Fish early or late to beat the heat
Between the heat of summer, people spending some time in the cooler states to our north and others heading south for the first week of lobster season in the Keys our waters in Southwest Florida have been quiet from a fishing stand point. There are still anglers out there but probably the lowest amount you will see all year.
Offshore, the seas have been calm at times to calm, flats seas means no breeze and in the summer that equates to hot, sticky days. However grouper and snapper did not seem to mind as both were caught at depths beginning at about sixty-five feet out to the hundred foot mark. Both gag and red grouper up to thirteen pounds were caught over ledges and hard coral bottom with the larger fish taking hand size pinfish and squirrel fish. Grouper were also caught on Spanish sardines and squid tipped jigs bounced on bottom. Decent mangrove snapper fishing was also reported at the hundred foot mark with fish averaging two to three pounds.
A few king mackerel are still lurking our waters and are likely catches at any of the artificial reefs offshore. Several were caught over the week up to fifteen pounds on live baits from reefs just a few miles off Sanibel and Captiva. Most of these reefs are yielding a variety of fish including Spanish mackerel, snapper, grouper and sharks. If you are going to spend some time anchored over one it’s a good idea to keep a heavier rig in the water properly tackled for the next king that happens along.
Fishing around the Passes is always a good choice during the summer heat. The water is generally a little cooler and many of our species gravitate to the Passes in the summer. Mangrove snapper were caught in Captiva Pass while drifting the slower stages of the tide. Small pilchards, pinfish and shrimp rigged to bounce off the bottom on knocker or various other rigs is the best bet to catch enough filets to fill a dinner platter. Get there the last hour of the tide stage fish through the slack and the first hour after the change until the current becomes too strong. There are also plenty of small grouper in the Passes and occasionally one is rewarded with a legal size fish.
Inshore, the high water temperatures put fishing over the morning incoming tide at a premium. The bite was decent with the incoming but really slowed down over the mid and late day falling water. Redfish were caught under the mangroves in Smokehouse Bay and McCardle Island in Matlacha Pass and along the eastern shoreline of Charlotte Harbor near Hurricane Pass. All the fish reported were in the slot averaging from twenty-two to twenty-six inches. In the Sound redfish were found near Black Island to the north and Wulfert Keys to the south and also inside the Passes in deeper water over the late day falling tide. Other than around Passes the best bite was over the last couple hours of the incoming tide with live or cut bait fished deep under the mangroves. A few mangrove snapper up to twelve inches were also caught with the reds.
The deeper grass flats in the Sound and Charlotte Harbor were the best place to look for action with multiple species. Trout catches were common but many anglers found it difficult to put a limit of legal fish in the boat. Many are averaging around thirteen to fourteen inches with a few larger fish mixed in. Spanish mackerel up to twenty-one inches helped fill the dinner ticket. Bluefish and often an endless supply of ladyfish helped to keep rods bent plus small blacktip sharks three foot or less have also been abundant. Again, the best action was over the morning incoming tide.
It’s August and it’s hot, but you already know that. Most anglers chose to fish the morning or late afternoons and give it a rest during the mid day heat, of course if you are fishing thirty miles offshore that’s not an option. A little shade goes a long way in beating the Florida sun, it doesn’t have to be fancy or high tech, something as simple as a beach umbrella can give you a little relief on the boat and make for a much more enjoyable day. And drink lots of water to keep hydrated, drink at least twice as much as you think you should and force yourself to drink even if not thirsty. This is even more important with kids, they can become dehydrated much quicker than adults and they really need to be monitored to ensure they are taking in the proper fluids. Its hard with kids but avoid giving them soft drinks, water or sports drinks with electrolytes is a much better choice in the hot sun for proper hydration.
And speaking of kids, remember the start of school is only a few weeks off so let’s get them on the water one more time before they are back chained to their desks.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at: phone: 239-283-7960, website: www.fishpineisland.com, e-mail: gcl2fish@live.com. Have a safe week and good fishin’.