Beating the Heat This Summer!

June 8, 2014 - Posted by Steve Dall Florida summers equals mid 90 degree air temps, humidity and an afternoon downpour as predictable as they come. Not exactly Chamber of Commerce weather and probably why our tourist population retreats to the north every year when summer is upon us. It is a shame that folks leave, because the fishing can be downright stellar in the summer months if you fish the right way. Every June through September, as the water temps hit that low to mid 80 degree range, I am doing several different things. At the top of that list is Tarpon fishing. Droves of migratory schools of silver kings migrate up from the Florida Keys each May and June and are often caught within a few miles of the beach. If the tarpon just aren't cooperative, the plethora of sharks can keep you busy. We are getting Blacktips, Hammerheads, Bulls and Atlantic Sharpnose sharks pretty much every trip that we target them and 7-10 sharks a trip are the norm. Mix in some big spanish mackeral busting the bait pods and some nice grouper on the near shore wrecks, there is plenty to keep you busy on the calm summer days. The other targeted species this time of the year is the snook. We will target them in two different ways. First being on the beaches in the early morning. The snook will make their way out of the backcountry each spring and set up on the beaches in preparation for the spawn. The other is targeting them on the dock lights after sunset and whether you opt for the beach in the morning or the docks after sunset, you will love honing your sight casting skills for these linesiders. Just because the summer heat is upon us, certainly does not mean the fish simply start biting. Do a few different things this summer to beat the heat and put more fish in the boat!