On the Water: Fishing was good after the front passes
After a warm stretch, cooler weather dropped down over Southwest Florida last week. After winds laid down and anglers returned to the water, two good things were noted. Most of the red tide in area waters appears to of dissipated and a big up-tick in sheepshead catches were reported.
Sheepshead, and some large ones, were caught across inshore waters and nearshore out to 40 feet. Structure around passes, including Blind, Redfish and Captiva, plus Punta Rassa, were top areas for sheepshead. They were also caught along hard bottom shorelines and creeks around downed trees. Offshore, sheepshead, along with mangrove snapper and Key West grunts were caught around artificial reefs, hard bottom and ledges in 25 to 40-foot depths. Preferred baits were a shrimp on a jighead or knocker rig with just enough weight to keep it on the bottom. If water quality continues to improve, hopefully the next few weeks will give us good sheepshead fishing.
Seatrout reports were spotty, while some anglers found good action, others struggled to locate keeper-size fish. The better fishing came from mid- to southern Pine Island Sound in areas around Red Light Shoals, Regla Island and Rocky Channel. While shrimp under popping corks worked, the best action and better fish came while slow casting plastic shrimp and shad tails on various jigheads. With schools of bait fish beginning to arrive, I expect a large upswing in trout numbers soon.
Redfish up to 26 inches were caught on shrimp rigs intended for sheepshead along shorelines, creeks and docks in the southern Sound. Skinny water anglers found reds on the extra low tides in deeper sand holes across flats between Pineland and Demere Key, along with trout, and a few snook.
A few Spanish mackerel were hooked in the Sound near Captiva Pass and east of Punta Blanca Island. Most were caught trout fishing. Mackerel numbers should increase over the coming weeks.
It was good to hear reports on improved water and fishing, especially nearshore, where it’s been off all winter. As we are in the last stage of winter, let’s hope the trend continues as we move closer to spring and what should be a great time to fish.
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 on your phone. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you turn on your GPS location the Fish Rules app updates to your location. In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date than FWC’s website.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service — call or text 239-410-8576; website at www.fishpine island.com; or email gcl2fish@live.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.