Summertime fishing offers bounty and beauty

On Memorial Day, we remember our veterans and kick off the summer season. Every time I go fishing, I say a little prayer of thanks. To God, for the beauty and bounty of the earth. To our veterans, for the freedom to enjoy it. For me, Memorial Day is every day.

Now that summer is officially here, the waters of the Lowcountry are becoming more crowded. To avoid the crowds and beat the summer heat, I am fishing early in the morning and late in the evening. During these periods, boat traffic is minimal, light levels are low and the fish are actively feeding. At dawn and dusk, my favorite way to fish is with top water lures. When the wind is calm, a Zara Spook gets the nod. If there is a bit of a breeze, a Top Pup with a louder rattle and larger profile is preferred. Both lures catch fish using a twitch and pause retrieve. I recommend varying the retrieve cadence until you consistently get strikes. Start fast and systematically slow down. The fish will tell you when you have the retrieve cadence right. Top water strikes can be heart stopping. They are certainly addictive.

Typically, I cast top water lures in areas that are one to four feet deep. Submerged oyster bars and shoreline irregularities are predator feeding stations. Locations with these characteristics are where I tend to fish. Top water fishing is not a big numbers game. You catch fewer fish. However, the fish you catch are much more memorable.

At dawn and dusk, the beauty and bounty of earth are most evident. After witnessing a crushing top water strike and releasing a quality fish, savor the moment. Look around. Take a deep breath of salty air. Listen for a menhaden flip or a bird calling off in the distance. For me, this is summer.

Contact Captain Greg Peralta at captgregp@gmail.com or call (843) 224-0099.