Cold water fishing in the summer ?
Fishing why is the water so cold?
Story/Photos by Matt Badolato
Well, isn't this is weird few weeks for us on the Space Coast? The waves have been awesome, but that water is pretty darn cold! The coldwater upwellings, a result of Ekman transport, the Coriolis effect, and light winds, are invading our waters and making it feel like winter again.
Sure, its nice to cool off in the colder water as a surfer, but if you are a bottom fish living where it is already really chilly, then you aren't going to be that happy. Divers off Sebastian and Port Canaveral have reported bottom temperatures around 60 degrees or less in 80-120 feet. This means the fish are conserving their energy and not leaving their lairs to chase down shiny baitfish. This is good for the divers, who can go down to the frigid depths and spear the docile fish with ease. For you bottom fishermen, this means few bites and small fish.
The cold water does have its advantages. It forces schools of baitfish up off the bottom and toward the surface where predators await. Kingfish, dolphin, amberjack, and sailfish all pile up above the thermoclines and feast on the bounty rising from below. If you can find some live bait, the topwater action has been incredible over the 80-90 foot reefs. Last weekend we boat a dozen kings, a few small dolphin, and had a school of amberjack surounding the boat and attacking our surface baits. Pretty much non-stop action all day. I did a dive in the 60' depths east of Sebastian and found only dirty, cold water and lots of seabass.
During this swell from Hurricane Bertha, there seemed to be a lot of baitfish just past the breakers each day. One wave-filled morning there were pods of hungry tarpon blasting through schools of greenies just past the breakers. Next week should be calm enough to kayak or canoe out there and try to hook into a big silver 'poon. Live pigfish, pinfish, big mullet or croakers work well and will stay alive awhile out there. Bring a flow troll bucket and tote it behind your canoe or kayak for a fresh supply of live bait. Freeline baits on a long 80lb leader with a big circle hook through their lips and hang on!
The redfishing in Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River has been pretty ridiculous lately. Schools of 300-500 fish are the norm on most days. The only problem is that you have to be out there early, and I mean EARLY. The fish are done eating by 7-8am, with the peak times being right after the sun pops up over the mangroves. Try wading up to the schools in order not to spook them, for they have been heavily pressured in recent fishing tournaments and on weekends. If you can manage, the best times to be out there are during the weekdays when few other anglers are out.
Lobster season is just around the corner, so dust off the tickle sticks, get your gauges, and get ready! Hopefully this coldwater will move out and we'll be blessed with some great viz like last year.
'Til next time, tight lines and tasty waves,
Matt B
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