Phot provided For a college graduation present from Colorado University Justin D’atri’s father brought him to Pine Island for several days of fishing. On the first day he caught his first tarpon while fishing Charlotte Harbor with Captain Bill Russell

Well the fishing wasn’t that hot but the Florida sun sure was. Actually the fishing wasn’t too bad early and late in the day, but the mid to late day falling tides and record high temperatures made for tough fishing in between.

As the unofficial tarpon season winds down there are still plenty of fish around. Boca Grande Pass was stacked with fish with large pods leaving the Pass and moving into the Harbor on the incoming tide. Atlantic thread herring, pinfish and crabs were effective baits with the best bite coming over early morning hours. The full moon brought late afternoon falling (hill) tides over several days that flushed crabs out of the Harbor. In the late afternoon anglers were able to find plenty of crabs riding the weed lines out of the Pass and plenty of tarpon slurping the crabs.

Smaller groups of tarpon were present in Pine Island Sound near Captive Rocks, Fosters Point and Chino Island. During the early morning hours live thread herring and pinfish were the top baits then after the heat of the day settled in more fish were hooked on cut bait soaked on bottom. Plenty of sharks from three to six feet were also hooked with the tarpon.

Inshore fishing for sea trout, mackerel, bluefish and others was good during the incoming tide over deeper grass flats from six to ten foot depths. Once the tide turned out the bite was a lot more difficult. The above variety of fish were caught on the grass flats on the gulf side of the Sanibel Causeway between the B and C spans, near Hell’s Half Acre inside Captive Pass and in Charlotte Harbor off Bokeelia and Bull Bay. Live pilchards, shrimp and Clark Spoons were popular baits. A few undersize cobia and plenty of sharks were also in the mix.

Redfish were reported under the mangroves on high water in areas including Cabbage Key, the Wulfert Keys and Fosters Point on Captiva. The top bait was live shrimp fished with a split-shot sinker, cut bait and small live pinfish also caught fish. The best bite was the last two hours of the incoming tide. Mangrove snapper up to fourteen inches were also a pleasant by-catch for those targeting reds.

On the outside mangrove snapper were caught over structure in depths from twenty to fifty feet along with a few grouper (most undersize). Permit numbers were good over near shore structure in the same depths with fish up to twelve pounds taken on small live crabs. While fishing around the offshore structures a few large kingfish and cobia were also hooked on a flat line with live bait.

It’s hard to believe the fourth of July holiday is already upon us. This is one of the busiest weekends of the year on the water. If you plan on hitting the water make sure the required safety equipment on your boat is up to speed. Law enforcement will be on the water making safety inspections, it’s for your benefit and safety so do yourself a favor and make sure you have all the required equipment and it’s up to date before you get on the water. Go to www.myfwc.com for the latest regulations. If every boater shows common courtesy to others and uses common sense there is no reason why everyone can’t share a great Holiday weekend. Have a Happy and Safe holiday!

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at 239-283-7960; website: www.fishpineisland.com.

Have a safe week and good fishin’.