Fishing report for 07/10/23

Summer snuck up fast and hit a little harder then expected. We apologize for lack of fishing reports but we are back and starting off with a heck of report. After all the weather we have had, such as wind, rain, storms, even smoke; we're finally getting back to some "normalcy" now.

We will kick off this report with some back bay action. There is two big stories for the back, one is pretty usual and one we haven't seen in a very long time. Croaker have overflowed our bays and surf. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it. It seems like you can't fish for anything without being torn apart by croaker or catching them. Croaker are a very underrated fish. They are super aggressive and quite the delicious catch. Croaker aren't too picky on what they will take, like pieces of squid, mackerel, clam, bloodworms or fishbites. I find that fishbites are the easiest and cheapest bait for them. A simple top and bottom sea bass rig will crush these aggressive fish. If you can get through the croaker, there is still plenty of fluke in the bay. Pink shine gulp seems to be the absolute ticket, as well as fishing deep, 20-30 feet is ideal. Bluefish are randomly popping up, it seems. If you find them, get ready. Most reports are stating that people are catching over 20 fish at a shot, ranging in size. Plastics or metal spoons seem to be the best when you encounter these toothy critters. Seabass are all around the piers in the back and they eat just about anything in front of their faces. Striper are still in the back at night. During the daytime, bay temps have been pushing upwards of 80 degrees, which tends shuts them down. Once darkness falls they come alive. Work the piers and bridges with light lines. Soft plastics are always the ticket. 4 or 5 inch paddle tails pink or white are always a great go-to. The schoolies are super aggressive with some keepable sized fish mixed in. Also, don't forget the new striper regulation took effect 07/02/23 which is one fish at 28-31 inches. Sheepshead are the trophy of the bay right now. They are flooding most piers and bridge pilings. Sandfleas or fiddler crabs on a tog jig will hopefully get you one of these monsters. 

Surfside has had some very decent action. Jetty action has been pretty steady with fluke and striper hanging around the rocks. Bass have been taking paddle tails and some bait, bloodworms and clams. Fluke have been a little more specific. The best thing to use, by far, is 4 inch gulp swimming mullet on a 3/8 jighead or bucktail. From all of the reports, it seems that is almost a guaranteed catch. Kingfish, spot and croaker have been all over the surf, but they have been tightly schooled up. If you find yourself not having any bites, move down a bit. They could be 20 yards away and you won't catch. Bloodworms and fishbites are the bait of choice. Now the toothy side of the beach has been heating up. We have been hearing of quite a few browns. It seems like you put meat in the water and they will eventually find the blood. We've also been hearing of some monster sand tigers. They've been upwards of 10ft and a couple hundred pounds.

Wrecks and reefs are heating up, as well. Deeper seems to be better for big fluke. 80 feet or deeper seems to be the magic number at places such as the deep end of AC reef. Every other reef seems to be producing well. A larger number of fluke, just smaller sizes. Spike weakfish, bluefish, and triggerfish have been a constant in the shallow water reefs. 

Shout out to Bill Henry for for submitting this picture!