Charlotte Harbor fishing report

As August begins, I’m on the water early at first light and typically back to the dock by 11:00 A.M. For the most part, it’s flat calm and really nice for a few hours. For sure, I’m looking for rolling tarpon but if they don’t show I have no problem working one of our many mangrove shorelines looking for a snook or redfish. I’ve actually been enjoying putting in some time with a top water plug at first light. I have begun using plugs with single hooks instead of the more common treble hooks as they’re much easier on the fish. In addition, I’ve been experimenting with feathered jigs, weedless of course, instead of the more common soft plastics. Of course, my fly rod is still my weapon of choice and I like to use these lazy summer mornings as an opportunity to mix and match different rod and line combinations. Typically, during the busier months when I’m woking more this just isn’t practical. It’s really a great time of year to experiment and change things up a bit. As our water is a bit more tannic, darker, this time of year I do like to throw darker flies and like bait fish patterns. The Puglisi backcountry brown is a good example. Our redfish should begin schooling up soon and that could get interesting. Furthermore, our juvenile tarpon may even start to show better and that would be great.