August is usually the hottest month of the year on the water however, I hope it is not as hot as it has been in July. Usually during August we fish in the deeper water offshore because the fish move into deeper waters due to the water temperature climbing in excess of 85 degrees. The best part is to troll early in the morning and very late in the afternoon if you are going to be going offshore. Also while bottom fishing use live bait as much as possible. The good part about offshore fishing is that cobias are still hanging around and the gag grouper and scamp are showing up in good numbers.
Inshore fishing during August requires some special times and bait. The speckled trout will primarily be feeding in shallow water usually up in the head of the St. Joe bay. The redfish will be hanging out in the deeper waters around the ships channel and the range markers. The whiting are still running the beach in pretty good numbers however, in August you can usually find them gathered up in the deeper water around the range markers or in the ships channel. I’m looking forward for the weather to cool off a little bit and for September to get here in a hurry.
Don’t forget to file a float plan, and let somebody know when you are going to return.