On the Water: A typical summer week on the water
It was another typical summer week with little wind and hot days. Many days African dust kept the sun covered up, but it was still hot and humid with a few strong afternoon thunderstorms.
Inshore, as usual for summer, the best bite was over the morning hours with strong and high incoming water. As the day heated up, the bite slowed and many anglers headed for air conditioning.
Catch-and-release snook fishing continues in and around the Gulf passes, beaches and around oyster bars and island points with moving water. Snook action was also reported along the eastern and western walls of Charlotte Harbor.
Spotted seatrout from little guys to over 20 inches were caught over grass flats south of Picnic Island, between the powerlines and Buck Key, between Useppa and Part Islands, and to the west of Bokeelia. Baits included silver or gold spoons, Gulp shrimp and live pinfish or cut ladyfish fished under popping corks. Ladyfish, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, blacktip and sharp nose sharks were hooked as well.
Fishing mangrove shorelines over the cooler morning incoming tides yielded redfish to 29 inches, plus mangrove snapper. Anglers report catching their limit of snapper in mid-Pine Island Sound, around Captiva Pass and St. James in the long Cut Area.
Offshore, beginning at around 140 feet to out past 200, boats are boxing limits of nice American red snapper and red grouper. A few lucky anglers also boated mutton snapper, scamp grouper and blackfin tuna.
By mid-morning, it’s hot on the water. Shade and drinking fluids are two things that make the day more enjoyable. It doesn’t take much for shade, often something as simple as an umbrella is a good way to get out from under the sun for a few minutes. Drink, drink, drink — and not beer — to stay hydrated. Water or drinks with electrolytes are best to keep you going. It’s our hottest time of year, take a few precautions and you can still have an enjoyable day on the water.
Keep up to date with fishing regulations and seasons in the area you fish, as they change often. You can visit www.myfwc.com for all current state and federal regulations. Also, you can upload the Fish Rules app on your phone. It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish.
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 can 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.