Want to wet your hook? Surf fishing’s a good way to go

We have been experiencing a typical summer weather pattern; hot and muggy with afternoon showers. The heat has not deterred our local anglers, along with many visitors, from fishing our waters this week.

Surf fishing remains a great choice to wet a hook. It’s inexpensive, with not much fuel expense involved. Whiting, small sharks, sand trout, weak fish, blues and the occasional pompano have been reported from the surf this week. Fresh shrimp will definitely be your best choice for enticing even the smartest of fish when surf fishing.

The anglers fishing the Amelia By the Sea pier have reported an excellent week, with whiting, sharks and trout at the end of their hooks.

The backwater fishing can be tough this time of year. The anglers who have been targeting flounder have had good results when fishing the lower tides. Live mud minnows or finger mullet hooked through the lips and live shrimp hooked on a live bait jig through the tail will give you good results for the summer flounder.

The early riser can enjoy topwater plug fishing this time of year. Live shrimp fished from a float rig or hooked onto a live bait jig for trout and reds is an excellent choice for the live bait angler. Lanceford Creek, Bell River or Jackson Creek to the north or Sawpit, Simpsons and the Nassau River to the south end are all good locations when fishing live bait this time of year. The Berkley Gulp 4-inch swimming mullet or the pogy pattern in white also have been giving anglers good results when fishing with artificial bait this week.
Offshore slow trolling continues to produce barracuda, kingfish, cobia and amberjack.

Jim Tucker reports a sailfish hookup while fishing with Mike Price on a recent trip while slow trolling the inshore reefs.

The north and south jetties are producing tarpon, kingfish and sharks, along with flounder and redfish depending on the bait you use. Fort Clinch State Park has been producing whiting, sharks, bluefish, ladyfish and flounder this week along with the occasional puppy drum. Amelia Island State Park has been producing whiting, flounder, redfish, puppy drum, sharks and the occasional pompano.

I hope you had a happy and safe July Fourth.

Until next week … Capt. Jim.