Capt. OG'S InSIGht Fishing Forecast

Bout Time Charters • (850)512-3334 www.bouttimecharters.net www.facebook.com/www.bouttimecharters.net

What’s up Panhandle fishing homies?! This is the month all of us have been waiting for! June is here and the summer Red Snapper days have finally been announced! June first opens up Snapper for Federally Permitted charter vessels! On June 16th, Snapper opens for state water guides and recreational anglers! Get your rods ready because its time to load up the freezer! The limit is still 2 per person but its a long season! I can tell you guys this year will be a better year than past year. For whatever reason the Snapper have moved in thick and they are good size ones. Mostly all of the triggerfish holes I have been fishing are holding better numbers of fish and better grades than last year at this time. Lets break down some tactics to get you more Snapper. First, you must choose your fishing spots. All public wrecks and reefs will hold decent fish for the first week of the season until they are picked off. I prefer to use a variety of methods to catch them. On the way out to your spots stop around the pass and nearshore wrecks to sabiki up your baits. If the baitfishing is tough, make sure you pack lots of frozen bait as back up. My typical set up would be a good 6 foot medium heavy rod with a strong reel. I prefer 60-80 pound braid topped off with heavy mono such as 80-100 pound. You can use a carolina rig with anywhere from 1-6 ounce weights depending on current. I like to use 6/0 mustad circle hooks. Early in the season you can use heavy leader and big hooks but as it gets deeper into the season you will need to downsize. Send your baits to the bottom, crank up a couple times and hold on! If they get to be picky I like to use a 1/4-1 ounce jig and drift my baits back with the current, this seems to be a killer on light current days. Also, freelining live baits is a killer for big Snapper. If anyone has any questions or wants tips and tricks I will be glad to help you. One thing I will suggest is that if you are not getting the bites you are looking for within the first 10 or 15 minutes then go ahead and pack up and move on to the next one. Do not waste time sitting there if they are not biting. I hope this helps you guys out! Tight lines and I will see ya out there!

Fishing

Capt. jeremy davidson with

Southern Salinity Guide Service • www.southernsalinity.com

850-323-0687 • Insta: @southernsalinity • FB: @southernsalinity

Fish.. Fish... and more Inshore Fishing this month! June officially marks our Summertime fishing is in full swing on the Forgotten Coast of Florida. Over the past month the spring time fronts have calmed down allowing the bay to clear up with that beautiful Gulf Waters. While we are beginning to see our summer shower pattern, we welcome lighter wind patterns & gin clear water days. Always be aware of weather forecasts in planning your day around tidal patterns & local thunderstorms. We use radar apps & local weather stem stations to everyday to plan our charter fishing patterns. Since summer time showers are typically late morning or early afternoon and very short duration, these innovative tools allow us to move around these localized showers. Please take this with a "Grain Salt", if there's an Advisory issued and/or present lightning within 20-30 miles we head for cover until the showers pass...safety first always...Mother Nature is the ultimate boss!

The Redfish & Trout have moved onto the island flats and into the shallows this month, especially around oyster bars with mixed bottom. The bay is full of bait schools (finger mullet, pogies, white shrimp) for all of you live bait anglers. The morning sunrise hours are typically the best time to use your cast net on these schools of bait. Look for that shimmering top water dancing with movement. My artificial lures of choice in this order of time of day are ....

SunriSe : 4" Topwater SkitterWalk (Bone or Silver Mullet), slow and low walking the dog.

Mid Morning : Spinner Bait (Gold blade, 1/8oz jig head, Gulp Swim bait), speed of return depending of top of grass depth. I like to swim this lure just over the tips of sea grass.

Late Morning earLy afternoon : 2" VuDoo Shrimp & 4Horseman's Cork (Purple or Clear Shrimp), Aggressive popping but slowly retrieve across the top of the flats and edges of sandy holes.

The Tripletail have made their summer time migration from offshore to breed in our local inshore & near shore waters. Tripletail are truly amazing to sight fish with there unique feeding patterns and epic fights from the fly fishermen to live bait anglers. The best way to truly understand & respect this ancient fish is to go with one of our Local Captains that specialize in Tripletail sport fishing. This is where years of tagging research & hours on water comes into play especially with landing a trophy fish on fly or artificial lure. The details of technique and setup definitely plays a huge factor in success as it would with any sport fish. Most importantly the handling & conservation of these amazing fish.

My rig of choice for beginners to seasoned anglers are ....

XL Fresh Shrimp / 4Horseman Popping Cork + 2/0 VMC Circle Hook

I look forward to seeing all of you on the water this month. As always boat & fish respectful of other anglers, maybe even give them a way as you pass each...and most of all be safe.