Try these tips for catching fish in hot water
Due to record setting June and July temperatures, the water is very hot. This week, it was consistently in the 90-degree range. Unfortunately, hot water and good fishing are not synonymous. However, there are a few things anglers can do to tip the scales in their favor.
Fish early in the morning during an incoming tide. This set of conditions provides the coolest water temperature of the day (often triggering predators to eat). You will also avoid the blazing mid-day heat. As a second choice, late evening (the last 2 hours of daylight) is a good time to fish. Cooler temperatures and low light conditions make fishing more productive (and comfortable).
Live shrimp are the great fishing equalizer. Everybody catches fish with shrimp. For the next few months, predators will be gorging themselves on the tasty crustaceans. Redfish, Trout and Flounder (along with Sheepshead, Ladyfish and Black Drum) are taking advantage of the readily available food supply. Steady action is simply a matter of impaling a shrimp on a lead head jig and casting it near an oyster bar. In short order, something will eat it. So you will need lots of shrimp!
On a recent trip with my friend (Charlotte), we launched the boat at 5 in the afternoon. It only took a few minutes (of casting the net) to catch enough shrimp (about 10 dozen) for a few hours of fishing. The tide was scheduled to begin rising at 6 p.m. So we made a long run to a channel that is 15 feet deep with oysters on both sides. Upon our arrival, Charlotte hooked a shrimp on a jig and cast it to the oyster bank. A few seconds later, she was fighting a small Redfish. Charlotte, repeated this exercise about 40 times. Most of the fish were smaller but there were enough big ones mixed in to keep it interesting.
It is hot outside (and in the water). However, if you plan accordingly and use live shrimp for bait, fishing and catching can be synonymous.
Contact Capt. Greg at: captgregp@gmail.com and (843) 224-0099.