Since the endangered gag grouper and American red snapper are off-limits this month, it would be a good time to go deeper and/or change up your tactics to target different species. For example, go ahead and catch your three scamp/red grouper combo, then switch over to smaller baits and smaller circle hooks on chicken rigs to target beeliners, triggerfish grunts, and seabass.

Take live pinfish from the marina for scamps and red grouper; this will accomplish two things. One, it will weed out a bunch of trash bites from smaller snappers and other bait steelers because only the fish with a mouth large enough to eat the pinfish will give it a go, and two, it will catch the older (larger) fish that often will not bite a chicken rig and cut bait. The chicken rig with a bank sinker, and the bank sinker with a triple swivel, leader, and hook have been the industry standard for many decades, but these fish have evolved and have become savvy to this method. That is the reason the Decoy Jig system is so effective. They’ve never seen anything like it, and it’s a clever disguise of what is happening; the weight and bait are in one clean package, attached by a piece of fluorocarbon.

There is one downfall to fishing live pinfish on the Decoy Jig—it will get the shark bite. Sharks, like many other fish, are hardwired to eat this struggling bait attached to something else they like to eat, like a squid or a crab.

There’s another fish I didn’t mention earlier, but this is a good time of year to target hogfish. There are many schools of thought when it comes to catching them. Many say the chicken rig is the ultimate, and, yes, there have been a lot of hogfish caught on your standard chicken rig. But this is a pretty wily species, and hard to catch for several reasons. Not only are they hard to get to bite, but they pull HARD! You have to have seriously strong connections because they will test every part of your tackle.

August and September are the months that wahoo, yellowfin, dolphin, sailfish—you name it—are everywhere inshore following big schools of bait, and a live cig or sardine will definitely get the bite. I would keep a live pitch bait ready on a circle hook on a piece of fluorocarbon for the sailfish that’ll swim by the boat. Keep the thumping music, cooler slamming loud everything to a minimum if you want to have a shot at getting some of these fish to swim up to the boat.

 Go on, get down to the bottom or at least lower in the water column for the best groceries and keep a pretty live bait out back on the lite line for a great day of catching… not fishing.

Fishing for panfish in lakes and ponds is a popular pastime for many anglers. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, panfish are a great species to target. Not only are they plentiful and easy to catch, but they also make for delicious meals. In this blog post, we’ll go over some tips and techniques for catching panfish in lakes and ponds so that you can have a successful and enjoyable fishing trip.

1. Locating Panfish

The first step in catching panfish is to locate them in the water. Panfish typically prefer shallow, weedy areas to find food and shelter. Look for areas with submerged vegetation, logs, and other structures. Pay attention to the water’s surface and look for signs of activity, such as splashing or ripples. These signs can indicate where schools of panfish are feeding.

2. Choosing the Right Tackle

When it comes to panfish, a light tackle setup is ideal. Use a baitcasting or spinning reel with a light line, around 4-8lb test, and a small circle hook under a sliding cork. A jig or a small spinner can be a great option for catching panfish. Live bait, such as worms or small minnows, is also effective.

3. Techniques for Catching Panfish

Panfish can be caught using a variety of techniques. One popular method is casting and retrieving your bait slowly, making small twitches or pops with your rod tip to mimic the movements of a wounded insect. Another technique is jigging, where you move your bait up and down quickly in the water to attract panfish. Experiment with different approaches to see what works best in your fishing spot.

4. Patience is Key

Patience is vital when fishing for panfish. You can easily spook the fish, so avoid sudden movements or loud noises. If you’re not catching anything, try changing your bait or technique. It can take some time to figure out what works best for the panfish in your area.

5. Catch and Release

While panfish make for great eating, practicing catch and release is essential to help preserve fish populations in lakes and ponds. If you keep your catch, only take what you need and follow local fishing regulations.

Catching panfish in lakes and ponds can be a fun and rewarding experience for freshwater anglers. Using the correct tackle, locating panfish, and employing different techniques can increase your chances of a successful fishing trip. Remember to practice patience and follow local fishing regulations to ensure the sustainability of fish populations for years to come. Happy fishing!

FRESHWATER TACKLE YOU MAY WANT TO TRY

For smaller freshwater fish, try the following:

Size #6: Target fish include Panfish, Bluegill (Bream), Sunfish, and Crappie. Also great for Trout, Carp, White Perch, and more.

For larger freshwater fish, try the following:

Size 1/0: Target fish include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Larger Trout, Carp, Walleye, Catfish, and more.

Barefoot Jig: Target fish include Trout (speckled and gray), Drum (red and black), Flounder, Striped and Hybrid Bass, Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and more!

For larger catfish fish try:

7/0 Catfish Circle Hook: Target fish include Blue, Bullhead, Channel, Flathead, and White Catfish.

To Purchase any of Tim Barefoot’s Tackle listed above visit: BarefootCatsandTackle.com

Fishing under lights at night is good 12 months out of the year, but it is perfect during the hot summer months when daytime temperatures can make standing on “the deck in the glaring sun less than appealing.

During the hottest days of the year, snook, trout, and redfish follow bait directly to bright light, like moths to the porch light. Since I sell boat lifts for a living, I suggest installing the biggest, brightest lights on your docks. Some systems can be remotely controlled with a phone app.

I prefer an artificial shrimp jig or live shrimp. Live shrimp are the most effective bait, but I like artificials because they limit the amount of tackle and hassle. A good technique is to drift down a series of lighted docks and cast to the lights.

Lights aren’t always green, blue lights are also very cool.

A word of advice: Be quiet! Older and wiser snook or trout are not stupid. Use the trolling motor only when it’s needed and not at all when possible. Fish become wary of the sound of a trolling motor. Remain calm and make as little noise as possible on your drifts. Don’t play music, stomp around on the deck, talk loudly, or slam cooler lids.

The light attracts the fish, and catching them is up to you. Match the hatch by noticing the type and size of the bait you see. When the fish get picky, this might require casting smaller jigs or even small shrimp or baitfish flies.

Fishing at night under lights is the perfect atmosphere for teaching children how to catch fish. This technique’s visual aspect is very entertaining and educational. 

Enough about the bottom. I occasionally troll for a LITTLE WHILE, but this would be to accomplish two things simultaneously. First, catch a fish or two and locate the best part of any given ledge with lots of bait/fish on the bottom. When we find the bait, reel in the troll baits and get to work! Everything you catch trolling, you can catch on the light line while you’re grouper fishing. Tuna, dolphin, and wahoo are idiots for a big fat (live) greenie, sardine, cigar minnow, or goggle eye out behind the boat in the current.

SALTWATER TACKLE YOU MAY WANT TO TRY:

7/0 and 11/0 J-Hook Chin Weights: Target fish include Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi or Common Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and more. Easy to rig!

4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig: Target fish for Striped Bass, nearshore Drum, Snook, Grouper, west coast bottom fish, and more.

4 oz. Tuna Squid Decoy Jig: From the eastern, western, Alaskan, and gulf coasts, target fish include: Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Fluke, Flounder, Striped Bass, Seabass, Amberjack (east coast), Yellow Tail (west coast), California White Sea Bass (west coast), Grouper, Snapper, Halibut, Ling cod, and all Alaskan bottom fish.

8 oz. - 12 oz. 10/0 Squid Decoy Jig: Catch BIG Grouper, Amberjack, Giant Stripers, and more.

It’s the time of year when water temperatures allow pelagics like wahoo, dolphin, and tuna to show up right on the beach… so to speak. I live in North Carolina, and every year there are stud wahoo caught “right on the beach.” Here is “right on the beach, ” the 20- to 25-mile area off the beach. For some folks in Florida, “right on the beach” might be that first sea buoy right out of the inlet.

In late summer, we have a monolithic water temperature from the Gulf Stream to the beach in the mid-80s. That allows wahoo to follow huge schools of bait wherever they go. We call this the beginning of the end, the end of summer. The cigar minnows and sardines come nearshore, and the wahoo follow them as far as they are comfortable with the water depth, usually not much less than 75 or 80 feet. They eat whatever they want, including live menhaden or cigs pulled around by king mackerel fishermen.

We call it the beginning to the end of summer, but it’s also the beginning of a wonderful time of year for me, fall and winter. The cigs and sardines come in. The pelagics follow them for a month until the water cools in mid-September. Then the magic happens. When cooling water runs off the wahoo, the gags appear in numbers. It’s all a stunning dance. Let us enjoy every step along the way.

I keep talking about the nearshore activity of the cigs and sardines, but the offshore schools are also getting bigger now, and this draws the attention of everything from pelagics to bottom fish. All the grouper and big snappers shadow these schools wherever they go. That is why it’s so important to “find the bait.” Cigs and sardines are not the only things I’m looking for offshore. I like to find a big stack of beeliners. Wherever you see a big pile of beeliners, bottom dollar, there are grouper and big snapper directly under them and wahoo and kings around them.

August is also a month to consider spending the night offshore. Yes, late afternoon thunderstorms pop up, but overall weather patterns are consistent, and you can fish for days, back to back. Leave in the early afternoon, get where you are going, and get acclimated to the setting sun. Anchor up on a pretty piece of bottom and bait, and turn on the lights. It’s a “National Geographic moment,” the minnows and squid come towards the light, so you can quickly load up the livewell before the daylight bite starts.

I will close with this: We lost a fishing pioneer and legend last month with Mark Sosin’s passing. Our thoughts, prayers, and celebrations go out to his family.

SALTWATER TACKLE YOU MAY WANT TO TRY:

7/0 and 11/0 J-Hook Chin Weights: Target fish include Tuna, Wahoo, Mahi or Common Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and more. Easy to rig!

4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig: Target fish for Striped Bass, nearshore Drum, Snook, Grouper, west coast bottom fish, and more.

4 oz. Tuna Squid Decoy Jig: From the eastern, western, Alaskan, and gulf coasts, target fish include: Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Fluke, Flounder, Striped Bass, Seabass, Amberjack (east coast), Yellow Tail (west coast), California White Sea Bass (west coast), Grouper, Snapper, Halibut, Ling cod, and all Alaskan bottom fish.

8 oz. - 12 oz. 10/0 Squid Decoy Jig: Catch BIG Grouper, Amberjack, Giant Stripers, and more.

Are you tired of returning from your fishing trips with an empty haul? Are you looking for some trophy-worthy catfish to add to your catch list? Look no further because we’ve got you covered! This blog shares expert tips and tricks to help you reel in those elusive catfish. From seasoned anglers to beginners, these tips will help you step up your fishing game and become a pro at catching catfish.

1. Know Your Catfish:

Before you head out to the lake, it’s essential to know the behavior and habits of your target fish. Catfish are notoriously lazy swimmers and tend to hang out in deep waters. They are attracted to strong smells, so using bait with a strong odor, like chicken liver or stink bait, can increase your chances of catching them. Additionally, catfish tend to feed during the early hours of the morning or late at night, so try to plan your fishing trip around these times.

2. Use The Right Gear:

Fishing for catfish requires specific gear to ensure you can catch and not lose the fish. The best rods for catfish fishing are spinning or baitcasting rods. When selecting the line, choose a 30, 40, or 50-lb. Using a uni-to-uni knot, a 2-foot Fluorocarbon leader (like Hi-Seas) tied to a 30 or 50-lb high-visibility braided mainline (like Power-Pro). You will also need to use strong and durable hooks, such as the weighted BarefootCatsandTackle.com 7/0 Catfish Circle Hook, that can handle the weight of a giant and powerful catfish.

3. Location, Location, Location:

When it comes to catfish fishing, location is key. Look for areas with deep water, rocky terrain, or logs, as these are common hiding spots for catfish. Catfish also prefer places with a strong current, so try to focus your efforts on the downstream side of dams, inlets, or other areas where water flows strongly.

4. Be Patient:

Patience is vital when it comes to fishing for catfish. While some of the tips mentioned above can certainly increase your chances of catching a fish, it’s important to remember that fishing is never guaranteed. So be prepared to wait for long periods without a catch, and try not to get discouraged. Remember, the longer you wait, the more time the catfish have to smell and find your bait.

5. Practice Catch and Release:

As with all fishing, it’s important to practice catch and release to ensure the catfish population remains healthy. If you decide to keep a fish, ensure it’s within the legal size limit and check with local regulations to ensure that you’re following the rules. Please use a de-hooker to remove the hook from the fish’s mouth safely.

Catfish fishing can be exhilarating and rewarding, but it can also be challenging. Following the tips and tricks outlined in this blog can increase your chances of catching more catfish and having a successful fishing trip. Remember to be patient, use the right gear, and understand catfish behavior and habitat well. With a bit of practice and perseverance, you’ll be reeling in catfish like a pro in no time! So, grab your fishing gear, head out to the lake, and happy fishing!

For smaller freshwater fish try:

Size #6: Target fish include Panfish including Bluegill (Bream), Sunfish, and Crappie. Also great for Trout, Carp, White Perch, and more.

For larger freshwater fish try:

Size 1/0: Target fish include Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Larger Trout, Carp, Walleye, and more.

Barefoot Jig: Target fish include Trout (speckled and gray), Drum (red and black), Flounder, Striped and Hybrid Bass, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye and more!

For larger catfish fish try:

7/0 Catfish Circle Hook: Target fish include Blue, Bullhead, Channel, Flathead, and White Catfish.

Other saltwater tackle you may want to try:

J Hook Chin Weights: Target fish include Tuna, Mahi or Common Dolphin, King Mackerel, Wahoo, and more.

4 oz. Crab Decoy Jig: Target fish for Striped Bass, nearshore Drum, Snook, Grouper, west coast bottom fish, and more.

4 oz. Tuna Squid Decoy Jig: From the eastern, western, Alaskan and gulf coasts target fish include: Tuna, Dolphin, Wahoo, Fluke, Flounder, Striped Bass, Seabass, Amberjack (east coast), Yellow Tail (west coast), California White Sea Bass (west coast), Grouper, Snapper, Halibut, Ling cod, and all Alaskan bottom fish.

8 oz. – 12 oz. 10/0 Squid Decoy Jig: Catch BIG Grouper, Amberjack, Giant Stripers, and more.

To Purchase any of Tim Barefoot's Tackle listed above visit: BarefootCatsandTackle.com

Spring is considered one of the best seasons for fishing, especially for panfish lovers. However, fishing in the spring requires different techniques than in other seasons, especially when catching panfish. Panfish are small to medium-sized fish abundant in freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. Crappie, perch, sunfish, and bluegills are some of the most popular panfish species for anglers to target during this season. They actively feed during the springtime, making it an excellent time to go out and target these species. So, to help improve your chances of success, here are the best tips, tricks, and techniques to help you maximize your catch when looking to catch panfish in the spring.

1. Location:

Choosing the right location is the first step to having a successful panfish catch. During the spring, panfish swim from deep to shallow waters for spawning purposes in various freshwater bodies, including shallow ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and slow-moving streams or rivers with cover or vegetation. Therefore, look out for areas that have cover or vegetation.

Since panfish love to hang around structure areas like weed beds, fallen trees, docks, or rocks that provide them with cover, they are keen on these structures, as they provide shade and protection from predators. You can also use depth maps to locate the shallow parts of the waterway.

2. Bait:

Springtime is the peak period for panfish, and using the correct type of bait can make all the difference. Panfish are omnivorous and will eat almost anything that looks tasty and moves, so choose baits that suit your preferences and style.

Live bait is always an excellent choice for panfish, including nightcrawlers, red worms, crayfish, crickets, and minnows. Artificial bait such as jigs, soft plastics, grubs, and spinners can also be effective. Be sure to match the size of the bait and lures to the size of the fish you target.

3. Tackle:

The next step is selecting the appropriate equipment. Circle hooks, slip bobbers, and fluorocarbon leaders tied to braided mainline (uni-to-uni knot) will serve you well. Ultralight rods combined with light or even ultra-light reels are appropriate for catching panfish. Using a heavier rod can make it difficult to detect bites and fish. Because an ultralight rod has a soft tip, it is ideal for detecting the bites, which can be light during the spring. Moreover, a lightweight rod will help you cast your line farther and more accurately.

4. Pay attention to the weather:

Weather can significantly impact your chances of success when fishing for panfish in the spring. The temperature of the water plays a significant role in the fish’s activity level. As the water temperature rises, panfish become more active and feed aggressively.

The best time to go fishing is when there’s a high-pressure system, accompanied by clear skies and more stable weather conditions, which panfish tend to prefer. Overcast days, warm fronts, and rising barometric pressure are great indicators for catching panfish. Conversely, you’ll want to avoid fishing on days with strong wind or significant changes in barometric pressure, which can cause panfish to become less active.

5. Technique:

Springtime is the best time to use a slow fishing technique when targeting panfish. Panfish typically enjoy feeding on the surface and around cover such as trees, boulders, and grass lines. When using lures or baits that mimic small insects or other biting organisms that panfish might eat, such as a worm or grub, try to cast it directly where the fish are likely to be. Casting jigs, wet flies, or small spinners through the cover around the shoreline is a tried and tested technique.

Techniques like drifting and bobber fishing work well for panfish.
Keep your bait stationary after casting, and give the fish time to find it. Once you’ve noticed a bite, be patient, and let the fish take the bait and set the hook before reeling it in. You can also try drifting your bait under a bobber along the bottom of the water, which can be effective when fishing in deeper water.

6. Patience:

Fishing is supposed to be fun, so don’t forget to relax. It requires patience, and it’s much better if you enjoy the fishing process, not just the result of having a catch. Panfish are not the most aggressive species, and they might take their time to bite. Be patient and try different techniques to find what works. Be patient and positive, even if you don’t catch anything. Remember to appreciate the beautiful scenery and nature around you, and enjoy the company of your fishing buddies.

In conclusion, panfish fishing in the spring can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors and bring home a tasty meal. They are abundant in freshwater lakes and streams; catching them is a great way to enjoy the warmer weather and experience nature’s beauty. The key to catching panfish lies in targeting the right location, using the right bait and equipment, perfecting your technique, paying attention to the weather, and building up the patience to keep trying even when they’re not biting; you’ll be ready to catch panfish like a pro. Keep in mind that getting the perfect catch may take some practice, but with time, a little bit of luck, and these tips, you’ll be catching more panfish in no time!