Fishing Report & Forecast St. Augustine Offshore

By Capt. Robert Johnson

Thermocline Light Tackle time?

Every year we have a thermocline to some degree. A thermocline is when cold water is pushed from the abysmal plane up over the shelf edge. Reported bottom temperatures get as low as the mid 50s during extreme years. We have had west wind for long stretches of time this summer and that usually means a themocline. At the time of wrtiting this article we have not seen one yet. But rest assured it will come. The result is some tough bottom fishing.

up high in the water the fun begins.

Proper anchoring and chumming are critical if you are to be successful. You want to position your boat up tide of the school of fish. If it’s Amberjack, Cobia and African pompano that you are after jigs are very effective if you don’t have live bait. My favorite color is blue and white and 4 to 8 ounce depending on the tide. Work the jig vertically through the water column and you will be in business.

If your target is Mangrove snapper light line with a fluorocarbon leader is a must. I use 25#. Use just enough weight to make your bait slowly fall towards the bottom. A good chum line will also help get the fishes attention. We usually cut up Spanish sardines but any oily fish will work.

Some years the deeper water escapes the effects of the thermocline so you might move closer to the shelf edge if you’re after Vermillion’s, Triggers and Grouper. Mutton Snapper are more plentiful now. So lighter longer leaders and smaller hooks with cigar minnows or sardines can be deadly for the larger Muttons near the big ledge of 160 and deeper.

The bottom seems to be void of life and in some cases all you mark is the structure. The best plan is to target the species that will get up high in the water column above the cold water. On this list are Amberjack, Cobia, African Pompano and Mangrove snapper. The lack of forage fish results in some great fishing if you can locate the spots where they are holding. Skip the small stuff. Your best bet is large wrecks and ledges in 100 to 140 ft. of water. Once you have found a spot that is holding fish

Kingfish closer in on the near shore reefs have been good. The thermocline does not seem to effect the Kingfish as much as the bottom dwellers. Slow trolling live pogys and dead Ribbonfish if you can find them are the bait of choice. Its been a decent summer for Kingfish here in north fla.

By September the cold water will move out and things will get back to normal.

“Let’s Go Fishing”

Captain Robert Johnson

(904)540-2628

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