On the Water: Picture perfect weather again for the week
Another week of beautiful weather in the books. With the exception of early morning fog, conditions for boating were perfect and about as close to summer-like conditions you will see in December. Fishing wasn’t too bad either, as action was reported inshore and off.
With water temperature climbing well into the 70s, the snook bite was excellent. Good numbers of catch-and-release snook were hooked along islands and shorelines throughout Pine Island Sound and Matlacha Pass, plus under docks around St. James City, Sanibel and Captiva. Live bait was the best bet around islands and shorelines and a variety of lures did the trick around structure. Look for a good snook bite to continue until the next cold front drops through.
Seatrout up to 22 inches came from three to 6-foot depths in Pine Island Sound and north Matlacha Pass. Best baits for the bigger fish included live pinfish, pilchards, grunts and DOA shrimp under a rattling float. A few areas anglers reported bringing home their limits included flats south of Useppa Island, between Captiva and Redfish passes, and along the bar between marker 76 and Two Pines where Matlacha Pass transitions to Charlotte Harbor. Spanish mackerel, big ladyfish, bluefish, lizard fish, puffers, small sharks and a couple flounder were hooked from these areas as well.
A few anglers hooked into tasty pompano while bouncing crazy jigs along bar edges around Redfish and Captiva passes, plus lots of ladyfish.
Just as snook prefer the unseasonably warm weather, sheepshead are the opposite. They thrive in the cold. So, as expected, the sheepshead bite hasn’t reached it potential. Fish were caught, but not in great numbers. Anglers fishing with shrimp or oysters found a few keeper sheepshead around oyster bars in south Matlacha Pass, around Captiva and Gasparilla Islands, and under the Bokeelia Fishing Pier. Just as the snook bite will slow following the next stretch of cold water, the sheepsheads bite will heat up.
Anglers fishing offshore in state waters found limits of mangrove snapper, plus grunts, a few big lane snapper and an occasional keeper gag grouper mixed with lots of undersized grouper. The better bite was west and southwest of Redfish Pass in depths from 45 to 52 feet. Baits included live shrimp, pilchards, pinfish and grunts. Goliath grouper and large sharks harassed anglers as well offshore.
Not sure how long this stretch of weather will last, but I hope you get on the water and enjoy it.
Keep up to date with fishing rules and regulations in your area by visiting www.myfwc.com for all current Florida and Federal fishing regulations.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, contact Gulf Coast Guide Service at 239-410-8576 (call or text); on the web at www.fishpineisland.com; or via email at gcl2fish@live.com.
If you’re looking for that perfect gift, we have gift certificates available for the holidays.
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 the past 23 years.