July 2013 Fishing Report
Capt. Tucker Strickland
With a seemingly endless string of
cumulonimbus clouds dominating the panhandle this month, weeks of rain showers
have been a ceaseless certainty.
Despite our soggy dispositions, the tarpon migration has been remarkable. Thousands of tarpon have been streaming
through, within a fly line’s cast of the boat; many taunt us, swimming just
under the anchor rope. Nail
knots ripped through the guides, as 100lb+ tarpon ignited on small tufts of
feather and fluff. Eighty percent of
these eruptions happen less than 20 feet from the boat.
As an angler, it is a unique and personal experience to visually judge a fish’s attitude as it approaches your fly. After many frustrating refusals, the moment a fish tunes into your cast with hunger in his eyes can be exhilarating. It is that moment, before the tarpon eats but is engaged in the fly, that is the most thrilling and adrenalin-producing aspect of fly-fishing for these beasts.
With all the rain we have endured
this summer, nutrients leeching into surrounding rivers have filled the bays
with algae and tannic acid, turning the water dark and making visibility tough
for the late tarpon season.
While tarpon may be enjoying a game
of hide and seek, king mackerel and bonito have been thick offshore. To successfully target these species: head
out with a live-well full of pilchards as chum, and anchor up in around 40 feet
of water over some good structure. I put out a couple of Penn Battle spinning rods rigged
with a short piece of wire, a 7/o circle hook, and a small treble as a
stinger. Pair this with a chum bag
filled with ground menhaden and you’ll draw fish in from afar. Once you get the fish behind the boat, a
small clouser minnow is irresistible to most fish engaged in the frenzy. When a smoker King hits your line, you
know you’re in for a fight; they can peel off drag at an astonishing speed. These high-speed torpedoes make an
outstanding smoked fish dip that’ll make a puppy dog pull a freight train. Cobia hit up the same rigs, and can
really keep you guessing as they stay down deep. Fisheries for grouper and snapper have been extended in
federal waters, so you’ll have an added opportunity to fill your freezer with some
of the Gulf’s finest eatin.’
Reds and trout have been an easy
target this summer. With water
temps rising during these scorching summer days, the fish have been holding a
little deeper. Affix a one oz. lead
about 16 inches from a pilchard on a 5/o circle hook; 40 lb test mono seems to
do the trick while targeting specs and reds. Redfish have a tendency to school up and roam around; anchor up
and fish a spread of live bait on the bottom. Or while poling the shallow flats, hit up the potholes on a
rising tide for some spectacular sight fishing; a small crab or shrimp-pattern
fly with heavy lead eyes can be particularly enticing.
The tarpon migration may be wrapped
up for the year, but there are still plenty of fish to target. Late summer brings the biggest fish,
from gigantic gator trout to King Kong cobia, and everything in between. The
velvet will be rubbing off the antlers soon, so get your fishing in before the
days get short and guns come out.
Tight Lines,
Capt. Tucker Strickland
