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On the Water: Springtime fishing has arrived

By Capt. Bill Russell - | Mar 29, 2023

Tarpon have arrived! Ron Smits of Bokeelia holds a tarpon caught by Jeff Pearce visiting from New Lenox, Illinois. PHOTO PROVIDED

The week started with cold weather for our standards and finished with sunny, warm days. Fishing started a little slow but picked up as the weather improved with the arrival of spring. 

The best Spanish mackerel reports of the year were reported inside the Gulf passes and Charlotte Harbor. Macks were caught off bar edges in Charlotte Harbor near Bokeelia, in Pine Island Sound over grass/sand mixed bottom inside Captiva and Redfish passes, and between the B and C span of the Sanibel Causeway on the Gulf side. Land-bound anglers hooked into macks from the Matlacha Drawbridge. Live shrimp under a popping or a rattling cork was the top bait, with live pilchards, small spoons and Gotcha lures also catching fish.  

Sand holes and areas around oyster bars held spotted seatrout up to 23 inches in Pine Island Sound with a good number of fish released in the 20-inch class. Seatrout reports also came around Bokeelia, including grass flats to the north and west, and in Burgess Bay. To the south, trout were caught between Tarpon Bay and Blind Pass and east of Chino Island.  

Snook and redfish were a good option after mid-week with rising water temperatures. Both species were hooked around Captiva, Redfish and Blind passes, plus keys and islands throughout Pine Island Sound. Snook were reported in Matlacha Pass but not many redfish. Most fish were caught with free lined live shrimp, pilchards and pinfish, plus Berkley Gulp Baits and Rapala X-raps.

Fishing for both species will improve as spring brings us warmer water and higher tides. 

Early in the week, sheepshead was a good option over the cooler days. Prime sheepshead season is winding down but fish up to 5 pounds were caught around the Gulf passes and barrier islands. Shrimp and mud crabs were top baits.

Anglers hooked into sharks ranging in size from 2-6 feet. Black tip, sharp nose and bonnetheads were caught while fishing trout and mackerel in previous mentioned areas. Baits included cut mullet and ladyfish, plus live shrimp and pinfish.

Also, tarpon are beginning to roll in as we are getting reports of hook-ups in the Sound and Charlotte Harbor. Tarpon will become more plentiful over the next few weeks. 

March is notoriously known as a windy month in Southwest Florida, on my account, the windiest of the year. Good news, winter is over, and spring has arrived. Moving forward, windy conditions should become less frequent, plus fewer, and weaker cool fronts. Spring kicks off maybe the best weather and fishing of the year. Get on the water and enjoy it! 

To keep up on current fishing regulations, you can go to www.myfwc.com or download the Fish Rules app for the latest rules and regulations. 

If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www.fishpineisland.com; or via email at gcl2fish@live.com.

Have a safe week and good fishin’.

As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for the past 23 years.