Biting right now — August

Cold fronts push through and water temps sit in the low 60s to upper 60s. Redfish still hold tight to the mangrove edges and back bay flats on the warmer afternoons, and we spend most of our time on them. Snook and trout are around but sluggish, so we treat them as a bonus rather than the plan.

Water starts to warm a touch and the trout wake up on the grass flats along with the reds. We fish the same backcountry water as January but the bite window opens up longer each week. Snook are still slow but a few show up around structure on the warmer days.

This is the month we build the spring around. Redfish and trout are both firing hard on the flats and around the potholes, and snook push out of the backcountry onto the points and passes with the warming water. A few early tarpon start showing on the edges but they are still inconsistent this early.

Redfish push onto the flats and grass edges as the water warms, and trout stack up over the same turtle grass in good numbers. Snook show up strong around the mangrove shorelines and passes, and the first push of tarpon starts staging in the sound. We run the flats early before the wind builds and work the passes on the falling tide.

This is tarpon month. Big fish roll in the passes and along the beaches, and snook fishing around the docks and mangroves is as good as it gets all year. Trout are thick on the grass flats too, so we split time between sight casting tarpon and filling the box on the flats depending on what the client wants.

Snook and tarpon carry the season into early summer, still holding strong around the passes and beaches before the heat really sets in. Redfish and trout are still around but the bite slows some as water temps climb. We start trips early to beat the afternoon heat and thunderstorms that roll in most days this time of year.

This is the month we build the whole summer around. Tarpon stack up on the passes and along the beaches, rolling on the surface at first light, and snook push into the mangrove shorelines and dock lights to feed. Redfish and trout are around but slow this time of year, so we keep the plan simple and fish where the silver kings are.

Water temps climb and the bite settles into a summer rhythm. Tarpon and snook stay good around the passes and mangrove edges, especially early and on the tide changes, while redfish and trout stay quiet in the heat. We fish mornings hard and get off the water before the afternoon storms build.

This is the turn. Redfish and trout wake up on the grass flats and around the oyster bars as water starts to cool slightly, and tarpon and snook are still very much in play along the mangroves and passes. It is one of the most well-rounded months we fish all year, with real shots at four species in a single trip.

Water is still warm and the flats around Pine Island Sound are loaded with redfish schooling over grass and sand. Trout stack up on the deeper edges and snook hold tight to mangrove shorelines on the falling tide. Tarpon are winding down for the year but we still find a few stragglers on the right morning.

This is one of our best months of the year. Redfish and trout are thick on the flats as water cools and bait pushes into the backcountry. Snook slow down as temps drop but we still pick off a few around structure on warmer afternoons.

Cooler water pushes redfish and trout into deeper holes and canals where we sight fish clear water on calm days. Snook bite is slow this time of year and we do not target them hard. Tarpon fishing is done for the season here.