AS SEEN IN THE MAY/JUNE 2008 ISSUE 

May/June Southeast Fishing Forecast

By: Captain Dean Panos - Double D Charters

During the months of May and June, dolphin fishing will surely be the highlight for most South Florida anglers. These extremely tasty and colorful fish can be found offshore in the Gulf Stream, and the most popular method for locating them is still the run & gun approach. With gasoline prices rising, more anglers will find trolling to be a bit less excruciating to your wallet – don’t fret, as trolling is a great way to hook up with some tasty fillets. Regardless of what you are doing, doing it blindly will often lead to dismal results. Instead, target areas with signs of life. Everyone knows that dolphin like to hang under debris.

This is due to the fact that that Sargasso weed, pallets, tree limbs, etc. often hold large quantities of forage. If you find debris in the Gulf Stream, troll by it a few times or toss some live bait in the vicinity and see if any scouts come out to play. After several passes, if you have not seen any curious dolphin, it often pays to heave out a heavy jig with a trace of wire and send it a few hundred feet down. Dolphin may be holding deeper in the water column, but there may also be wahoo lurking deep down in the depths.

Besides looking for debris, bird action is a sign of life as well. If you see birds working an area, don’t troll right down the middle. Try to figure out the direction the feather fiends are moving in and establish an intercept course. More often than not, the bigger dolphin will be on the outskirts of the main school.   

I mentioned wahoo while offshore in the ‘Stream, but the full moon periods during the spring can also produce a decent wahoo bite inshore along the reef edge. The bite usually occurs very early in the morning and is usually over well before noon. Anglers can either high-speed or slow-troll live and rigged natural baits down deep in depths ranging from 300 to 500-feet. Areas outside Hillsboro, Boca and Lake Worth Inlet often see the hottest bites.

Fishing on the edge can have other rewards as well. The same areas that we have been targeting sailfish will now produce smoker kings, bonito and blackfin tuna. The larger kingfish will be found in the northern edges of our region with Palm Beach and Jupiter holding the biggest schools of both kingfish and pesky bones.

Down at the southern edge of the region, South Miami will host decent bottom fishing for yellowtail and mutton snapper. For the ‘tails, it is imperative to anchor up and maintain a steady chum slick. Free-line small pieces of cut bait or whole silversides and keep feeding line. As soon as line starts taking off, and it will, close the bail and reel. Chances are you will be hooked up with a frisky yellowtail.

If you prefer fishing in a bit cooler conditions, May and June provide fantastic angling opportunities at night. While nighttime swordfishing has been a bit off this past winter, fishing for swordfish at night in the summer is a reward in itself. What a better way to spend an evening with friends or family than drifting in calm seas on a moonlit night waiting for a mighty broadbill to home-in on your offering. Squid is definitely the bait of choice during the summer, however, as a die hard live bait fisherman; I always have a supply of blue-runner, goggle-eye or speedo circling in the well.

Another option for night owls are cubera snapper. Target deep wrecks in extreme southern Dade County – the trick is to fish around the full moon during the strongest tides. If in season, the bait of choice is live lobster, however if lobster are not available, large fresh slabs of bonito will do. Cubera snapper are extremely powerful fish and since you are hooking them on a wreck, stout tackle is a must. If you think your 30lb. outfit will work, forget it! It is time to break out the 80lb. class rods!

Closer inshore South Florida anglers will find plenty of quality snook for catch and release. Most of the anglers will target snook along various inlets, however, Flamingo will host plenty of angling visitors during the summer and for good reason; there are snook, redfish, trout, jack, ladyfish and an occasional tarpon ready and waiting to provide lots of rod-bending action.

As the summer season progresses, remember to always be on the lookout for severe late afternoon thunderstorms. Be safe and catch ‘em up!

Capt. Dean Panos
Double D Charters
16486 SW 70th Street
Pembroke Pines, FL 33331
Phone: 954-680-5004
Email: doubledcharters@earthlink.net
Website: http://doubledcharters.com/

---

Save and Share this Article: