What A Month for Fishing!

Written by Ron Childs | 01 June 2011

Childs Play

June  2011

Reflections on Mexico Beach

June is the Best Month for Fishing

     June is considered the best month of fishing by men and women who like to fish and fish hard. Fishing is magnificent this time of year mainly because the king mackerel have arrived in great numbers, wahoo are around, mahi mahi are here, and red snapper season is in full swing.

     Many people who fish the Mexico Beach area think that the king mackerel is the number one game fish in the area.   These beautiful fish can get up to 90 pounds and are fast and tough.   More and more people are using light tackle for more of a fight that can go on for 15 or 20 minutes.   You can use live bait like pinfish on a wire leader to flat line or troll Christmas Tree rigs with a cigar minnow attached to the first hook.  You can only keep two king mackerel, but you can have a wonderful day catching and releasing king mackerel.  Be sure to use a wire leader-they have very sharp teeth and can bite you.  Be careful in your release.

     Red snapper are more plentiful than ever in our area mainly because of all the artificial reefs put out by the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association starting back in l997.   The season comes in June l and goes out July l9.  The meat of a red snapper is delicious and considered one of the top fish to eat in the Gulf.   The state record for Florida is 46 pounds.  They hang out around bottom structure, and you can catch them with live bait or dead bait like cigar minnows fished on the bottom.   You can only keep two per day.   Remember to use circle hooks and a venting tool to let out air in fish that you have brought up from the depths causing them to swell.  Read up on venting because this keeps a lot of fish alive which would ordinarily die when released.   Circle hooks and venting tools are now required by law.   It is a good law.

    In June we kick off the season with the Blue Water Wounded Warrior Weekend Tournament in Port St. Joe on June 3-4.  This is a great tournament held to honor our veterans who have been wounded in combat.  There are five categories of fish to catch with $2500 for each category.  Go to www.bluewatercharityclassic.com for all details.   This tournament always contributes to the MBARA and has been sponsoring new artificial reefs for years.  This is a tournament we all need to support.

    The second tournament is the Big Bend Salt Water Classic also held at the marina in Port St. Joe on Father’s Day Weekend of June l7-19.  This is a huge tournament with over 700 entries.   Go to www.saltwaterclassic.com for all details.   Part of the funds go to the Organization for Artificial Reefs to help build reefs in the Gulf.  This is a good cause to support as well.  These are good people and there is really big money in this tournament. 

     Go fishing and have a lot of fun.