Captain’s Corner: Jim Lemke

Captain’s Corner: Getting Ready for September Fishing

Capt Jim Lemke Times Correspondent

Now that the tropical storm is on its way the fishing is going to be great as the storm enters the gulf and the pressure starts to fall.  The Snook, Redfish, Trout and many more species are out roaming around the flats and the bay area reefs now.

The bay area reefs and wrecks are holding a lot of Mackerel, Mango Snapper, and some keeper Grouper this time of the year and over the next few months.  When you are bottom fishing these places, I like fishing the slower tide so I can use the smallest weight possible to get down to the bottom and start adding as the tide picks up.  I will also put out a flat line for some Mackerel and sharks.

As you start moving up to the flats this month you find a lot of fry bait to nice sardines and that means the fish moving up on the flats to feed. In the 2 to 5 feet of water you will find the Trout feeding as you move into that 3 feet and above up to the mangroves you will find the Snook and Redfish feeding. In the fall, I like the outgoing tide to about half way up the incoming tide. It doesn’t madder if you are live baiting, cut baiting, or throwing artificial.

Capt. Jim Lemke charters out of Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater and can be reached at (813) 917-4989 and at captjimlemke@gmail.com.