Captain Chad Starling
904.502.7408
TeamBuckRogers.com
The last week of July brought us a lot of tropical moisture which resulted in a lot of rain. Before this system pushed through the fishing was phenomenal! We were getting limits of kings on a daily basis and fishing was easy.
Bait has been consistently challenging this year. One day it's easy to find and other days we really have to search for it… sometimes not finding it.
Since the tropical system, the kingfishing has taken a nose dive and until just this week, it has really been difficult to find good numbers of fish.
Over the course of the last few weeks, the money trips have been the 10 hour and 12 hour days where we can get out to 40 - 65 miles bottom fishing. We have produced good number of vermilion snapper, triggerfish, red porgy, jacks, some mango snapper, some mutton snapper, and even some yellowtail snapper. We are also catching kingfish by flatlining baits out behind the boat while anchored.
This week some kings have started to show on our closer areas inside 15 miles along with a good number of cobia. But there seem to be a lot of small fish that have to be thrown back.
Some good advice when trying to release short cobia: either use a net or just cut the leader as close to the hook as possible. Do not gaff a fish you intend to release or if you're not sure the fish is of legal size.
It looks like this week may be the end of the record breaking heat, so hopefully we’ll begin to experience more mild temperatures.
As the water temperatures begin to fall, the bottom fishing will pick up closer and closer to shore.
Tight lines!
Captain Chad Starling
Team Buck Rogers Fishing Charters
904.502.7408