On the Water: New year off to chilly start
Cold weather kicked off the New Year, but it wasn’t for long. Daytime temperatures climbed back into the 80s into the weekend. With the drastic temperature change, full moon and extreme low tides, fishing was often a challenge.
Sheepshead were the target for many anglers, often reporting mixed results. For some, the action was good with keeper-size fish, and others found it difficult to hook them of any size. Over the cold windy days, deep water creeks turned up good-sized fish in areas around “Ding” Darling Wildlife Sanctuary, St. James and south Matlacha Pass. Over the better weather days, sheepshead were caught in and around the Gulf passes and off oyster bars in Pine Island Sound. Shrimp fished on the bottom with either a light weight or jig head was the preferred bait.
Small snook, snapper, black drum and redfish were caught in the creeks on the same baits as well. Fishing the flats over the low incoming water turned up redfish to 28 inches. They were in deeper sand holes on the low water and moving onto grass flats and shorelines with the rising water. Sight fishermen hooked up on various flies, spoons and properly placed live shrimp. On the higher water they went for cut bait, shrimp and spoons along shorelines.
Seatrout reports are down from what we expect this month. While some anglers are catching good trout with consistency, many others are finding it a struggle. A few decent reports came while working bar edges and deeper grass bottoms around Bokeelia and on the western side of Pine Island Sound. The best bet was drifting or covering an area while casting shrimp or shad tail soft plastics and spoons. Ladyfish, puffers, Spanish mackerel and jack crevalle were hooked as well.
It’s that time of year when bonnethead sharks invade the inshore waters. If you hook or see one, odds are there are more around. Unlike most sharks, bonnetheads prefer shrimp and crabs over fish. Live shrimp under a bobber is a top bait, and they are often hooked while looking for seatrout. They are also caught while fishing on the bottom for sheepshead around structure. When they run together, they often take over a fishing spot, making it difficult to catch anything else. They are very fast and give a great fight on light tackle. Kids love them as they are often mistaken for a small hammerhead. And who’s to tell a kid any difference? Some say they are good eating as they feed mostly on crustaceans. I haven’t tried them so I cannot say yes or no.
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.