be careful how we handle release fish.

Redfish have been improving down here around Englewood and Charlotte Harbor recently and with all the Reds they released in Tampa Bay grown up in size it should be good now. Pinfish are great baits now and lures or spoons work here too. Look for fish on the flats early, then dropping deeper as it warms up. Be careful; scared fish are harder to catch!

Speckled Trout have been our life-saver this year so far. Some days they are larger, others smaller, but we have fish all along our Gulf coast. Maybe FF&W will open them up in November and December, with all the other closures. Lures are best here and soft plastics hard to beat. Big fish will feed shallow early and numbers will patrol the deeper edges during the day.

Mango Snapper are due to move in and take over the shallow bottom and structures any time. Use light lines and leaders, small hooks and lots of chum to get these crafty fish biting. The Skyway or phosphate dock is perfect to hold lots of nice sized Mangos now. Minnows or shrimp are perfect, but dead bait chucks can fool chummed-up fish.

Spanish are not thick but can be chummed up especially on those slow tide days. Set up near a drop off and allow time for your chum to draw in hungry fish. Sometimes smaller sharks come in and these are kid pleasers, for sure. They like to catch any size sharks. Carry lots of ice and chum.

If scallops are your thing they are abundant on our upper Gulf coast now! Crawfish are abundant this year in the Keys, so you can go south if you get that urge. It’s hot but we can find fun on or in the water now!

Tight Lines & Good Times, Capt. Terry Frankford Reelin & Chillin Charters Inc. 941-228-7802 terry.frankford@verizon.net www.charterfishingsarasota.com