Fishing is back on track with warmer weather
What a difference a week makes! We left the cold and returned to our sunny tropical weather over the past week and the fish responded. The bite improved each day as the sunny skies warmed the waters.
Trout fishing was getting better each day and the fish were hungry going into the Valentine’s Day weekend. Capt. Dick Eyler of Matlacha reports getting into good trout action over the later part of the week. Capt. Eyler was fishing live pilchards over grass flats in 6 to 8 feet of water in Charlotte Harbor near Bokeelia. The majority of the trout were in the keeper range with one big fish measuring 24 inches. Spanish mackerel, bluefish and ladyfish were also plentiful in the same area.
Capt. Gary Clark reports trout fishing was much improved this week in southern Pine Island Sound. Fish up to 21 inches were caught in potholes on the low water near Regla Island on the eastern side of the sound. Bass Assassin Redfish Magic in a white color and live shrimp under a popping cork both worked well in the holes. On the higher water, Capt. Clark reports not as many fish as in the holes but some big ones working the edges of oyster bars east of Eighth Avenue in Matlacha Pass. These fish were taking small live pilchards and suspended crank baits that imitated pilchards.
On my boat we found decent trout fishing at the beginning of the week and good fishing by week’s end. Early in the week when the water was still really cold our largest trout came on cut baits fished on bottom for redfish or sheepshead. A small ladyfish steak intended for a red or a shrimp cut in half for the sheepies easily out-fished live shrimp and artificials for the largest specks. By mid-week the fish were more aggressive with either a free-lined shrimp, a shrimp under a bobber or a soft jerk bait taking most of the bites. The average size of our fish was 15-17 inches with a few near 20 inches. We were fishing the deeper holes in north Matlacha Pass on the falling tide and moving south near the power lines and working oyster bars over the incoming tide.
Also in south Matlacha Pass, we boated a few redfish with the largest measuring 27 inches, sheepshead, with most running undersize, and tons of ladyfish.
Trout were also reported in the sand holes between Big Jim Creek and Pineland Channel and the flats from Cabbage Key to Pelican Bay.
Low morning tides made for good opportunities for tailing redfish for many anglers. Fish were reported in small schools on the east side of Matlacha Pass about a half mile south of the bridge, and upper slot to oversized fish were sighted near Buck Key on the southwest side of the sound. A few large sheepshead were also roaming the shallows near Buck Key.
Offshore, several tripletails were either sighted or caught under crab trap buoys. The fish were found under buoys in 20 to 25-foot depths from Redfish Pass south to Knapp’s Point off Sanibel. These fish ranged in size from 10 to 21 inches and were hooked on live free-lined shrimp and Berkley Gulp crabs. Several Spanish mackerel were caught just outside of both Captiva and Redfish passes and around the Sanibel Causeway. They are mixed in with some extra large ladyfish and bluefish.
Want to learn the trick to catching sheepshead? Then head down to the Old Pine Island Marina & Tackle Friday, Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. The marina is sponsoring a “Crustacean Crushers” seminar hosted by Capt. Charles Epranian, who will speak about how to catch not only sheepshead but also pompano, permit, grouper and whiting. Light refreshments will also be served at the Marina.
If you have a fishing story or photo that you would like to share or for charter information, please contact us at (239)283-7960 or visit us at www.fishpineisland.com. Have a safe week and good fishin’.