So we've had a busy season so far on the Charter boat The Reel Gulf Predator so far. The weather hasn't been greatest pretty much since our Red Snapper season started. That being said, we have still been making it out pretty consistently and getting our limits of Red Snapper and Red Grouper on most trips. We have been working potholes and small shows of fish for the better bites. Red Snapper have been eating frozen Sardines on a bottom rig, either fishfinder rig with a sliding sinker or a Bofa Deez Grouper Ballz 3oz-4oz. We have caught a handful of nice ones on live pinfish as well. When they are being extra picky we'll throw a big live bait on a 1/2oz SnappaSlappa jig and let it drift down slowly and it usually does the trick. You will usually get the biggest fish in the school with this tactic. A whole sardine or half a northern mackerel also works on that jighead as well. The bigger Red Snapper have been eating almost exclusively right before or right after the slack tides. Best bites have been right after the high tides and it turns outgoing. The Red Grouper bite hasn't been as tidal as the Red Snapper, but the better fish have also come close to the tide changes. They have been eating the Frozen sardines on the Grouper ballz 4-6oz or fishfinder rigs, but big live pinfish have been the best bet. Don't be scared to fish small shows and hard bottom spots that aren't showing much other than hard bottom. Many times I stop, and once I start fishing them, they light up soon after you drop a few baits down. The small Mahi have been all over the place, and believe it or not a bare Snappaslappa jig thrown out and retrieved erratically puts a hurting on them! Don't even need bait most of the time.
If you can find that weather window to fish, the fish have been out there. Just have to make it happen! Until next time, tight lines!
-Capt. Chris