Lots of rain and humidity typical of summer fishing

“Hot, humid and a lot of rain” (and in some cases hail) pretty sums up the weather for the past couple of weeks. That is typical for summer-time fishing.

The dolphin bite continues to be satisfactory but they are not as plentiful as in the spring. Most action is in the 16-20 fathom range. The King Mackerel continue to be just inside -- mostly on wrecks and artificial reefs. The bottom bite for vermilion and Lane snapper, back sea bass, trigger fish, and genuine American red snapper continues to be good. A little deeper the gags and red grouper are being caught. Past the 28 fathom curve, big red porgies and snowy and scamp grouper have been boated.

In the surf, flounder, whiting, a few pompano, weakfish and an occasional kingfish have been reportedly landed. The kings seem to be attracted to the multiple pods of bait seen just offshore.

In the Inlet, Capt. Fred Robert  saw some manta rays 25-35 feet off the inlet accompanied by cobia, of which he caught a few. He reports the water temperature is in the mid-seventies just offshore the inlet. He also reports there are many Jack Crevalle and more bluefish. I should not be writing about bluefish because “Capt.” Rich A. and his companion Rich C. will be beating the water daily, searching diligently for those sharp teeth, foul tasting marauders. In fact, Rich A. called me while I was writing this article. I mentioned the news about the bluefish. I could tell that  he wanted to quickly hang up, and as he was doing such, he shouted to his wife to “take the chicken off the grill” because he was going to get some fresh bluefish.

That was about three and a half hours ago and when I called his house to see if he was back home yet, his agitated wife said that she had not heard from him but was not looking forward to eating every experimental recipe concocted by Rich A. for bluefish every night next week. She said that she was saving the chicken for herself and was letting the ‘rest of the family dine on Rich A’s “miserable tasting bluefish”. The word is out that the big Tarpon (100 pounds and up) are headed our way and have passed the Cape. The water temperature inside the inlet is 81-82 degrees, which certainly will not deter the tarpon.

In the HalifaxRiver, flounder, mangrove snapper, and Jack Crevalle are providing most of the action. Red drum are also being caught sporadically. Many disturbances on the water are being seen as the Jack Cravelle rip into the schools of pogies and mullet in the river.

At night, the dock lights are still holding speckled trout. Speaking of trout, Capt. Kent Gibbens is catching a lot of trout on the ‘points” up in the Tomoka area. He also hooked but failed to catch a triple digit tarpon. “If you get out there after it warms up, you are wasting your time” says Capt. Gibbens. It is the same story – “the early bird catches the worm”.

In the lagoon redfish, gray snappers, Jack Crevalle and my buddy Dennis’ favorite fish – the mighty ladyfish – are providing anglers plenty of action. Most fish are being caught on shrimp and cut bait. John Tarr reports that red and black drum are hitting live bait near parking lot 5.

The bodies of two missing De Funiak Springs brothers, who went fishing last week on ChoctawhatcheeBay in the Panhandle, have been recovered. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other agencies recovered the bodies of Logan Alford, 17 the following day and his brother, Lucas 21, who was found six hours later. Witnesses said the brothers were spotted on the south side of the bay in their 14-foot aluminum boat when a thunderstorm rolled through the area. The pair apparently tried to cross the bay during the squall and the boat was apparently swamped and the two lads drowned.

The FWC has announced an Imperiled Butterfly Web Site as well as the formation of the Imperiled Butterflies of South Florida Workgroup. (IBWG) to directly address the significant declines in several species of butterfly. The public is invited to log on to the IBWG’s  interactive web site at http://share2.myfwc.com/IBWG/default.aspx to exchange information and to become educated about the on-going efforts to protect the imperiled species, including the endangered Miami Blue Butterfly. Concerns about the conservation and management issues surrounding the Miami Blue prompted local, state and federal agencies, The North American Butterfly Association and the University of Florida to join together and form the IBWG, which continues to work together to promote the increase and/or stabilization of the imperiled butterfly populations in South Florida and to safeguard important habitats. The web site aims to advance awareness and promote understanding for butterfly conservation, the habitats that sustain them and the roles that they play as an indicator species in the larger environment.

Here is the latest on the Bay Scallop season:  It opened July 1, and runs through Sept. Open scalloping areas on Florida’s Gulf Coast extend from the west bank of Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Pasco-Hernando county line near Aripeka. Bay scalloping may occur only within the allowable harvest area. It is illegal to possess bay scallops while you are in or on state waters outside the open harvest areas or to land bay scallops outside the open areas. There is a daily limit of 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one pint of scallop meat per person during the open season. Additionally no more than10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one half a gallon of bay scallop meat may be possessed aboard any vessel at any time. Harvest of bay scallops may only be performed by hand or with a landing or dip net and may not be harvested for commercial purposes.

According to the FWC, biologists, there has been a recovery of the scallop population along the West Coast of Florida relative to their status in the early 1990’s. FWC will be checking the compliance of daily bag limits. More information on scallops is available online at www.myflorida.com/marine/bayscallops.htm

It has been written;” Venture a small fish to catch a big one.” So whether you charter, ride a head boat, run your own vessel, stay in the river, surf fish, or fish from shore or a bridge- there are fish to be caught. Fishing is not a matter of life or death, it is so much more important than that.

Tight lines.

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