August fishing can be far too hot during the day. The best solution is night time fishing or late afternoon trips, just like we did last week.
When the summer sun is peaking, the heat becomes draining. Shifting your schedule allows you to avoid the midday glare and keep the crew comfortable.
Checking the forecast for evening storms is vital since wind flows can get bad. With clear weather, we left at 2pm to hit the Red Snapper spots.
Monitoring the wind is critical for safety. Strong gusts can make the ride rough and affect how the bait settles, so we chose a window of calm seas.
We fished fast and hit our limit of ten 30-plus inch fish. We used bottom rigs, SnappaSlappa jigs, or pink Grouper balls to keep the action moving.
The fish were hitting aggressively throughout the trip. Using a variety of lures helped us stay productive and keep the fish biting consistently.
Bottom rigs are excellent for precision because they keep the bait right where the Snapper prefer to feed, ensuring a much higher strike rate.
We also caught Red grouper after hitting our Mango spot an hour before sunset. We set up a chum slick to draw fish from the surrounding reef.
A good chum slick is essential for success. It creates a strong scent trail that attracts fish from the depths of the nearby reef structures.
We waited for the scent to spread, and once the fish arrived, the action started immediately. We used 1/2oz and 3/8oz jigs with dead sardines.
Live bait attracted jacks, while smaller jig weights provided a natural fall. This encouraged the Mangos to strike more frequently during the trip.
Dead sardines are a reliable choice in the fading light. They offer a strong scent that works well to lure in fish as the sun begins to set.
We caught a Hogfish on a Bofa Deez Hogfish Ball. Since Hogfish are elusive, using specialized gear made the difference in our overall success.
After sunset, the bite slowed, so we moved to another rock pile. Changing locations is key since different piles hold fish depending on the tide.
Success with Night Time Fishing
Everything on a jig was obliterated! Using live pins, frozen sardines, and shrimp, our crew of six quickly landed 30 more Mangos in short order.
A variety of baits kept the fish interested. Shrimp are a classic choice, while live pins provide a movement that is very hard for fish to resist.
It was a total team effort. Everyone on the boat was pulling in fish, which kept the energy high and the excitement building throughout the evening.
Most fish were over 20 inches, with the biggest reaching 27 inches. I even added a nice 28-inch permit to the catch as a great bonus for the day.
The size of the catch was impressive. Finding these larger specimens requires night time fishing at the right spots during the tide cycle.
Landing a permit is always exciting because it is a less common species. It added a great level of variety to our successful evening excursion.
Don't let the heat keep you off the water. This is the best time for night time fishing and catching the peak of the Snapper bite!
Many anglers give up during August, but those who choose night time fishing find rewarding results in the cooler temperatures of the evening hours.
Evening fishing is better for both the fisherman and the fish. It is one of my favorite trips! Till the next time, tight lines! -Capt. Chris LaRosa
Check out some more pictures from our recent trip here: https://www.facebook.com/share/16ps6EKmHY/ to see the full action and the final catch.