On the Water: A rough week on the water
Apart from a day or two, it was a pretty tough week on the water. Cold fronts with strong northerly winds, plus extreme low tides, handicapped anglers and kept most off the water.
Our favorite winter fish, sheepshead, was the go-to target for many anglers. As most know, sheepshead thrive in the cold and adverse conditions. A few anglers discovered if they were willing to brave the weather, the sheepshead were biting.
Shore-bound anglers took home a few good ones while bottom fishing shrimp around the pilings from the Matlacha Drawbridge over daytime hours. Kayak anglers found protection from the wind in creeks around Bokeelia and St. James and scored with sheepshead, plus redfish, seatrout and snook.
From boats, sheepshead were caught fishing docks, pilings and deeper shorelines all around Pine Island, Matlacha and the outer islands. Most anglers fished a piece or a whole shrimp on a jig head, or a small hook rigged with a spit shot or egg sinker.
There was a day or two with lighter winds. During this time a mix of sheepshead snapper, grunts and undersized triggerfish were caught over hard bottom in 25 to 40-foot depths in Gulf waters.
Both inshore and in Gulf waters, anglers are noting an increase in the size of sheepshead. This should continue as we are nearing the peak of their spawn.
To stay up to date with current regulations, go to www.myfwc.com or better, download the Fish Rules app. It updates every time you open it. It’s free, and has all local fish species, regulations, and pictures of each.
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.