TWO-DAY MINI LOBSTER SEASON SET FOR JULY 26-27, 2023

The 2023 spiny lobster season opens with the two-day recreational mini-season on July 26 and 27, followed by the regular commercial and recreational lobster season, which starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31, 2023.

“Spiny lobster season is an exciting time for anglers of all ages to be on the water,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Commissioner Robert Spottswood. “It’s also a great time to practice safe boating and take care around Florida’s coral reefs.”

Learn more about bag limits, size limits, where to harvest and other regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Lobster,” under the “Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish” tab. If you plan to lobster in the Keys, another great resource is the Monroe County Tourist Development Council website KeysLobsterSeason.com.

Don’t forget to get your license and spiny lobster permit at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

Looking to keep up to date on Florida’s saltwater fishing regulations? Find them on the Fish Rules app. Learn more at FishRulesApp.com or follow Fish Rules at Instagram.com/FishRulesApp or Facebook.com/FishRulesApp.

If bully netting this season, please keep lights directed toward the water and avoid shining them at houses or people along the shoreline. Please be a $28 value!) Use discount code: TCT. considerate of others by keeping sound levels low when near shoreline residences.

Don’t forget to use care around corals and other marine life. FWC launched the Florida Coral Crew to engage sportsmen and women in the effort to combat Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Before you go out looking for lobster, you can sign up to join the crew at FLCoralCrew. com.

Be safe when diving for lobster. Wear a life jacket when underway and do not drink and boat. When lobstering in open water, divers should stay within 300 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device and within 100 feet of a properly displayed divers-down flag or device if near an inlet or navigation channel. Boat operators traveling within 300 feet of a diversdown flag or device in open water or within 100 feet of one on an inlet or navigational channel must slow to idle speed.

For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating/Regulations and click on “Divers-down Warning Devices.”

More on how to measure lobsters can be found at: myfwc.com/fishing/ saltwater/recreational/lobster/.

Capt. Scott Fawcett

Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 offthechainfishing.com fishscottyf@bellsouth.net

July’s highlights don’t stop after the Fourth, they’re just getting going. Light winds, calm seas, good bait, and hungry fish keep the excitement going this month. Twenty years ago, these summer months didn’t produce like they have been lately. Doubledigit sailfish days are becoming more and more regular the last few years and there are even a few summertime sail tournaments now to compete in if you desire. These summertime sails are not only big and mean, but they swim in pairs and even gangs, so expect multiples and be ready to pitch to followers when you get your fish close. The standard 50-pound leader and 6/0 and 7/0 hooks work great when paired with 20-pound mainline and a nice 6–7-foot Blackfin Rod.

Dolphin fishing, although it’s been slow the last few years, should continue to provide a few fish here and there and if the sargassum weed doesn’t take over the Atlantic this month it should only help our fishing as it slides up the coast. Thank God it’s not as bad as they were predicting. With the large bait schools in front of the inlet and along the beach, keep an eye out for schools of tarpon, big kings skyrocketing and even sailfish and cobia in shallow and along the beach.

This is the time of year when it really pays to have a good pair of polarized sunglasses. We use Costa Del Mar’s with 580 lens to help us see the fish through the glare the July sun casts on the water. Try the Blackfin Rods Carbon E series spinning rods when casting live bait or artificials to these fish for increased distance, super sensitive feel and great lifting power.

These hot, light wind days in July will have you begging for a little breeze. It doesn’t take much to get a Tigress “light wind” kite in the air so that’s what you’ve been seeing behind our boats. We’ve been using Tigress for a couple years now and on the days when you think there’s not enough wind to get them up, they still fly and we’re still able to steer them well to maximize our coverage and get our baits in the strike zone. On the slicked-out days I recommend taking a little ride. Run and gun looking for sails on top or weed patches for mahi on your way to and from the swordfish or tuna grounds.

This is a great time of year to do those long-range trips or even head to the Bahamas. We really enjoy Blue Marlin Cove in West End; it’s close, clean, friendly, safe and the fishing is super. They can also cook your catch for you and it’s out of this world! Blue Marlin Cove has everything you need so you don’t have to pack a bunch of stuff for a short trip. Pots, pans and silverware in the rooms to dock lines and hoses on the dock. Staying there makes a trip to the Bahamas easier than taking the boat to the sandbar for lunch.

Whatever you decide to do this July, I hope your fishing days are “Off The Chain” and externally memorable. Have a safe, great summer and please call me to book your next adventure.

Chaos Fishing Charters

(772) 341 – 2274 www.chaosfishigcharters.com jon@chaosfishigncharters.com

July is prime time for large snook and tarpon on the Treasure Coast. Early morning fishing will yield the best results with both live bait and/ or artificial. Top water plugs work amazing at first light for snook, tarpon, and jack crevalle. Live bait fishing near inlets and passes will produce great snook and tarpon action. Live whitebaits, mullet, or crabs are all great choices this month

Capt. Rocky Carbia

Safari I Deep Sea Fishing

Pirates Cove Resort and Marina

4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno

Reservations: (772) 334-4411

Safari-1.com

Theanglers of July will wake up early with their game faces on, to take on their scaly opponents upon the summer playing field of the near coastal waters, offshore of Martin County.

The ocean’s all-star roster of fish adversaries will include bottom species like snapper, grouper and amberjack, along with summertime surface pelagics like mahi, king mackerel, and sailfish, just to name a few. Cobia will also be found throughout the water column this month and are likely to be seen swimming along with large sharks, rays and turtles near the surface. Live baits, as well as four-ounce. green/ chartreuse lead head jigs will work best for sight casting to a “trailing” cobia.

Early morning or crack of dawn starts to one’s fishing day will be essential during the hot days of July, as Florida’s rain-soaked tropical season and daytime heating will spawn the potential for dangerous afternoon thunderstorms which frequently pack killer lightning and high velocity down draft winds, that can turn a calm ocean into a frightening maelstrom of large, steep waves in a matter of minutes. Knowing this, fishing crews will keep for snook and tarpon. Inlet fishing with larger baits will produce large snook. Typically, we want to fish these larger baits closer to the bottom for more bites.

Fishing along local beaches is also a great choice for daisy chains of schooling tarpon in July. Proper bait and or lure presentation is key for successful hook ups on these silver giants swimming in large schools along the beach. We can also expect to see jack crevalle schooling along local beaches this month too while running the beach searching for tarpon schools. I suggest a large top water plug for these larger schooling jack crevalle along the beach.

Nearshore fishing, we can expect lots of snapper, kingfish, bonito, sailfish, and even the occasional mahi. Live baits on the surface will produce pelagics. Wire leaders with live sardines will be your best bet for steady kingfish action. Bottom fishing with chicken rigs and cut bait will produce good snapper bites. Expect a stray cobia in the mix, always have a cobia jig tied to a large spinner in the event one swims boat side looking for a quick easy meal. Tight lines! always

For Reservations Call (772) 334-4411

Located at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno/Stuart, FL www.Safari-1.com a wary eye to the sky and monitor available radar loops to best make strategy decisions in relation to approaching summertime storms.

With safe fishing strategies in place, anglers will be able to enjoy the versatile fish games of July and attempt to come out on top of their fish rivals.

TRIP TIMES

Monday-Saturday 8:30AM-1:30PM

Adults $70; Children $60

Sunday 8:30AM-3:00PM

Adults $80; Children $70