close

With snook season closed, we look to other species

5 min read

While snook season came to a close without much of a bang, there where other species that took up the slack. The latest cool down kept water temperatures down where anglers had no trouble finding snook, but getting them to eat was a difficult task at best. Trout, redfish and sheepshead were more cooperative inshore while grouper and tripletail provided some offshore action.

Most of the snook sighted over the last week of season were found in the protected waters of deeper residential canals or under bridges and piers. Schools of several dozen snook were often sighted just under the surface soaking up the mid-day sun in canals. These fish for the most part turned their nose up at a host of baits that included live shrimp, pinfish and just about any kind of artificial you could imagine. There were a few reports of snook biting in the canals late in the day and a few snook up to 30 inches caught from bridges in Matlacha during the night.

Although the end of snook season was a little disappointing, the prospects for the upcoming trout season looks really good. While the season won’t kick off until the new year, however, the catch and release reports have been impressive. Anglers report trout hanging along just about every oyster bar in south Matlacha Pass down to Punta Rassa. Most of the fish are good sized averaging well in the 15-20-inch slot. Trout were also caught between Pineland and Part Island and on the bay side of Cayo Costa and Captiva Islands. Potholes at the southern end of the sound near Mac Keever Keys and Regla Island were also holding some dandy specks during the low water. Live shrimp either free lined or hooked on a quarter-ounce jig head and DOA artificials were the top catchers in all areas. A few trout up to 23 inches were caught on top water lures early in the morning along the oyster bars in Matlacha Pass.

Redfish were scattered over the flats, along shorelines and oyster bars. The fish were averaging 19 to 22 inches with a few larger fish reported. Wade and sight fishing gave the best results on the flats during the few mornings with little wind and a low incoming tide.

Fish were sighted in the Smoke House Bay area of Matlacha and “Ding” Darling on the back side of Sanibel. Live hand-picked shrimp rigged weedless and DOA paddle tail jerk baits were the favored baits. On the bars and shorelines it was hard to beat the time proven live shrimp suspended under a popping cork. The reds weren t ganged up but were cruising in singles and pairs, if you caught one and gave the area enough time, chances were good another one would come by.

Sheepshead are another fish that should provide us some good action in the upcoming months. They have no closed season and their presence inshore is greater every day. Although many are still undersized, they have become thick in recent weeks on the same oyster bars mentioned above for trout. Also the docks inside Redfish and Captiva passes as well as the Sanibel Pier have yielded sheepies up to four pounds over the week. Look for the numbers of larger fish to increase daily.

Offshore there were a couple picture perfect days that allowed anglers to comfortably make the trip. Red grouper with an average of about one in six of keeper size were found in 70-foot depths west of Boca Grande over live or coral bottom. Gags up to 28 inches were trolled up in depths from 30-45 feet between Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel up to the southern end of Cayo Costa.

While trolling for grouper, anglers were occasionally rewarded with tripletail. While trolling within sight of crab trap lines under the buoys, several tripletails were sighted sunning under the surface. A stealthy approach within casting range resulted in a few tripletail with the largest one reported scaling at 12 pounds. Live shrimp large enough to make a long cast or gulp crab imitations worked best under the buoys.

If you are fishing inshore and you want to catch something to eat, remember both snook and trout are off limits. As mentioned, trout season will reopen with the new year and with much anticipation. Along with sheepshead and redfish, chances are good at catching flounder, pompano, snapper and maybe a grouper inshore this month. There are, no doubt, other species but those are the most popular. For the best results on all these species, especially during December, you want to go with shrimp or shrimp imitations. That’s what most fish inshore are feeding on right now.

If you have a fishing story or photo that you would like to share or for charter information, please contact me at (239)283-7960 or www.fishpineisland.com. Have a safe week and good fishin’.