The summer rains are leaving behind more than just a steamy mugginess. Heavy summer rainfalls pour billions of gallons of fresh water into the Everglades. This all runs downhill to our very own backyard, flushing tons of bait along with it. That means now is the time to grab your rain slicker and your rod and head out to the backcountry.
The skinny waters are hosting an inordinately large feeding frenzy at the moment. Snook, redfish, tarpon, snapper, barracuda, sea trout, jacks, lady fish and all manner of shark are stuffing their faces on the steady flow of goodies swished out of the park. Load up on shrimp, pinfish, pilchard, mullet, whatever live bait you can get your hand on. If I had to choose an all-around bait for backcountry angling, I would have to say shrimp would be my first choice. However, a close second would be the pinfish.
Shrimp are easy to find, just about every local gas station, grocery store and pharmacy keeps a few bags of frozen shrimp on hand. I highly recommend that you ignore the temptation to buy your bait where you can buy a toothbrush, Viagra or a Big Gulp. Take your hard-earned money and head to your local mom-and-pop bait shop. Not only will the bait be fresher, but you will have the opportunity to buy new tackle while you support the local fishing economy.
Pinfish can also be bought at local bait shops, but they are easy to catch by yourself. Head out to a nearby flat and toss out a block of chum. Hook up your rod with a no. 10-12 gold hook and a small piece of bait and you’re in session. It shouldn’t take more than a half-hour or so to load your bait well or bait bucket up with these little buggers. Once you get to your fishing ground, hook them through the lips and get drifting.
While you have your bait well and your cooler stocked get your boat ready. Try and plan your trip for a rising or high tide.
First of all you don’t want to head into the skinny bay waters on a low tide. The manufacturers of propellers and lower units get two happy hours every day for when the tides are low in local flats.
The second, and more important, reason you want to find yourself in high waters is that is the time when the predator fish swim up onto the flats to feed on the little guys. The larger the tidal swing the greater is the chances of a hot bite. These happen twice a month (new moon and full moon) and really spice things up. So mark your calendar and get ready for some time on the water that doesn’t involve sandbars and poker runs.
So rejoice in summer showers. It’s keeping our plants verdant and our fishing fun. Just remember to check out the weather report and the local radar before you head out. Florida is the lightning capital of the world, and we don’t need any local anglers posing as inadvertent ground rods.