The Nature Coast of Florida - West Coast Fishing Report

[Captain Frank Bourgeois]

Capt. Frank Bourgeois / Always Fishing Guide Service By Capt. Frank Bourgeois

The Nature Coast of Florida, Inshore-to twelve miles out and offshore fishing

The heat is turning on and it does affect the fishing. On the inshore reefs the July heat turns into August heat and water temperatures are topping the 90’s. You have to wonder where all the fish have gone. The answer is no where. It is a fact that the fish do not have air condition, so they look for cooler waters and generally that is near springs or deeper water close to where they live all year long. Many fish will not move from an area their whole lives, we call them resident fish. They eat less as they do not need to expel as much energy to hang about so catching them will be a challenge. Most of the larger rock piles only support one or two nice fish so when you catch a good fish on a certain fishing location, you need not waste your time returning to that spot till the water temperature changes. In most cases your spot will again produce fish after being left alone for a month or two. After the warm summer turns to cooler fall temperatures most every place that held a big fish and caught will be replaced by another. Fishing for warm water fish, I have found live lively baits work, if they are fished with long light leaders. This is a problem on most reefs here, as the long leaders and lively fish will get tangled about the coral, rocks and other structures that you are fishing. So here is a trick I play where the reefs are very unforgiving. I take the sinker and slide it to the hook. In the warm summer months I use a threadfin hooked in the head, to mimic a jig and allowing the bait not to move rapidly. This method allows us not to spook the fish as much. When you raise your rod to check your line move it slowly and if you feel any pressure on it set the hook. On the inshore waters we have been catching large Trout in places the Grouper are caught in the cooler months. Again we have also caught some keeper Grouper on rock piles in 12 foot of water, but not as often as we do in the fall and in the spring. I have found on the flats we lighten our lines and use the smallest weight that will get your baits to the bottom. If you are using the new braided lines use long mono or flora carbon leaders. I have switched from one quarter ounce jig heads to one eight ounce jig heads, and from 8 inch baits to five inch plastic baits. If I am shark fishing I switch from one ounce eggs sinkers to small split shots during slack tides and this usually produce more fish. One of the baits I try to get for summer fishing is white bait. White bait is only caught not bought at the bait shops as they will die easily if you do not have a water transfer live well. The most effective way to catch white bait is by using a cast net. This bait I refer to is a fish candy, because just about all fish that eat fish for food will eat white bait. The summer months are just about the only time we get this bait this far up north on the coast. If you’re looking to catch some shallow water grouper this will be the best bet. Spray the white baits for chum ( throwing about five or six out toward the structure) then hook up a white bait in the nose on a free line then watch out, usually if there are any large fish on the structure this method will get the fish to come out and eat. July and August are my slowest charter months but the trips I have had I worked extra hard and produced some nice catches. The key word is work unlike the spring and fall the fish are harder to catch but with perseverance you will do well.

Captain Frank Bourgeois Always Fishing Guide Service Office: 352-666-6234