On the Water: Warm days give us more good fishing
Warm weather continued leading up to Christmas week giving anglers more time to fish in shorts and T-shirts. Winds picked up a few days, but overall conditions were good.
Anglers looking for a fish dinner found sheepshead, seatrout and Spanish mackerel the best bets across inshore waters. Although we need a drop in water temperature to really lick off the sheepshead bite, a good number of fish went home for dinner. Most were caught around structure near the gulf passes and outer islands. Pilings at and near the Sanibel Causeway turned up some healthy sheepshead plus flounder and pompano. Sheepshead also came from structure from the Placida Trestle south to Blind Pass, and also the Bokeelia Fishing Pier.
With the warm weather, seatrout are on the grass flats feeding on bait fish, as they are still plentiful. As long as it stays warm, live bait fish and lures that mimic them catch the larger trout. If you are not into a lot of casting, it’s hard to beat a live pinfish or grunt suspended under a popping cork. Trout up to 20 inches were caught around Red-Light Shoals in south Matlacha Pass, near Captiva Rocks, between Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa State Park and north Matlacha Pass. When, or if the water cools down, shrimp should become a top bait for trout.
Spanish mackerel are always on the move. Where you find them one day, they could be gone the next. Mackerel were hooked on the gulf side of the Sanibel Causeway between the B and C spans, just outside Redfish and Captiva passes, west of the fish shacks and between Patricio Island and Boca Grande Pass. Mackerel were caught on live bait fish and shrimp under a float, small silver spoons and mylar jigs either retrieved fast or trolled. Big ladyfish were often mixed with the mackerel.
Catch-and-release snook action was good with fish on the feed. A few anglers report releasing double digit numbers of snook in mid-Pine Island Sound and around the passes. Redfish were often caught with the snook. Lures worked good early and late, with live bait the best bet throughout the day.
For action with a variety of fish, keep an eye out for feeding birds. Inshore it often indicates a school of ladyfish, a favorite if you just want action. Spanish mackerel, bluefish, jack crevalle, seatrout and possibly sharks are often with the ladies. In gulf waters, birds could indicate Spanish and king mackerel, bonito, jack crevalle, sharks and others. Over the past several weeks large blacktip and spinner sharks were common around feeding activity and artificial reefs.
Bonnethead sharks are common inshore over the winter months. Most run under 4 feet, are extremely fast and a lot of fun to catch on light tackle. Bonnetheads prefer shrimp over fish type baits. Many people mistake them for a hammerhead as they look very similar. A whole shrimp under a popping cork with a long shank hook, or a short trace of light wire leader is a great rig for hooking and landing them. Like all sharks, they have a mouth full of small teeth so be careful when handling.
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.
I hope over the holidays everyone has a chance to get on the water and enjoy or outdoors. Catching fish or not, it’s a great way to spend a day. From my family to yours, Merry Christmas.
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.