Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2024 i Florida Sportsman

Reading through this month’s Tournament Insider (hey, I read the magazine too!), I was surprised to see 25- and 36-pound dolphin win two big Florida Keys tournaments in May. Happy for the anglers, yes, but somehow unsettled by the numbers. One of my first jobs at Florida Sportsman was writing our Tournament Insider column. Back before widespread Internet, mid-late 1990s, each month I’d phone up tournament directors around the state for results. Some sent writeups and photos by mail. I’d sniff around for interesting stories. One thing I recall: Spring tournament-winning dolphin? Big fish. Checking, I flipped through my columns in 1996, 1997, and 1998: Across South Florida, if you didn’t have a 50-pound mahi, or at least high 40s, you weren’t in the top money. Coincidentally, a buddy recently…

For a limited time, use the promo code: FLORIDA30 and get a 30 day free trial of MyOutdoorTV*Offer valid for a limited time. Cannot be combined with other offers. JETTY TACTICS FOR TARPON HOOK THE FUTURE SEASON 21, EPISODE 6 “MAYPORT TARPON” Planning to fish jetties this summer? Tarpon on natural bait? This is a must-watch episode! Host Capt. Don Dingman gives an excellent tutorial on anchoring near and over rocks. He demonstrates how to rig anchors to break free of snags, and how to rig up an anchor ball to release your anchor line while chasing down a big fish. Best of all, he shows the ultimate jetty anchor system. “The idea of this is, it’s gonna get hooked in the rocks. And if you can’t get your anchor back,…

About 20 anglers and homeowners are already anchored at Bayard Point, a conservation area south of Green Cove Springs, when the St. Johns Riverkeeper skiff motors up. It’s April 15, a Monday, but the group has opted to volunteer the afternoon to help the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission jackhammer T-posts into the riverbed and affix 1,400 feet of steel mesh fencing. Their goal? Restore eelgrass to the St. Johns River. Eelgrass underpins the health of the river, securing sediment, taking up nutrient pollutants, and providing vital food and shelter for many species, including young bass, bream, and perch. Putnam County’s reputation as the “Bass Capital of the World” depends on it. But back-to-back Hurricanes Matthew and Irma in 2016 and 2017, respective-ly, razed the river’s grass meadows and…

Several coral restoration organizations around Florida and the Caribbean are growing corals in both in-water and land-based facilities to transplant back onto degraded reefs sites. One organization works primarily with recreational divers to rebuild the reefs of the Florida Keys. Over the past three years, I.CARE has worked with over 3,200 divers to transplant over 15,000 corals to the reef. These corals have thrived with the help of divers performing maintenance to keep them healthy. But threats loom. I.CARE (Islamorada Conservation and Restoration Education) was co-founded in 2021 by Mike Goldberg, owner of Key Dives in Islamorada and Dr. Kylie Smith, a coral reef ecologist. I.CARE began collaboration with Mote Marine Laboratory and a consortium of restoration practitioners, universities, government agencies and local businesses to develop programs to transplant corals.…

July in the 10,000 Islands and Everglades City region is well known for one of the most entertaining Independence Day fireworks displays and of course some of the most exciting fishing options in southwest Florida. This time of year, large schools of what I suspect are pre-spawning redfish gather en masse around the inshore and nearshore islands. When locating schools of reds, I like to identify islands and bars that have hard structure and steady tidal flow. Whether the tide is rising or falling, look for reds congregating on the upcurrent points of the islands and bars, areas where bait will gather. The islands and bars around Alligator Point, Hog Key and Lostmans Key are examples of prime redfish zones, likely due to moving water and a steady supply of…

Big fish will bring the heat to the West Central Region for some star-spangled action on the water. Strong tides on the holiday weekend will push water out of passes and create excellent feeding opportunities for ambush predators. But additional boat traffic tends to put fish on edge and slow the bite. Finding areas less traveled may be the best bet for finding productive fishing areas. Tarpon fishing is hot, both literally and figuratively, with some fantastic action both in the early and late hours of the days surrounding the new moon on the 5th and full moon on the 21st of the month. Strong tides will produce a good crab flush out of the bays on the evenings around these dates, making for an excellent bite around most passes.…

July can be summed up in just one word in Northeast Florida. The word is HOT. It can describe the fishing, but you can count on it describing the weather. The offshore water is hotter than we or the fish like, and sometimes they can be just as lazy as we are. The bluewater boys can tighten those outrigger brackets, because it will probably be fall before they need to get swung out again. Most of our bluewater target species are now passing North Carolina on their way farther north. They have been replaced by lots of barracuda, and a long time between bites. Most of the area charterboats are now waging war on the mangrove snapper which will spawn during the buildup to the July full moon. Come to…

If you’re looking to improve fishing off your home port, there’s no faster way than deploying an artificial reef. However, if you don’t live in Escambia, Bay or Okaloosa counties, where you can deploy your own private artificial reef, you won’t be able to go at it alone. Fortunately for you, if you’re on the coast, your county most likely already has an artificial reef program. But, in reality, you already support the state’s artificial reef program via the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Sport Fish Restoration Program and Florida’s saltwater fishing license revenues and excise taxes on tackle sales. With funds you contribute toward, Florida has approximately $300,000 available each year to spend on approved artificial reef sites. To date, Florida has distributed more than $26 million for artificial…

This abnormal behavior, spinning, has especially impacted the smalltooth sawfish (Pristis pectinata), an endangered species with a long, flat nose and sharp, chainsaw-like teeth. The affected sawfish swim in circles, spinning (or whirling) and thus far at least 40 species other than sawfish have been observed exhibiting the same behavior, primarily on inshore waters of the Lower Florida Keys. A number of the symptomatic fish have died, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). At press time, scientists hadn’t yet fully explained what’s affecting these fish. As of late spring 2024, some 50 dead smalltooth sawfish had been documented, though the toll may be higher, because the bodies of these fish typically sink when they die. A total of 109 smalltooth sawfish have been observed spinning, including the…

East of East Central Florida, a lot of good bottom can be found in 50 to 160 feet of water. Out of Port Canaveral, Chris Benson Reef lies north, 8A east, and Pelican Flats southeast. Out of Sebastian Inlet, the Pines Bottoms as well as South Pelican lies northeast, Thomas Shoals and some 90-foot bottom east, and a wide array of reefs southeast. Sprinkle in an abundance of wrecks and a few artificial reefs, and all the ingredients are present for remarkable fishing. Big ledges can hold big fish but are easily found and, thereby, receive more than their share of angling attention, especially the main 90-foot one that runs north-south for miles. Happily, little offshoots veer away from the primary reef and also independent outcroppings occur sporadically in the…

As the summer temperatures continue to rise, the legendary spring bite has begun to taper down. The large tarpon biomasses that littered the channels throughout the Florida Keys in spring thin out as fast as they appeared. The permit spawn is also over, allowing the permit to go about their normal behavior in the shallows. Muttons snappers have once again spread out, resuming their cautious almost paranoid behavior toward humans. The bite never completely dies in the Florida Keys, it just slows down and makes you work a bit harder, wake up a bit earlier, and stay out a bit later. Offshore, in my opinion the mahi bite actually improves. I believe the reason the bite picks up is that the longliners in the Carolinas meet their commercial quota, allowing…

The summer sailfish bite along the Southeast Region seems to have become one of our most consistent offshore fisheries in recent years. If history repeats itself, July should yield double-digit release numbers caught daily by many crews. Focus on structure from 80 to 150 feet, such as reefs and wrecks. These places hold bait, which in turn keeps sailfish in close proximity. Drift fishing with livebaits has become the staple for targeting sails in the summer. Sardines and goggle-eye are premium sailfish baits, but pilchards and threadfin herring will also do the job and are often consistent at the local bait spots. Let’s not forget these fish are pelagics, so if you come across a good weed-line or rip, it’s worth giving it a shot. Dolphin bycatch is always a…

Longtime scallop fans know the program for July. It’s time to load the family boat with snorkel gear, collection bags and dive ladder. As of this writing the water hasn’t been too clear, with the Suwannee River 20 feet above normal, dumping black water into the Gulf during April-May. Generally speaking, the farther you can launch from there, the better. Scallop zones from Crystal River on south should be fine from Suwannee runoff. Keaton Beach has no major creeks, much less a river and generally offers the clearest water on the coast, often with 30-foot visibility. This area is easily reached by boat from Steinhatchee, the next town to the south that offers two boat ramps, rental boats, marinas, motels and restaurants. The general float plan is to inquire about…

Northwest Florida is divided into three scallop zones that have different season dates. St. Joe Bay is in Gulf County and the season runs from August 16 until September 24. St. Vincent Island to the Fenholloway River is in Franklin County/NW Taylor County Zone which is open July 1 until September 24. These first two zones have a 2 gallon whole scallop bag limit per person. Keaton Beach is in the Fenholloway/Suwannee River Zone open June 15 until September 2024. The limit here is one gallon of whole scallops per person in June, but July 1 it becomes 2 gallons per person. There are vessel limits, too. Read up at www.myfwc.com. This time of the year beach fishing produces a mixed bag that means it’s a great place to catch…

Fly fishers seem confused about the false cast. A false cast is a forward cast on which you follow with a back cast rather than letting the line and fly fall on the water. We should make false casts, but only out of necessity. But some fly fishers make too many, out of habit. There is a time for it, and a time when it is, well, a waste of time. And a waste of precious energy. I’ve seen fly fishers false cast so much that their casting deteriorated as the day wore on. In the trout stream world, the false-cast is a “drying cast.” Two or three strokes shakes water from a dry fly, and it floats again. The old adage goes, a fly in the air can’t catch…

Modern fishing kayaks are almost universally made out of various plastics. Be it inflatable, rotomolded, or thermoformed, they all share one attribute, plastic. Plastic has the characteristics we desire, moldability, repairability and durability. Plastic does, however, have one major enemy, ultraviolet light. UV exposure will actually change the structure of the polymer chains that make plastic flexible. Crosslinked plastic will be brittle and crack under stress. Look for severe sun fading and you will find cross-linked plastic. With proper care though, and a little work, we can overcome this flaw. Inflatable kayaks are made out of PVC. This material when drop stitched can create a very stiff hull which can be lightweight and durable. These kayaks have the advantage of being able to deflate to a smaller size and thus…

July brings sweltering heat to Florida, but amid the scorching temperatures, picture yourself with a freezer brimming with venison harvested from successful hunts of seasons past. Getting tired of the usual steaks and burgers? Consider venison salad. This culinary delight is both refreshing and delicious. Surprisingly simple to prepare, even my husband, who typically shies away from salads, found himself reaching for seconds. This recipe easily serves four as either a delightful starter or a satisfying light meal. FS ► INGREDIENTS 1 lb. venison loin, well-trimmed ½ cup soy sauce (low sodium) 1 tbsp. ground ginger 2 tbsp. olive oil 4 cups English cucumbers, sliced ½ cup red onions, finely chopped 2 ears grilled sweetcorn, kernels removed 1 cup fresh raspberries, halved 1…

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) maintains a list of new structures added to our saltwater fishing grounds by county reef programs each year. Thanks to the FWC reefs team, including Keith Mille and Carolyn Kalinowski, Florida Sportsman gets a file of the new spots and access to photos. Latitude and longitude numbers are listed in degrees, minutes and tenths (XX XX.XXX’). Set your GPS/chartplotter accordingly. Entering these figures into a unit set for degrees, minutes and seconds (XX XX’XXX”) or degrees and decimal degrees (XX.XXXXXX) will put you off the spot. EAST CENTRAL • SOUTHEAST • SOUTH From a Sinking, Nature Gets a Lift ARTIFICIAL REEFS are placed in permitted zones and positioned not to interfere with vessel traffic or impact natural reefs. Clean steel ships (like…

The kids are out of school, seas are calm, and fish and spiny lobsters are waiting to be caught! That’s how it is in South Florida during July. The offshore bite includes kingfish, bonitos, blackfin tuna, wahoo, mahi, snappers and snook. On top of that, the two-day mini spiny lobster season is held late this month. Who doesn’t like a broiled or grilled spiny lobster smothered in butter? The most targeted fish this month is dolphin, also referred to as mahi-mahi. In July, sargassum weedlines typically form farther offshore. The best action usually starts at 600 feet and runs out to 20 miles. Many anglers seeking dolphin start fishing as soon as they see sargassum weed. More times than not, these first weed patches and lines have little life hiding…

As we move into July, our summer pattern for fishing is in full swing. Predictable weather cycles combined with ample bait will be our norm for many months. Planning a trip on the back bays and nearshore waters? Check two things. First, check for good tidal movement during the morning hours. July marks the beginning of our midday oppressive heat, followed up with wicked afternoon thunderstorms. Our low tides are higher in the morning hours during the summer. Picking mornings when water levels are moving either in or out at or above 2 to 3 inches per hour are the best. Typically, we will have 10 to 12 of these scenarios during the month. Four or five will be the perfect situation for fish to be very active. Active fish…

As the excitement of springtime bluewater pelagic fishing ebbs, snapper take priority in the minds of Space Coast locals. Whether fishing in eight feet or eighty feet, there’s a snapper willing to bite during July. Mangrove snapper make a mass offshore exodus from the estuary in winter and start moving back inshore to take advantage of the abundant glass minnow and pilchard schools that filter feed within the lagoon. These are smaller model snapper—but fun on light tackle and great on the table. Massive causeways throughout this region hold snapper all summer. With dozens of concrete piers holding them up, the bridges provide a complex reef-like surface. They also cause bottlenecks in the Indian River Lagoon, squeezing the water through them and creating zones of water flow in an otherwise…

For the inshore bite, plan on getting out on the water before sunup or being out when the sun is going down. Often this time of year, waking up that extra hour or two earlier can be the difference that makes your trip successful. Grass produces oxygen which also cools the water, so finding a deep grassflat can be a great addition to pair with that first sunrise spot you hit in the morning. Deeper water, shaded areas, holes off a flat and deeper docks are great places to find fish this time of year. Another good tip when dock fishing is to get that bait right under the dock in the shaded water. A lot of times redfish will get stacked in that shade to avoid the sunlight and…