Southwest Florida Inshore Fishing Forecast for July 2003

Tarpon will still be in the spotlight during July, although techniques and areas for fishing them will change as we get later in the month. Flats action should be strong, particularly early in the day. Snook will prowl the beaches and feed around docks and bridges at night. Pompano may also be an option along the beaches, in the passes or on deep grass flats close to passes.
Tarpon schools will begin to break up following the full moon in July. As we get toward the end of the month, drifting a spread of live baits along the beaches can be very productive. The south Siesta Key/north Casey Key area can be very good for late season tarpon using this technique. Singles will bite too, but you have to be ready to make a quick cast with a lure or live bait. You can also fish singles and loosely schooled tarpon around the sandbars at most passes up and down the coast with flies, lures or live baits. Another late season option is in upper Charlotte Harbor, where tarpon will move to feed following spawning. They are usually loosely schooled over a large area, so drifting live baits is the most productive techniques. Look for birds diving on bait or breaking ladyfish to indicate their presence.
Fishing juvenile tarpon, which range from 15 to 40-pounds, in residential canals of Charlotte Harbor is one of my favorite summertime fishing options. These mini silver kings have everything that their larger counterparts have to offer and more. They are more energetic and usually jump more often and higher! I scale my tackle back to a 9-weight fly rod or medium spinning tackle and they are a handful! I do best with jigs or soft plastic baits fished slowly along the bottom on spinning tackle or a small bunny fly, fished on a fast sinking fly line. Although it is all sight-casting to fish rolling on the surface, I've found that they mostly feed near the bottom.
Catch and release snook action will be strong during July. Remember to handle them gently and use heavy enough line, so that you can land them quickly. They will still be spawning around the new and full moons, so I wouldn't recommend targeting them at all during that time frame. Beach snook fishing is another good option. They will cruise the trough along the beach from where the water touches the sand to 10 or 15 feet out. Polarized sunglasses are a must to be able to spot them. Once you've spotted one, cast a fly or lure so that it quarters away from them or crosses their nose perpendicular 3 or 4 feet ahead of them. Jigs, soft plastic baits and baitfish fly patterns should all work well. This sight fishing at it's finest! It is much like walking a crystal clear Caribbean flat searching for bonefish only your target is snook. Also, keep your eyes open for pompano, jack crevalle, ladyfish or cobia, which may be caught in the same zone.
Since heat is a factor when fishing in Florida during the summer. I prefer to start and end my days early. I frequently start before daylight in the morning fishing lighted docks and bridge fenders for snook. I jump over to the flats at first light to target reds and trout and finish my day before heat becomes a factor. Tides are usually incoming in the morning during July, which is an excellent time to target reds on the flats. You may also find "gator" trout in shallow water at first light in the morning. Top water plugs and fly poppers are good choices for targeting big trout and reds on the flats early in the day. Some of my favorite flats are in north Sarasota Bay, which is in close proximity to good pre dawn snook fishing near Sarasota's New Pass and Big Pass.
Pompano may also be found in these passes, in addition to the surf. I prefer to target them when the tide is moving strong. A 3/8 oz. pompano jig tipped with a small piece of fresh shrimp should be just the ticket for pompano in the passes. You might catch them on lighter jigs or Clouser flies fished on an intermediate fly line on deep grass flats close to the passes. Sarasota Bay's Middleground flat near New Pass and the Marina Jack flat just inside Big Pass are great flats to fish for pompano. You may also catch trout, ladyfish or jack crevalle while fishing these deep grass flats, so there should be plenty of action. Keep your tackle light for the most fun. A 6-weight fly rod or a light spinning rod will be very sporting with a 2-pound pompano or a big ladyfish! Fishing the passes and deep grass flats is a good way to finish your day and maybe take a fish home for the table.
Like many other months, there are lots of options during July. I try to hang with tarpon as long as I can, since they're one of my favorites. One of the keys to success when fishing in July is to avoid the heat by fishing early in the day. Whatever you choose to do, remember to always limit your kill; don't kill your limit!
Tight Lines,
Capt. Rick Grassett
Snook Fin-Addict Guide service, Inc.
(941) 923-7799
E-mail snookfin@aol.com
www.snookfin-addict.com or www.flyfishingflorida.net