Summertime Heat - Means Careful Planning.
Summer means hot and humid days and June is no exception. Expect good fishing this month, but good summertime fishing has a price… it’s called heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Here are symptoms of most heat-related illnesses: unconsciousness, seizures, difficulty breathing, confusion, vomiting and diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, and hot, dry flushed skin without sweating. The important thing to remember is this almost always preventable by simply keeping the body cool and avoiding dehydration. If you or someone around you exhibits any of these symptoms take immediate action. Keep in mind that if you see any signs of severe heat stress, you may be dealing with a life-threatening emergency. Call, or have someone call, for immediate medical assistance while you begin cooling the affected person. The following are Red Cross recommendations:

• Get the person into some kind of shade.
• Cool the person as rapidly as possible, using whatever methods you can, for example:
• Immerse the person in a tub of cool water
• Place the person in a cool shower
• Spray the person with cool water
• Sponge the person with cool water
• If the humidity is low, wrap the person in a cool, wet sheet and fan him or her vigorously
• Monitor body temperature and continue cooling efforts until the body temperature drops to 101°-102°F.
• If emergency medical personnel are delayed, try to reach the hospital emergency room for further instructions.
• Do not give the person alcohol to drink.
• Get medical assistance as soon as possible.

Everything will be eating this month so plan your trips now and take advantage good summertime fishing. Keep in mind these hot days can really dehydrate your body, often to the danger point before you realize what is happening. Remember to drink plenty of fluids like water and sports drinks to re-hydrate the body. However, considering fluids containing alcohol impair your decision-making process it also imposes safety issues to yourself and others. If you drink… do it “Responsibly”. Operating your watercraft and drinking alcohol equates to trouble. Like driving under the influence, BUI or Boating Under the Influence carries stiff fines, confinement or both. Marine law enforcement officers have no tolerance for boaters operating their vessels under the influence; so expect to be arrested and hauled off to jail.

Redfish
June produces some good Redfish days around the flats of Tampa Bay. The Kitchen, Simmons Park, and Joe Island offer great starting points. Cockroach Bay, Simmons Park, Bishops Harbor, Ft. Desoto, Miguel Bay, Terra Ceia Bay, and Pinellas Point Flats also produce good catches. Heavy pushes and mullet schools are key factors in finding feeding Redfish. Finding Redfish means covering lots of water; once located they do not venture too far if there is food present. Bear in mind as long as there is food there is fish. Live greenbacks, dollar-size pinfish, and cut bait work and are good choices. Do not forget the old standby… live shrimp.

Spotted Sea Trout
Trout fishing continues remaining strong through the summer. Search out deep grass flats looking for grass beds with plenty of broken bottom or potholes. Tampa Bay offers good fishing, so check areas like the Pinellas Flats, Veterans Flats, Joes Island, Bishops Harbor, Piney Point, Culbreath, and Cockroach using live shrimp and greenbacks free lining or under popping corks. The many broken-bottom flats with potholes produce large fish and an occasional flounder.

Cobia
Markers and sandy flats are good places for Cobia. They frequent markers especially those holding bait and also cruise the flats usually following a large stingrays. When fishing markers, keeping a chum bag over the side should bring them running, not to mention large Spanish Mackerel filling the bay this month.

Tarpon
Tarpon fishing really comes alive in June. They are everywhere and they are hungry; from the beach to the bay, these fish offer the catch of a lifetime. Large greenbacks, threadfins, and crabs, found abundantly in the bay, are excellent choices for bait. Tarpon fishing around the Tampa area is good through the summer from the beaches all the way to the causeway. If you are into night fishing almost any bridge holds fish along the light-line; however, landing one presents another challenge especially at night.

Snook (Season closed)
Snook fishing in the summer is almost a given. Practically every angler is looking to catch them and given the amount of fishing pressure, especially during weekends, it is a wonder they bite at all. Practically any mangrove shoreline holds snook provided there is bait and structure. Terrific ambush feeders Snook lie in wait along shady mangrove root systems. Rocky shores and adjacent sand bars are also good places to investigate when looking for Snook. Early morning flats produce well using topwater lures and live greenbacks always produce.