EDGEWATER BACKCOUNTRY FORECAST

Mangrove Snapper have been growing larger all year in our inshore waters, with more of keeper size in the Intracoastal Waterway, Edgewater Backcountry, Mosquito Lagoon and Ponce de Leon Inlet. They are a schooling, structure-oriented fish, hanging around docks, jetties, underwater rocks, and drop offs in the backwaters. Shrimp is always a good bait for river Mangroves, but to target larger fish, go with any type of small live bait fish or cut bait. Minimum size is 10” overall length with a pinched tail and bag limit is 5 per person. In late summer Bull Redfish are preparing for the fall spawn at the Inlet, they can be found in the channels from the inlet, south into the ICW at new Smyrna, the bridges, in Edgewater, and Haulover Canal. You can drift the channels, or anchor to drift and ride the tide. Slow trolling blue crabs also live pinfish, pigfish, croakers, spots, or mullet on an outgoing tide can be best with the natural movement of drift crabs a main draw for the fish to be in any particular location. Best to use heavier tackle outfits to shorten the battle on these big fish which are 20 to 35 plus lbs. In summer with warm water, lower dissolved oxygen levels, and lactic acid buildup can be damaging to the fish during a long fight. Also never hold a big fish destined for release vertically by the jaw with a gripper tool for photos, always hold it horizontal for its best chance of healthy survival and make baby Redfish for our future fishery. Lagoon and backcountry fishing is best with live pigfish, croakers, and shrimp which continues to be good in August. Free line near any drop offs, docks, oyster bars, points, flats edges, and island shorelines where you will catch Seatrout, Redfish, Snook, Snapper, and Jack Crevalle. Twitch your rod often, keeping the pig active and off the bottom can be the best technique. On open water with rolling Tarpon try live baitfish on the surface or with a small weight down deeper. Shallow water Redfish are a yearround target in the backcountry and lagoon. In summer starting your hunt with top water lures both walk the dog types and soft plastics in early morning. After the sun is up an hour or so go subsurface with weedless soft plastics, spoons, or bait such as tail hooked shrimp, live finger mullet, mud minnows, or cut bait. near skinny water mullet schools, look for waking or tailing Reds or Trout. You may see them in small schools or single fish. night time dock and bridge light fishing continues to be a good choice for late summer. Docks and bridges all along the ICW from Ponce Inlet to Ormond Beach on the Halifax River and on the Indian River from new Smyrna to Oak Hill to Bethune Beach have lights on at night which attract schools of baitfish, shrimp, Trout, Snook, and more. Late in the evening through early morning hours can be best with less boat traffic and human activity. Best bait for the most bites is a free lined live shrimp, no weight or swivels, just a floro leader tied to your line and a hook. I would also recommend to try small size lures. The lights are also great for fly fishing. By the end of the month the early signs of the mullet run will arrive with the very first schools of “scout” migrating mullet coming in from the north, starting the baitfish and inshore game fish migration. First sign of these mullet is around Ponce Inlet as they travel the surf line with some entering inside the inlet area.

capt. MichaEl SaVEdow

Captain Jamie Thrappas grew up on the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. His father, brother, cousins, and a lot of other extended family were all commercial crabber men, duck hunting guides, and charter fishermen. Moving to Florida when he turned 18 to attend college his passion for fishing grew with all the new species to target.

After nearly a decade in corporate sales and charter fishing part time, Captain Jamie started Yellow Dawg Fishing Charters 10 years ago and hasn’t looked back!

The business rightfully named after his beloved yellow lab “Bay”.

Captain Jamie and his wife Deidra also recently opened a Tackle Shop, Yellow Dawg Bait & Tackle in Ormond Beach at High Bridge Park right on the intercoastal waterway at the boat ramp.

Yellow Dawg Fishing charters offers a variety of charters that are for families, novice fishermen, and even avid anglers. With a fleet of center console fishing vessels ranging from 17ft, 23ft, & 30 ft they offer backcountry flats trips, inshore trips, nearshore trips, and offshore/deep sea trips. With inshore the target species range from redfish, snook, tarpon , flounder, and sea trout year round. With the offshore trips they target mahi, wahoo, tuna, sailfish, grouper, snapper, trigger fish, amber jack, and many other species depending on the season.

Call today to set up your trip with the family or your best fishing buddies! Most of their boats are at Boondocks restaurant and marina in Wilbur by the sea and we love their “Hook & Cook “ option to have your catch cooked at the restaurant after your trip!

August is a hot month for sure! That means getting out early! The flounder and mangrove bite will be good inshore and nearshore and that’s what I’ll focus on for my customers looking to eat lunch. These fish will be around structures both in the intercoastal, the inlet, and on the close public reefs. Mud minnows are the ticket for flounder and I even catch a lot of stud mangroves on them. Live shrimp will also do the trick. If you are going to focus on docks, I like the shorter docks which means the water is deeper around them. Put some time in and find where they are hanging and you will have a heck of a nice dinner. I also like to run the beach this time of year and catch a wide variety of species like king fish, big jacks, Bonita, and tarpon! When customers say they want to catch something big, I will almost certainly look for the shrimp boats. This type of fishing is super fun. While a lot of the time it’s hard to keep away from the sharks out there, there is certainly a good chance of hooking into a 40 lb jack or a 100 + tarpon. I like to use bycatch from the shrimp boats, they will throw over croakers, spot, ribbon fish etc that they accidently catch when emptying out the shrimp nets, scoop some of this up and free line it while drifting back in the prop wash. Hold on tight you never know what’s going to eat it! Lastly during first light at the inlet I will always stop and try to hook up with a nice red or snook. Croakers seem to work best in summer but I also get them on pig fish, large shrimp, and pinfish. Remember snook season is closed and most of the reds we get are upper or over slot this time of the year. We almost exclusively have gone to catch and release only on redfish however you are allowed to keep slot fish at the inlet. Please refer to FWC’s fishing regulations so you know the rules! Have fun out there, wear sunblock, and drink lots of water. As always if you see us on the water say hello!

NSB Outfitters specializes in offshore bait and tackle, as well as inshore, flats, and fly fishing gear, with extensive options in apparel and accessories. New Smyrna Outfitters has the knowledge and experience to guide through whatever type of fishing you’re looking to do.