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Fish Cooler Times For Hot Bite

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Ray Markham.

Summer heat dictates when and where to fish.

When you head out onto the water and begin sweating before the sun even peeks over the horizon, you know those early and late starts are the way to go.

Fish seem to feed better at those times as well, so don't be surprised when you get out on the water at mid-day and the bite is slow. When and where you fish are very important during the heat of summer. As a rule, the hotter it gets, the deeper you should be fishing to find the largest concentration of fish.

Snook will be found on the flats early in the day around barrier mangrove island points and small deep cuts between mangrove islands.

The majority of these fish will likely be males in the 20- to 25-inch range. Larger females in spawning mode are closer to the beaches and around deep structure like bridges and passes. The Sunshine Skyway and nearby fishing piers are some of the best for big snook. Targeting snook should be done around periods when the water moves the fastest. Because tides surge, there is no particular time when you can say it is best, but typically some of the strongest surges occur about half to two-thirds of the way into the tide, whether it is incoming or outgoing.

Outgoing tides tend to have the strongest flow. Since snook are nocturnal feeders, look for the best moving tide during low-light periods. Those times are usually on new and full moon weeks, so look for redfish to target on this week's quarter-moon tide. They are not ambush feeders dependant on tidal flow to bring them food, but they are always on the move searching for it.

Ray Markham co-hosts "Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live," Saturdays from 8-9 a.m. on WWBA, 1040 AM, and can be reached for charter at (941) 723-2655.

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