Holy mackerel! The influx of salty Gulf water from Tropical Storm Debby has resulted in hot nearshore action on large Spanish and king mackerel. Fly-rodders are having one of the best summers in years for both species.
For these toothy denizens, a bite tippet using wire is required. If the fish avoid the wire, try heavy fluorocarbon instead, but be prepared to replace often. Another option is “offset flies,” where the eyes and body start at the center of the hook. Such flies include Whitlock Baitfish, Apte Tarpon and the Mackerel Clouser.
Another species very active this month is jack crevalle. Reports of these brutes on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain began as early as late June. Look for airborne bursts of mullet. You’ll need a minimum of 10-weight tackle to subdue these fish.
White trout grow an inch a month in summer, so those 9-inch fish that were hitting clousers and shrimp flies under lighted docks at night back in June will be keeper size by now. And night fly-fishing under lights is a cool alternative during “SweatFest 2012.”
This is the last full month for the CCA STAR. The best chance for large speckled trout will be with poppers fished from first light to just after sunrise. The best locations will be Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne, Venice, Grand Isle, Cypremort Point, Holly Beach and Johnson Beach.
Now that the rivers are lower — and clearer — it’s a great time to cast flies for white bass in the major rivers, and spotted bass in the sandy streams of the Kisatchie hills and Florida Parishes. Try clousers for the whites. Try poppers, gurglers, woolybuggers and other streamers for the spots.
