On the Water: Fishing action heats up in April
April may be our top month fishing Pine Island and surrounding waters. As we transition into spring, our waters are warming, bait fish have moved in and fish are hungry. The weather is stable for the month with light winds and mild sunny days, plus not much threat of daily thunderstorms. Also, until the summer rains begin, inshore waters are the clearest we see all year.
This month brings our largest seatrout of the year with many measuring over 10 inches, and some much larger. Trout prefer clear water and areas with sea grass. Their diet consists of crustaceans and fish. Hungry trout will pounce on shrimp and small baitfish, plus a wide variety of artificial baits.
Spanish mackerel are running large and often schooled up across our inshore waters, around gulf passes and a short distance offshore. Bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle and sharks often are mixed with mackerel. You get into this mix of fish and it’s a blast as all are fast drag screamers. Spanish mackerel are also very tasty when prepared and eaten fresh.
In gulf waters, king mackerel, often large, follow the Spanish mackerel. If you want to tug on something larger, toss a larger bait out for a big cobia, shark or king mackerel when you get Spanish or other fish biting.
Anglers fishing deeper in gulf waters will find red grouper, mixed with a variety of snappers and other tasty fish. Live and cut bait fished in depths from 70-120 feet over hard live bottom and ledges will produce fish. April should bring many days with light winds to comfortably make the run into gulf waters. It’s possible to hook into blue water fish such as mahi, tuna, wahoo and sailfish as well.
Sharks of all sizes are making their way into our waters. A lot of sharks showed up last month and more will continue.
Tarpon fishing kicks off this month throughout Southwest Florida. It’s possible to hook into a big silver king if you are fishing for them or not. They are just as likely to gulp down a live shrimp or small lure as anything. On calm days, look for schools of fish a short distance off the beach. Early morning is the best time to toss a small live crab or Atlantic thread herring ahead of the school. Tarpon numbers will increase inshore, in the passes and off the beaches as the month progresses.
After months of winter lows, we get high (spring) tides during the day. This is the time to target redfish under the bushes or mangrove shorelines as they use the higher water to get under the tree overhangs to root out their next meal. Redfish are a scent feeder, while live bait and lures catch fish; many believe fishing cut shrimp, cut baitfish and crabs is the best option. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the month will hold mornings with ultra-low tides — just the ticket for sight fishing reds over the shallow flats and around oyster bars. Hit the flats at first light for the best results.
Snook fishing heats up this month as the warmer water gets them active and hungry. Snook are ambush feeders; they like to sit stationary with their nose into the current. And they like structure. Fish shorelines, oyster bars, pilings, etc., with a good tide flow for best results. Snook aren’t like many other fish that allow you to pull them from structure. A snook once hooked will do its best to get to the safety of any type of structure and break off. And they are good at it, especially the bigger ones. Redfish and larger seatrout are often caught from many of the same locations as snook. Snook season is open through the end of April.
You can go in a different direction each day from inshore to offshore and not cover all the possibilities. If there is one month that just doesn’t have enough days to take advantage of all the great fishing opportunities, April is it.
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at: www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you enable your GPS, the Fish Rules app updates regulations to your location each time you open the app. In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date
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.