On the Water: Warmer days improves inshore fishing
Last week’s cold snap dropped inshore water temperature into the upper 50s for a short time before gradually rising into the 60s. If you have fished our waters very long, you know a sudden drop in temperature is not good for inshore fishing. As the week progressed, each day was warmer than the previous and the forecast looks great for this week.
With the cooler water, sheepshead reports are on the rise. Anglers report a lot of undersized fish with a few large ones mixed in. They were caught in canals and around docks in St. James, inside Tarpon Bay, Blind Pass and the Matlacha Drawbridge. Mangrove snapper, small redfish and a few black drum were caught as well. Top baits included live or cut shrimp on bottom and small jig heads tipped with shrimp. With water temperatures dropping early this season, expect an increase in larger sheepshead.
With the lack of rain and cool weather, water clarity is good in many areas. Sunny skies and light wind is the perfect combination for sight fishing. On low water, redfish were sighted pushing water or tailing in the upper Sound around Orange Pass and the eastern side of Charlotte Harbor near Burnt Store Marina. Anglers also sighted snook and big seatrout. At times fish were willing to eat and other times they showed no interest. Baits included shrimp, cut ladyfish, soft paddle tails, spoons and various flies.
Blue skies and calm seas made for comfortable and productive offshore trips. Limits of red grouper came from depths between 85-110 feet fishing over hard and coral bottom. Further west in depths from 130-180 feet, anglers boxed American red snapper on days of open season. Mangrove and lane snapper, plus a few big sheepshead were caught closer to shore in depths between 30-50 feet.
Go to [https://www.myfwc,com/]www.myfwc,com or on the Fish Rules app to stay up to date on fishing regulations. The Fish Rules app updates every time you open it to current regulations and has pictures to help identify species.
If 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.