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On the Water: Fishing was best over morning hours

By Capt. Bill Russell - | Aug 28, 2024

There are a few big summer trout around. This large girl was caught and released along a bar edge on the falling tide in north Pine Island Sound near Bokeelia fishing with Capt. Bill Russell. PHOTO PROVIDED

With a high falling tide through the morning hours the inshore bite was best from sunup through late morning then fell off with the afternoon low water and heat of the day.

Redfish and snook were caught on the high falling water under bushes and island points throughout Pine Island Sound and across Charlotte Harbor around Bull Bay. Cut bait and artificial baits often out-fished live baits. Cut pinfish and Z-Man plastics were top producers.

Redfish schools are beginning to appear around the Sound and Charlotte Harbor. They were located cruising along bar edges in schools up to a hundred or so, with most fish running oversize. Redfish schools were inconsistent from day to day, but they should become more numerous as we head into September.

Seatrout fishing was spotty for many anglers, especially locating the bigger fish. The best bet was drifting grass flats four feet and deeper while watching for birds and surface feeding. There are a lot of small bait fish around and large schools of ladyfish harassing the bait. Often this is where the trout are as well, plus Spanish mackerel, bluefish and others. Seatrout up to 22 inches were hooked casting a variety of baits including spoons, Gulp Baits and Z-Man 3-inch MinnowZ in a variety of colors.

Inshore mangrove snapper has fallen off it appears as they were not as abundant as in past weeks with more undersized fish than keeper size. With that said, snapper to 14 inches were caught over reefs around Cape Haze in the Harbor, and in and around the Gulf passes from Redfish up to Boca Grande.

Offshore, barracuda and Spanish mackerel were reported around reefs, including Helen’s, Power Pole and Pace’s Place. Fishing hard bottom and ledges in 40 to 50-foot depths worked for mangrove and lane snapper, plus catch-and-release grouper.

Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish.If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576, on the web at www.fishpineisland.com or email us 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.