Good weather gives a boost to tarpon fishing
As the past week progressed the wind finally let up and anglers experienced calm seas going into the weekend. For what seems like the first time this spring, fishermen in average size boats were able to comfortably venture off the beaches and around open waters of Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound.
Tarpon fishing took a big upturn once the seas flattened out, especially off the beaches and in the mid-Sound. Pods of poons were reported rolling and free-jumping a short distance off the beaches from Ft. Myers Beach up to Bowman’s Beach off Sanibel. Inshore they were located west of Demere Key in the Sound. Off the beaches several tarpon were boated and many others jumped with large thread herring and pilchards as bait. In the Sound cut ladyfish and mullet fished on bottom worked to put several tarpon in the air. Captain Gary Clark also reports hooking and boating an eight foot hammerhead shark while targeting tarpon off the beach at Sanibel.
Speaking of sharks they are roaming all the waters in our area presently, however most of the sharks caught were running four feet or less. That’s a great size to put up a good battle on the light tackle, but on the small side for the larger rigs. Sand bar and black tips with an occasional bull were the most common sharks caught. Look for them in the same areas where mackerel or ladyfish are feeding on bait fish. You can expect some much bigger sharks to make their presence inshore at any time.
Every week Spanish mackerel continue to be the go to fish. And why not, they are more than abundant and continue to cooperate when other species will not. Plus they fight hard and fast and are pretty darn good eaten. The largest macke rel were caught off the beaches in the same waters as tarpon and often on baits intended for tarpon. Live baits drifted on a flat line or silver spoons trolled worked best for these near shore macks that were running up to six pounds. Inshore look for them in the Sound or Harbor in areas with a good tide flow over sand bottom with a mix of grassy areas. Free lined pilchards or shrimp under a popping cork work great for live baits and about any artificial in a light color with lots of flash under four inches in length also works well and allows the angler to cover lots of water. Mackerel were also caught in Redfish and Boca Grande Passes along with lots of juvenile grouper.
Now that snook season is closed hopefully the fishing pressure will be reduced and the bite will get hot. With the trend of warmer weather more fish are moving to the Gulf Passes and on the beaches. There were several reports off good snook catches on Sanibel and Cayo Costa Beaches. Snook up to twenty-seven inches were landed in the surf while casting quarter-ounce DOA white-glo shrimp and Bass Assassin or Slug-O shad tail in pearl white. Also in the Sound Captain Paul Smith of Old Pine Island Marin a reports good snook action on Storm Kickin Minnows. The bite was best during the afternoon falling tide.
The redfish report continues to be very spotty. Some anglers are catching plenty, other are locating the fish but having a difficult time getting them to bite while other s are scratching their heads pondering where the fish went. I expect any time now the redfish will really begin to show up in their normal places and start eating everything in sight. In the mean time if you are on redfish consistently be happy and if you are not, hang in there your turn is coming.
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’.