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Venice Inlet and the Gulf of Mexico
Capt. Dave Pinkham
June 2, 2006
Venice - Saltwater Fishing Report
The Month of June Offers Fishers Plenty of Action
The arrival of June promises to usher in some great fishing action. This is the time of year when anything can and will happen while fishing out on the gulf, so expect the unexpected. My point is that just about any species of fish that swims in the gulf can be caught during the month of June. Following is a fishing forecast starting from just off the beach up to 60 miles out on the gulf.
- Spanish mackerel should be plentiful just off the area beaches, and around the passes. Live bait enthusiasts should have no problem catching some of these toothy speedsters using live shiners as bait. Trolling or casting silver spoons through feeding or jumping fish will all but guarantee some quick hook ups.
- King mackerel will also be scattered out over hard bottom in 40’ to 100’ foot of water. Keeping live baits free-lined out on top while anchored down bottom fishing is a great way to liven up the action with a smoker kingfish.
- Tarpon fishing will about as good as it gets over the next few weeks. Sight fishing is one of the predominant methods used for targeting tarpon pods swimming up and down the coastline. Once a pod of tarpon is sighted, casting live baits such as crabs, pinfish, or grunts will often provoke one into hitting.
- Barracuda have once again returned to their summer haunts such as the artificial reefs and local shipwrecks. As the water temperatures continue to rise, these voracious feeders will hit just about anything and can actually become a nuisance for those anglers trying to target snappers or other small reef fish.
- Shark fishing can be additive, and the during the summer months is when it happens. Big hammerheads will be cruising up and down the coastline as they feed on tarpon. Smaller sharks such as blacktips and lemon sharks in the three to five foot range will be found over local reefs from one to forty miles out on the gulf. During the daytime, these sharks feed best on small live fish.
- Permit fishing should peak in June. Once again, the wrecks and reefs are the best places to locate them. Line crabs, and jumbo shrimp both make excellent baits. These beautiful fish release well so handle them carefully after photographing.
- Grouper fishing can really heat up in June and this is the time of year to look for the big red groupers out in the 80 to 140-foot deep range. Keeper gag groupers will be located hanging out near structure such as shipwrecks and rock ledges. Live and dead baits will both produce fish.
- Snapper fishing should payoff with some excellent table fare. There are many different species on the gulf such as mangroves, American reds, lane, yellow tail, mutton, and vermilion snappers. Cut bait and shrimp are hard to beat for fast action.
- Blackfin tuna are apt to make a showing for anglers making longer runs offshore. Keeping live baits free lined out behind the boat while your busy bottom fishing is a good way to hook into a tuna.
- Sailfish, wahoo, and dolphin should also be making a showing as the water continues to warm up. You may need to run for while so keep an eye out for weed lines once you hit the bluewater.
If you're not out fishing you're wishing you were. Get out and go fishin cuz' it's good fer ya!
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