Season Open
Capt. Joel Gant
June 9, 2016
Hernando Beach - Saltwater Fishing Report
Seasons Open
Now that the Tropical Storm and the "gumbo in offshore waters" from June are gone, we can finally get into our summer patterns. Try to think of this when fishing. Fish get into their summer patterns as well. Whether they're offshore or inshore.
Gag grouper season opened June 1 to Dec 31 in state and federal waters. Bag limit is two per person and size is now 24 inches. Gags can be caught in our waters as shallow as 10 feet to 100 feet of water. A couple of techniques I use are trolling plugs or bottom dropping, live pinfish or dead bait like threadfins, Spanish sardines, or cut bait. Make sure you have stout equipment with at least 60 lb line, a 7/0 hook and enough weight to keep your bait on the bottom with the current. Gags fight hard and will try to run for structure. You will need this heavy setup to keep them from rocking you up.
Other species we are catching; big sharks, the tarpon have arrived, kingfish still around, and a lot of the brown bombers "cobia" are being caught. When either bottom dropping or drifting, put out a chum bag and I always keep a pitch bait ready to throw. Cobia will often just show up or swim by and are not too picky what they eat. When a customer says "look a shark", I'm getting my pitch bait ready.
Scallop season opens June 25th to September 25th. Regulations are: 2 gallons whole bay scallops in shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person. Maximum of 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in shell, or 1/2 gallon bay scallop meat per vessel. A saltwater license is required (unless on a chartered boat) and always have a divers down flag up only when swimmers are in the water.
Scalloping is fun for the whole family. It's like an Easter egg hunt in the water. If you want more information on scalloping, please give me a call and I can give you more information on them or take you out for a great day you won't forget.
Get out there on the water and make some memories with friends and family!
Capt. Joel Gant operates Fishdaddy Charters out of Hernando Beach, he knows the local waters like the back of his hand, and works both inshore and offshore trips. Check him out on face book or you can reach him at (352) 279-1615 visit his website, www.fishdaddycharter.com
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