Captain's Corner: Fishing tips during summer

The summertime heat is in full swing. You want to get out early to avoid the heat. Another option is to fish docks and bridges at night. With water temperatures in the upper 80s, you will only be able to spend about an hour on the flats in the morning. After that, you need to follow the fish to deeper water where it's cooler. The Tampa Bay area as far south as Joe's Island to Safety Harbor is starting to go off. There's an influx of newly hatched bait pouring into the bay. Use a quarter-inch net if you plan on netting them. There's bigger bait holding in 15-20 feet. The snook bite has been the best on the outgoing tide in most places. Just find a point with good water flow and you will find snook piled up waiting for bait to be pushed by. Redfish have been a little harder to target. Patience is key. The most success has been with cut bait tossed way up under the mangroves on high tide. If you are to get the small bait on the flats or shrimp, you can have great success on mangrove snapper this time of year. It's not too late to target tarpon. In July they like to hang around bridges and shipping channels. The Gandy is a good place to target them at night.

Mike Gore charters out of Tampa Bay. Call him at (813) 390-6600 or visit tampacharters.com.