Strong tides bring on good fishing
Fishing was good over the past couple weeks, during the days with strong flood tides fishing was at its best then as we progressed into slower tides the bite also slowed considerably. With the arrival of summer and very hot days early and late were the best times to fish especially on the days with a mid-day outgoing tide heating up the inshore waters.
Tarpon fishing peaked with good morning action off the Beaches in the Harbor and Sound or afternoon/evening fishing in the Passes. Tarpon pods were located off the beach from Knapp’s Point off Sanibel up to Gasparilla Island with the best bite coming the first three hours of daylight. From Redfish Pass to the south a large free lined thread herring was the best bait and from Redfish Pass to the north live crabs under a float was a better choice in the clearer water. Most of the fish were averaging seventy to one hundred twenty pounds.
During the latest round of strong afternoon and evening outgoing or “hill” tides tarpon were bunched up at Boca Grande Pass were there were lots of boats and lots of hook-ups. A good crab flush from the Harbor put the fish on a good feed over several days. First, anglers used a long handled dip net to scoop the small crabs riding the tide through the Pass, then they were drifted either under a bobber or free lined inside the Pass were tarpon were sighted slurping crabs from the surface. Jig fishermen also found plenty of tarpon willing to play over the morning incoming tides. If you are looking to purchase a new tarpon rod and reel combo the Old Pine Island Marina is offering a ten percent discount through the month of June. Mary at the Marina said they also have new lines of sun protective clothing to help keep cool while providing protection from the summer sun.
Above average high tides yielded good results for those looking for a redfish in Pine Island Sound. Fish up to thirty-one inches were caught in the mid to upper Sound from Foster’s Point up to Part Island. Results were about equal with live or cut baits that included pinfish, pilchards, ladyfish and ballyhoo. As the days get warmer more anglers are choosing to get out of the boat and wade fish the shorelines. This method generally results in more fish caught as you can cover more area plus it’s a great way to cool off. The best bite was over the last two hours of the incoming and first hour of the falling tide.
As has been the case much of the spring a good variety of fish were found over grass flats with sandy areas in five to eight foot depths at both ends of Pine Island. Trout, mackerel, bluefish and sharks were the main players on areas near the Sanibel Causeway to the south, near Captiva Rocks in the mid Sound and near Bokeelia in the Charlotte Harbor. For baits live pilchards, live shrimp under a popping cork and white, pearl or chartreuse colored shad tail soft plastics made good choices. About every day we fished these areas we had at least one hooked fish get intercepted and ripped in half by a shark. Each time we would grab a heavier rod and toss out a large chunk of ladyfish and most times it wasn’t long until the culprit was back again. Our largest shark was a five and a half foot blacktip caught off Bokeelia and we lost a few others that felt bigger.
Speaking of sharks it’s time again for the Pine Island Big Fin Shark Tournament to be held at Pineland Marina. This is a tournament that begins in late afternoon on Saturday June 26th and runs through the night with its conclusion the following morning. Entry is only fifty dollars per angler with proceeds to help our area youth. For more information visit www.hollowaytourney.org or contact Leland at 239-633-6484 or Ernestine at 239-281-8225.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at 239-283-7960; website: www.fishpineisland.com.