Hot summer fishing report.

    Well, it has been a very busy summer.  Fishing has been great.  This summer has been full of bad weather and lots of rain.  Many days on the water were spent dodging storms and watching the skies.  Fortunately, the fish really don't care what the weather is doing.  The Red Grouper bite has been very good this summer. Here are just a few of them.

These nice size grouper have been averaging around 23 inches.  With Gag Grouper now open, they have been doing their part in filling the fish box.

     If that wasn't good enough, there has been an unusual number of Yellowtail Snapper in the same area as the grouper.  Most of them are undersized but I've been able to get many keepers.  Most of the ledges I've been fishing have been holding Mangrove Snappers too.  

     With all the rain we have been having this year the inshore bite has been slow.  The bait fish showed up late and are just now starting to flood the grass flats.  This should really help bring the trout, redfish and snook out of their hiding spots and improve the fishing.  The Snook bite has been very good at night.  With all the bait around, the dock lights are holding lots of fish.  

   I'm really looking forward to the upcoming month.  August is a great time to be out in the Gulf.  The grouper bite will strong.  The swallow water (20 ft.) Gag grouper bite should be picking up.  Barracudas love the hot days of summer.  They can be found just laying under the boat enjoying the shade and happy to eat any fish too slow to make back to the bottom.  The inshore water should be warming up.  This pushes the fish under the docks and mangroves for shade.  Hunting the docks on a hot afternoon can be very productive.  Just make sure your drags are tight, big Snook and Redfish can wrap you around a piling in a flash.  

    Hope everyone has had a great summer so far.  If not, then it's time to Play Hookey and catch some fish.

    Thanks, Captain Pete