The FishermanTraveling

by Capt. Bouncer Smith

Wow!I nally had some great shing here in north Georgia and even a pleasing catch in western North Carolina. I shed with Doug Youngblood on Lake Lanier in early May. We had great action on a half-day trip, catching at least 3 dozen spotted bass from 2 to 5 pounds and an estimated 7-pound striped bass. ese sh were chowing down on blueback herring, and we could have doubled our catch if I hadn’t been obsessed with catching some sh on lures. I had no bites on the lures.

Conversely the next morning we were fooling around for half an hour in Bryson City North Carolina and I caught a brown trout on y and my friend Gary Hall caught 3 rainbow trout on spinner baits.

So, let’s look at June. is is the last month of dependable big black n tuna and sail sh in the late a ernoons. Plenty of live or cut chum and live baits shed in 90 to 200 feet of water will produce both species. Kite baits, atlines and mid baits will all draw strikes. If you position near good bottom structure identi ed on your CMOR chart, you may be able to put a few mutton snappers to your cooler. Use plenty of lead (usually 16-24 ounces), a long, 30-50 foot uorocarbon leader and a live or very fresh bait to tempt those mutton snappers or maybe even a grouper.

Just a er dark till about 10pm you should anchor on another ledge and chum with ground chum. Float baits, like strips of ballyhoo or king sh belly cut at 1/4 inch by an inch and a quarter long, out with the current for yellowtail snappers. Just behind the chum bag hang Sabiki rigs to catch fresh baits to use later for mangrove snappers or on the bottom all evening for mutton snappers.

If you can sh till midnight, you should be able to add some of my favorite snapper to your catch. at would be the gray, AKA mangrove snapper. ey like to bite late in the evening. Anchor near some good structure and instead of ground chum, try chunking with small pieces of pilchards, herring or sardines. row chunks out every few minutes. Use the smallest sinker possible that will eventually reach the bottom. Ignore the little pecks. When the sh takes o , put the brakes on and get him up ahead of the sharks.

For many years, June was considered one of the best months for mahi. Will they return this June? Load the boat for a day o shore by packing gear for both mahi and swords. One of my biggest sword sh was caught late on a June a ernoon. You might as well bring some deep drop bottom rigs for tile sh or roses when you head o shore.

Maybe you will catch a few mahi dinners. Or drop down between 600 and 1000 feet of water and see what comes up from the bottom to ll your dinner plate.

Let’s not miss anything. Snook season is now closed. Tarpon will be searching for crabs or ies’ day and night. It’s a great time for vertical jigs from 200 to 700 feet for tuna, tiles and who knows what. It’s time to take stock of your HOT weather supplies. Sunscreen, drinking water, big hat and ice. Have fun!

Capt Bouncer Smith 305-439-2475