As we transition into August on the Nature Coast look for some good angling opportunity’s. The full moon in August is usually the first push of schooling redfish that make their way north, stopping on the outer keys and points. Sometimes the push of reds will last until late October but this is the month it begins. I like to pole my boat into position on the incoming tide as to let the redfish make they’re way toward the key I’m fishing so not to alter them from settling in. A school of reds can be sighted by they’re push in the water and also copper flashes from happy fish rubbing off the bottom. Once a school of redfish settle in the fun can begin. I have made a rule on board my boat to catch our legal limit  them maybe release one or two more before we leave them be. No sore lipping a bunch of fish.

 The other fun and great eating fish that gets good around the August full moon is mangrove snapper. The near shore rocks out to the offshore structures can be loaded with nice mangroves. I like to chum with some fresh shrimp and when the snapper get fired up switch to free lined live shrimp. Generally the first keeper’s will be the largest snappers and the longer you fish the rock the more undesirable fish you will catch. When this happen I move to a new rock.
 This weekend high tide will be very early morning or late evening making a good time during the middle of the day for scalloping.
William Toney
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