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Late Summer Action Heating Up

Capt. Dave Pinkham
August 30, 2009
Venice - Saltwater Fishing Report

This time of the year there are plenty of options such as bottom fishing for grouper or fishing live baits at the surface for mahi, sails, or amberjack. Following is a list of some of the species that can be targeted this month.

Spanish mackerel and little tunny are plentiful right now offshore. Both of these species have been actively feeding on schools of tiny baits pushed up to the surface. Small silver jigs cast toward feeding fish are the quickest way to get hooked up.

Mahi usually migrate closer to our coast this time of year. Best bet will be to start looking for them at least 20 miles offshore. Mahi will often will hang around bunches of sargassum grass so look for this type of floatsum as the fish will be drawn to hang under it. One way to catch them is to pull up along side the grass and sight cast to fish as they swim just below the surface.

Blackfin tuna, wahoo, and sailfish should all be making some sort of showing inside the 50-mile line. For anglers that consistently use good trolling techniques luck should be in their favor as this is a great time of the year to catch these blue-water species. Obvious areas to troll will be alongside floating weed lines and in areas where bait schools are showing at the surface of the water.

Snapper fishing is a great way to put dinner on the table and this is the time to do it. Some of the best fishing holes will be hard bottom, ledges, springs, and wrecks. Snappers such as mangroves and yellow tail can be somewhat finicky at times so use as light as gear as possible. For leader materials consider using fluorocarbon as it is less visible to the fish. When conditions are right, night fishing over wrecks in the periods around the full moon can be very productive. Natural baits such as crabs, shrimp, shiners, and squid are hard to beat.

Red Grouper fishing usually peaks around mid to late summer. Drift fishing over hard bottom is a great way to locate these bruisers. Once located you can re-drift the same area or anchor down. Red grouper are known to eat just about any kind of natural bait. A good fishing method I've found to use when drift fishing is to tip a weighted jig with squid or a strip of little tunny.

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Having worked as a fishing guide on Florida's west coast for 30 years, Capt. Dave can show you how to rig your boat and fish from Sarasota to Boca Grande

Contact Info:

Capt. Dave Pinkham' Fishing Service
Phone: 941-223-9352
Email the Captain
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