On the Water: It was a good week of fishing
Anglers over the past week experienced good weather, great tides and the fish were biting.
The new moon brought high water and hill tides, the perfect time to chase tarpon as they follow the outgoing current through Charlotte Harbor into Boca Grande Pass. Afternoons and evenings brought the best action as tarpon slurped small crabs riding the current west. Earlier in the day, tarpon were hooked on crabs, thread herring and pinfish in the Harbor near Boca Grande Pass.
Further south, tarpon was hooked around the Sanibel Causeway and between the C-span and St. James City. In Pine Island Sound, tarpon reports came from areas between Redfish and Captiva passes and west of Demere Key.
Snook season came to a close, but the action didn’t stop. Snook, with a few over 40 inches, were caught and released around the Gulf passes along with good numbers of smaller fish. In the Sound, most island points and oyster bars are holding at least a few snook and often big seatrout. Fishing with live oily baitfish or soft plastic lookalikes was key to catching with consistency. Similar results were reported in Matlacha Pass fishing shorelines and oyster bars.
Cut bait, including pinfish, ladyfish and thread herring, got the attention of redfish on the higher water under mangrove over hangs. Pearl white shad tails and small gold spoons were effective as well. Redfish were reported around islands and keys in mid-Pine Island Sound and along shorelines between Matlacha and Bokeelia.
Seatrout fishing is good, but they are often on the move as they are following bait fish migrations. Some areas hold a lot of fish for a day or two or maybe a week, then the bait moves and so do the trout. If you find an area with baitfish and grassy bottom it can be a smorgasbord for trout, plus Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and a host of other fish. Birds often give away the fishy locations.
On calm days, it’s easy to spot bait schools on the surface in open water. Most are schooling Atlantic thread herring or threadfins. Fishing around these schools you never know what you might hook into. Spanish mackerel for sure, but larger fish such as sharks, cobia and tarpon are a possibility.
With consistent weather before rainy season begins, it’s a great time to get out there and see what you catch!
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 the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida, and as a professional fishing guide for over 20 years.