On the Water: Getting into some of the best fishing of the year
There might be fewer anglers on the water in the middle of September than any other time of year. The weather is good and fishing is good, without much competition.
Redfish reports were consistent in the Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. Schooling fish were found along bar edges in the Charlotte Harbor and around the Pine Island Sound. In northern areas of the Pine Island Sound, reds to 30 inches were hooked in sand holes near islands on low water and along the mangrove edges on the high tide. Most of the schooling reds are pods of 30-40 fish running in size from 25-30 inches. Baits varied from live pinfish and shrimp, pinfish with the tail clipped off, cut mullet chunks and a variety of top water lures, plus weed less soft plastics and spoons.
Mangrove snappers continue to be caught inshore. They appear to be on the move as a location that was good recently may be dead now, but with a little searching you should be able to put together a nice mess of snapper. Target them in the Gulf passes on the slower and slack tides, around any type of structure inside the passes, and throughout the inshore waters. A small live pilchard or pinfish is deadly when rigged with a small hook (1/0 or smaller) attached to 20-pound or lighter fluorocarbon leader. Shrimp/jig combinations and live shrimp also worked great.
Snook action was good along the beaches and around the Gulf passes. Most were under 26 inches, but larger fish were caught. Snook reports also came from Blind Pass, the back side of Cayo Costa State Park, and north of the Boca Grande Pass. Snook were also caught and released on white and red bucktail jigs and flies worked around docks and piers during low light and after dark.
Catching sea trout of any size was hit or miss; some areas are holding plenty of small ones, but finding any number of bigger fish was a chore. Several larger trout over 20 inches and up to 22 inches were caught and released around the Charlotte Harbor while targeting redfish on bar edges and in the Pine Island Sound between Redfish and the Captiva passes. The larger trout was hooked on top water lures.
Nearshore reefs continue to hold mangrove snapper and a few snook, plus the occasional cobia, permit, or gag grouper. Gag grouper and mangrove snapper were also caught in depths from 30-60 feet. Further offshore in depths of 90 feet and deeper, red grouper were boxed, plus yellowtail and mangrove snapper.
Slowly but surely, you can feel the seasons changing. Days are getting shorter and you can feel a difference first thing in the mornings. Of course, by 9 a.m. it’s hot, but cooler days are ahead. In my opinion, we are getting into some of the best fishing of the year. Take advantage of it before the northern crowds arrive.
Keep up to date with fishing regulations and seasons 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, contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service by calling 239-410-8576 or emailing gcl2fish@live.com. Or you can visit us online 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 the Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for over 20 years.