On the Water: There was good fishing action off the beaches
Large schools of bait fish continue to move down the coast into our area, followed by a variety of hungry predators. With winds blowing from an easterly direction, it was possible to fish a few miles west off the beaches, but further into Gulf waters was getting rough.
King and Spanish mackerel, plus large ladyfish, bluefish and jack crevalle were hooked around bait pods from just off the beaches out to around 35-foot depths from Boca Grande south to Sanibel. Spanish mackerel were located feeding on the surface with larger kings running underneath mid-depth. Trolling or casting small shiny spoons or mylar jigs worked for the Spanish and other fish and deep trolling larger spoons and lures like the Yo-zuri and Rapala deep divers picked up kings. Black tip and spinner sharks were around the action as well.
Fishing near the surf, anglers report hook-ups with pompano, whiting, Spanish mackerel, seatrout and ladyfish. Areas mentioned included the beach between the Sanibel Fishing Pier and Lighthouse, between Bowman’s Beach and Blind Pass and north of Captiva Pass on Cayo Costa. Baits included shrimp, shrimp-tipped jigs, pompano jigs and small spoons.
Inshore, Spanish mackerel were caught in Matlacha Pass near marker 76, between Bokeelia and Boca Grande Pass, west of the fish shacks in the Sound, and near the powerlines further south. Shrimp, pilchards and small shiny lures fooled the mackerel plus a number of jack crevalle.
Fishing inshore was tough for many with strong winds and days with low water. The best seatrout action came from areas semi-protected with clear water and a grassy bottom. In Pine Island Sound that often meant the eastern side as it remained calmer. Seatrout ranging from 12-20 inches took a variety of lures and baits from St. James up to Pineland drifting grass bottom, working bar edges and targeting deeper sand holes.
Areas mentioned for seatrout often held redfish and snook — not so much the open grass flats, but bar edges or drop-offs, sand holes near islands and oyster bars. Snook to 31 inches and redfish up to 32 inches were hooked in the Sound, plus around the perimeter of Charlotte Harbor and Matlacha Pass. If fishing for snook and redfish, look for areas with schooling mullet to increase your odds.
The fall migration of fish is happening now and that means school after school of bait fish working down the coast. Find the bait and you will find the fish. As mentioned many times, stay alert and watch for feeding birds and fish actively feeding on the surface. Once spotted, get into casting range without driving through or disturbing the action. At times feeding fish will spook easily and require a stealthy long cast and other times it feels like they’re going to eat the boat. This can be a lot of fun with a lot of action, plus you do not know what you will hook next.
Go to www.myfwc.com or the Fish Rules app to stay up to date with fishing rules and regulations for our area.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, pIf you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service; phone (239) 410-8576, email gcl2fish@live.com or you visit us on the Web at www.fishpineisland.com
Have a safe week and good fishin’.
As a lifetime resident of Matlacha and Pine Island, Capt. Bill Russell has spent his life fishing and learning the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for over 20 years.