Redfish, sharks, tarpon and more
The Best fishing around Pine Island has come during the early and late hours of the day. This is the most comfortable time to fish the summer heat in southwest Florida and generally the time fish are most active.
I keep hearing reports of better red fishing each week and it sounds like the bigger fish are beginning to school. This usually happens towards the end of this month so although it seems a little early it’s about the right time. A few anglers including Captain Sean McQuade are catching mostly oversize fish with many over thirty inches. Fishing the high water in north Pine Island Sound and across the Harbor in Bull and Turtle Bays produced the best action. Schools of fish were working close to the shorelines with cut pinfish, ballyhoo and pilchards the best baits.
Redfish were also reported around Regla Island in the southern Sound, north Matlacha Pass and on the eastern shore of Charlotte Harbor behind the Burnt Store Bar. Many of the fish in these areas were averaging twenty to twenty-three inches with several caught in the thirty inch class. Again the best bite was on the high water and baits included DOA Jerk shad and DOA Shrimp, live pilchards and cut ladyfish.
The beaches continue to hold snook for fun catch and release fishing. Most of the fish are averaging twenty-two to twenty-five inches and are often found in pods of several dozen just a few feet from shore. The morning incoming tide produced the best bite with small pilchards or small pilchard imitations the best bait.
Tarpon were also sighted in small pods just a short distance of the beaches. They are averaging sixty to ninety pounds and were the most active from first light to mid morning. Look for these fish to eat a large live thread herring or pinfish. On the morning high tides we came across pods of smaller tarpon in Matlacha Pass. They averaged fifteen to forty pounds and were eagerly eating live free lined pilchards, what a blast on light tackle! If the water is calm keep an eye open for rolling fish.
Bluefish and Spanish mackerel were caught together around the deeper grass flats along the perimeter of Charlotte Harbor and in the Sound near the Passes. These fish are feeding on the never ending supply of two to four inch baitfish, any artificial about that size the mimics a pilchard or herring is bound to get hammered. Ladyfish, small blacktip sharks and a few keeper size trout were also in the mix.
Speaking of sharks, there are plenty of all sizes still around. Captain Gary Clark reports good action in the mid Sound near Captiva Rocks on Lemon and Blacktips up to five feet. We got our two kids out one last time before school starts and they were rewarded with their largest shark yet. After a battle that lasted over an hour and a half and team work fighting the fish they were rewarded with a big lemon shark that measured eight feet two inches nose to tip of tail. The fish was measured in the water boat side then swam away after a few pictures and removal of the 7/0 Owner circle hook. Congratulations Shelby and Jake, nice team work and job well done.
The days are getting shorter and with several rainy days over the last couple weeks the water has cooled down, at least a little. Late August is when we start hunting for schools of large redfish and fishing will only get better as we progress towards the cooler days off fall.
If you have a fishing report of for charter information, please contact us at: 239-283-7960, website: www.fishpineisland.com, e-mail: gcl2fish@live.com . Have a safe week and good fishin’.