Mansfield Report: August 2024

Greetings from Port Mansfield! This year is flying by; hard to believe we are already into August with fall just around the corner. July felt like a blur, simply because between fishing trips, three days at ICAST, a fishing expo and tournaments, I managed only four days off. Not complaining, though, this is what I signed up for.

Like police work, every day is different being a fishing guide. Sure, some things remain the same, such as driving the boat and getting anglers set up at a productive spot, but what unfolds under the surface can change in an instant. From moonrise minors to moon underfoot majors, changeable wind and rising/falling tides, you had better stay sharp if you want to be successful. Dealing with nature and figuring out what makes fish do what they do is challenging, rewarding, and sometimes disappointing.

The takeaway is simple, use all the tools in your toolbox each day and always try to add an additional gadget when you can. Tools do not just come by way of mental notes, in addition to keeping your skills honed you also need to have the “right” tools. The basics are simple and most of the time it is best to strive to keep it simple. The best tools I’ve run across after many years of fishing is a Fishing Tackle Unlimited G2 Classic (or Finesse) Green Rod, a Shimano reel (bait or spinning – many to choose from), quality braided line such as American Fishing Wire Quatro 20lb, a KWigglers plastic and jighead, and a topwater such as a Mansfield Knocker. Simply put, this is what I use day in and day out. Remember, keeping it simple works.

Despite elevated water temperatures we are still catching nice fish in shallow water, and they are in great shape. We have managed several trout in the 7-pound range and many 3- to 5-pounders. I am so pleased to be able to see fish of this caliber. There are also reliable reports of nice fish (2- to 3-pounders) being caught in water as deep as four and five feet.

Not all shallow areas have been holding fish of the quality described. The fish I mentioned have been on flats with quick access to deep water. Also, the flats are thick with grass and have an abundance of mullet. Mansfield Knockers (if grass isn’t a problem) have been an excellent choice and, quite frankly, have been working most all day. I recently had two late-teen anglers onboard and they both caught PB trout on topwaters at 2:00pm with water temperatures at 90°. This is obviously not an everyday occurrence but we had played our cards correctly and the fish were still eating despite high water temps. Water temps this high usually discourage afternoon feeding.

With that said, keep in mind it is not just gangbusters all day every day. We are capitalizing on the major and minor solunar periods and we are having to be very patient while constantly keying on bait, potholes, etc. Combining all this with being on the water often helps me put anglers in the best spots to catch fish.

I would like to point out another interesting observation. We are seeing redfish in the same areas, sometimes three or four in a pod, but they have been striking at our lures only once. Miss that explosive topwater or soft plastic strike and it’s over; they move on and all you get credit for is a swing and a miss. They rarely come back for seconds and when they do it is a half-hearted attempt at best. This is more than a little puzzling to me. I suspect this will change for the better as soon as they begin schooling and feeding more competitively.

During the month of August I will be heading out very early and will continue to zero in on zones I have described as long as they remain productive. I will also be checking daily along some of the shallow shorelines that have ledges and quick drops into deeper water. Shorelines will typically yield pods of reds up to about twenty fish or so, unlike the open areas of the bay where reds will usually be found in larger schools. Shorelines are more interesting to me because here you will also have a shot at a big trout and possibly a flounder, which have also been quite consistent this year.

Until next time, remember that fresh is better than frozen!