The Go-To Bait for Summer

BAFFIN BAY

Reported by CAPT. GERAD MERRITT

Capt. Gerrad Merritt

Email Gerad Merritt at GeradMerritt@gmail.com

Visit Online: ParadiseGuideServices.com

LISTEN TO THE ARTICLE: (2 Min, 07 Sec)

IT’S THE BEGINNING of summer and our fishing season is in full swing as we begin to see croaker arrive. This is our go to bait on guided trips and the trout and redfish love them.

When I am fishing with croaker, I free line them with a #7 hook assuming the bait is large enough, but every now and then I have to move to a #6. When the bait is weak or beat up, I will use a split shot weight or a rattle/shaker weight to help it sink and keep the croaker off the top of the water. In the off chance we cannot find croaker, we use live shrimp under a popping cork.

When we are fishing live bait this time of year, I am looking for structure grass lines and drop offs. The fish tend to try and ambush their food and structures almost always hold bait fish that are trying to hide. Although not every day is the same, there are definitely different techniques that need to be used with croaker fishing. Unfortunately, it’s not as easy as throwing it out and waiting for a bite.

When fishing around our unique rock systems, I am using thirty pound braided line. You can feel when a fish or your bait is attempting to hide in the rocks and you have to keep your bait over the top or off the edge, as to not get caught on the rocks. Inevitably you will get hung up on a rock a time or two. When this happens, I always allow at least two or three minutes to pass with a lot slack in the line. More times than not, the fish will swim off and you will be free.

On grass lines, I try and fish right on the edge or find a big enough pot hole that can be fished without getting caught up in the grass. The bait will do the same thing as on the rocks and try to burry itself in the grass to hide.

On our drop offs, I tend to fish the deep side and drag back towards the shallow side, assuming the wind will allow this. I’ve found over time that this isn’t always an option and you just have to work with what Mother Nature is giving you.

Baffin Bay is a rather large bay system, composed of several fingers that will almost always allow you to fish out of the big winds. The downside to the bay system is that getting to these places can be a little sporty, so you have to use your common sense and take your time in this bay when the winds are up. All in all, this time of year is one of the most enjoyable fishing seasons. Get out, enjoy the sunshine and catch some fish!

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LOWER LAGUNA MADRE

Reported by CAPT. BRIAN BARRERA

Email Brian Barrera at CaptBrianBFishing@gmail.com

Visit Online: InshoreFishingSouthPadre.com

Monster Snook, Mini Tarpon

LISTEN TO THE ARTICLE: (2 Min, 21 Sec)

MAY AND JUNE are good, really good, for more than one reason. First off, we’re finally getting into some consistent weather, warm weather. With this change and higher water temperatures we can count on the fish showing up to their local summer hunting grounds looking to eat, especially in low light conditions such as early morning and late evenings.

I make the transition myself, and rather than fishing the warmest part of the day, as I do during the winter months, I start to fish the coolest parts of the day.

Whether it be the break of dawn or the golden hours of the evening sunsets, it seems that the big fish tend to be fooled most around those hours.

What am I fishing for? I’m glad you asked. I’m always chasing redfish and speckled trout, that’s a year round thing. But I get excited about May because the smaller tarpon start to roll in, or the ones that are already here get a lot more active and start showing (rolling) more often and consistently.

These fish are usually in the 10-30 pound range and can be fooled with a DOA TerrorEyz in the rootbeer color, a soft plastic or live shrimp, or a fresh live finger mullet. They’re not too big, like the ones we get mid-summer and fall, but fighting them on your average trout tackle can be an absolute blast!

Mid May through June I do a lot of snook fishing, early in the mornings, targeting dock pilings and shallow submerged structure with top waters and light jigs hoping to entice a big one to eat. Once the weather gets hot and sweaty out and I feel the fish are starting to go deep for the day, I enjoy spreading the cast net and letting a few live baits fly, the right live bait, in the right spot, can save the day really quick.

Early to late June you can always count on finding some solid bull reds at the inlet along with some juvenile tarpon on some mornings. These tarpon tend to be slightly bigger (50-80 pounds) as they are “migratory fish” rather than the local juveniles that stay year round.

The best way to target these redfish and tarpon are with a DOA Bait Buster, in a glow or rootbeer color, or a skyline jig weighted circle hook with a live finger mullet.