It feels like summer is here
We got our first taste of summer like weather; days were warm and humid with a southerly wind. For the most part anglers were confined to fishing inshore as the southerly winds were often gusting much of the week and made for some pretty big seas offshore.
Those looking to put a little meat on the table found trout the best bet, particularly in Pine Island Sound. With all the rain recently and now the dumping of fresh water from Lake Okeechobee salinity levels have dropped in Matlacha Pass, trout are still there but not in the numbers that are in the Sound. About any grass flat in the Sound from three to eight feet deep was a likely area to connect with a trout or two or possibly many more. As the water temperature continues to rise the best bet for the larger fish is a live minnow or something that imitates one. Shiners (pilchards) and pinfish worked best when fished live under a popping cork on the flats and the same baits worked better free-lined in sand potholes near the Islands. Soft plastic shad tails in new penny, white and chartreuse colors also worked great fished on a red or yellow quarter-ounce head.
Big full moon high tides gave plenty of opportunities for red fishing under the mangroves. Some anglers report catching none and others found two to four fish concentrated on shorelines. Live pilchards and cut ladyfish accounted for all the redfish in the reports I received, with fish up to thirty inches caught. There was also a number of large trout up to four pounds that took the cut ladyfish intended for redfish. Reds were reported at both ends of the Sound, around Islands north of Rocky Channel at the upper ends and south of Redfish Pass at the lower end. A few were also caught in north Matlacha Pass.
A couple tarpon were hooked over the week, but the strong wind has really made it difficult to both locate fish and fish many of the favorite tarpon areas. The best bet was to anchor up in well known early season tarpon areas and fish a combination of cut bait on bottom and free-lined live bait. There have been no reports of large tarpon pods as of yet, most of the fish are singles and pairs so patience is the key to hooking up.
Sharks continue to move into the area and if you are tarpon fishing with cut baits you should expect some action on sharks. Lemons and blacktips were the most common in the Sound and Charlotte Harbor along with a few sand sharks and lots of little bonnetheads. Also, at least on big cobia was caught on a half ladyfish intended for tarpon. It weighed near thirty pounds and was caught west of Demere Key near the clam leases.
With a new month let’s see if fishing continues to be as big a challenge as it’s been every other month so far this year. One thing is for sure, everything seems to be running about a month behind after the extended winter. With a week of weather forecasted to be near ninety degrees the water is warming rapidly, once the wind dies off I expect a big push of tarpon into our area. Of course you have to wonder, Will the wind let up for a week or so? I sure hope so!
If you have a fishing story or for charter information, please contact us at:
Phone: 239-283-7960
Website: www.fishpineisland.com‘>www.fishpineisland.com
E-mail: gcl2fish@live.com‘>gcl2fish@live.com
Have a safe week and good fishin’