Fishing Report with Comments
August 16 Report
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Over the past week or so, fishing has been much slower than previously. The dog days of the summer are definitely here, however this does not mean there are no fish being caught. The flounder bite has been very good recently. This includes the inshore as well as the nearshore fishery. For both, it has seemed that the larger fish are coming from the southern areas, while fish in numbers can be caught to the north. Scented soft plastics on 1/8 oz. jigheads are the best bet inshore, while in the ocean 1/2 oz. jigheads and bucktails tipped with small jerkbaits do the most damage. When they won’t bite the artificials, live mullet on Carolina rigs are the best bet. Be sure to use a beefy hook when targeting the flatties in the ocean, because you never know when you will be greeted with a smaller gag grouper or oversized red drum. Referring to drum, they are still being caught quite well on the flats and bays inshore. Early and late account for the majority of the action, however tide-based bites are still existent throughout the day. Topwater walking baits and swimbaits are the best way to not only catch the drum, but eliminate a lot of water when attempting to locate them. The spanish mackerel bite is great one day and slower the next, however more and more fish are being found off the beach a ways. Many of the bites are coming on top and Blue Water Candy spanish daisys have been outfishing clarkspoons 10:1…..
The larger spanish are best targeted with live bait, such as smaller menhaden and mullet on light wire and treble hooks. If you’re just looking for a good time playing tug-o-war, the shark fsihing has been good with fish up to five feet in length. Most of the sharks are smaller sharpnoses and hammerheads, however the larger lemons, blacktips and spinners can be found in the vicinity of the inlets and shrimp boats. Live and dead baits fished in chum slicks provide the most action. We have seen many tarpon in the past few weeks, however getting them to bite has been like pulling teeth. The best bet is to fish large, live mullet and menhaden around the pods of bait… and pray. A few sailfish are still being seen and hooked in the 15-30 mile range, and are mixed in with scattered mahi. The king mackerel bite is almost non-existent at the moment. The gag grouper have been biting well in 70-90 feet of water, however many anglers have been struggling to find a good class of keeper fish. Live baits are the best to rile up these ledge brutes. Light tackle jigging these fish is not only fun, but they can be released without harm in the shallow waters. In the vicinity of Frying Pan Tower, the mixed bag live bait fishing has been the best bet for offshore action.
Anglers drifting live baits around the ledges near the tower are greeted with jumbo false albacore, amberjacks, barracudas, and african pompano anywhere from 20-35 lbs. Star Stellar Jigging rods and braided line make this style of fishing not only fun, but easy on the angler. On the very calm days, it is essential to be stealthy, downsizing your rigs. For those who have been to the gulf stream, the wahoo and gaffer mahi bite has been very good considering the time of year. Boats are reporting anywhere from 3-8 wahoo a trip in the 25-50 lb. class.
Capt. Arlen
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