On the Water: Fish still biting despite windy, cooler weather
Between the wind and a couple of late season cold fronts, weather wasn’t the best for fishing over the week. Despite unfavorable conditions, anglers found success fishing.
More big sea trout were reported with a few pushing twenty-six inches, and many over the twenty-inch mark. Kayak anglers launching out of PineIand landed trout over the early morning hours working shorelines and sand holes around islands and keys. Fishing a variety of lures also produced snook, redfish, ladyfish, and a couple flounder.
Trout were also caught off the east side of Cayo Costa State Park, grass flats around Red Light Shoals, and in north Matlacha Pass. Ladyfish were also plentiful, plus jack crevalle, and several Spanish mackerel.
Spanish mackerel numbers are on the rise with hook-ups reported around Charlotte Harbor near Bokeelia, the channel in north Matlacha Pass, bar edges around the Sanibel Causeway, and east of Foster’s Point in the Sound. While mackerel do eat shrimp, they really like fast moving, shiny baits. A small spoon with a fast retrieve is the preferred bait of many anglers.
Considering the wind and cooler weather, snook action remained steady. Bait fish are becoming more abundant across inshore waters and are becoming snooks primary diet. Pinfish, pilchards, and herrings were top baits along with a variety of lures. The best snook action was on the incoming water fishing shorelines and around structure, plus fishing after dark produced snook from the Matlacha Bridge. Redfish up to twenty-eight inches were also caught from the same areas, plus areas around Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.
Winds made it difficult for tarpon anglers with cut or dead bait fishing the best option. Tarpon, plus sharks and large stingrays took cut ladyfish and catfish tails near the powerlines in south Pine Island Sound and between the fish shacks and Cabbage Key.
OK, we’re into mid-April, it’s past time we get a solid week of consistent, good, favorable fishing weather.
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.