A Summer Grind

This past month has been nothing short of a grind. Day after day, we’ve been searching for patterns, looking for fish and trying to figure out what Mother Nature is going to throw at us next. The constant heat we’ve been feeling has definitely made us work for every fish, and I know I’m not the only guide who has been scratching his head trying to put the pieces together.

I’ve always preferred throwing artificial lures and working the flats, but lately those flats have felt like a ghost town. There are still a few fish scattered around, but overall, the numbers just haven’t been there like we’re accustomed to seeing. Personally, this has been the toughest summer of flats fishing I’ve encountered so far.

One thing that has become pretty obvious is that the fish seem to be looking for two things right now – cooler water and oxygen. When water temperatures get this high, those factors become even more important. That has pushed a lot of the fish toward the Intracoastal Waterway, where deeper water stays cooler, and the stronger tidal flow creates a more oxygen-rich environment. The deeper water also gives fish some relief from the constant boat traffic we’ve had throughout the summer.

That has forced me to change things up a little. As much as I love throwing artificials, sometimes you have to put your pride aside and fish where the fish want to be. Lately, that has meant using croaker with heavy split shots and targeting drop-offs and deeper areas where those bigger trout and redfish have been holding.

And honestly, it has paid off.

We’ve had some incredible success with live bait this past month. We’ve put several personal bests in the boat, along with plenty of oversized trout and redfish. In just the last month, we’ve caught three trout measuring 30 inches, along with what seems like countless trout in the 23- to 28-inch range. The big trout have definitely been showing themselves, but they haven’t exactly been handing themselves over easily.

That’s really been the story of this summer. The fish are there, but finding them and getting them to bite has taken a lot more work than usual. Every trip has felt like another puzzle to solve. Water temperature, current, depth, and bait presence have all played a bigger role than ever in figuring out where the fish are going to be.

As tough as it has been, that’s also what keeps me coming back. When the fishing is easy, you can get away with simply following the usual patterns. When conditions get tough, you have to pay attention to every little detail. Those are the days that force you to become a better fisherman and a better guide.

Now I’m just waiting on that first real cold front.

Once those temperatures finally start dropping, I’m expecting a major change in the pattern. I’m looking forward to seeing those fish that have spent the summer hiding in deeper water start pushing back onto the flats. When that happens, I’ll be more than ready to put the live bait away, pick the artificial rods back up and get back to doing what I love – hunting down big fish on the flats and watching them eat a lure.

Until then, we’ll keep grinding, keep searching, and keep trying to stay one step ahead of the fish.