On the Water: It was a good week for sheepshead
Water temperatures continued to rise over the week improving the bite. There was a stiff breeze over many days, but still good calm ones to run offshore.
Sheepshead fishing is at its peak with limits of big fish caught inshore and offshore within sight of land. At times the action was fast, and other time patience paid off with a slower bite. Fish up to 7 pounds took live and cut shrimp, plus small crabs and sand fleas. The sheepshead action will begin to wind down in the next few weeks as we inch closer to spring.
Fishing nearshore in depths from20-40 feet, along with sheepshead, snapper, grunts and out of season gag grouper were caught over ledges, hard bottom and reefs. Spanish mackerel were reported around several of the public reefs.
Further offshore, red grouper, snapper and porgy filled boxes fishing depths between 85-110 feet. Blackfin tuna and wahoo hook-ups were also reported by a lucky few.
Back inshore, anglers are finding good numbers of redfish around the islands. Each day as water temperatures came up, the redfish bite improved. Fish from 16-29 inches went for a variety of natural and artificial baits around Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor and Matlacha Pass. Most were found along shorelines, creeks and oyster bars.
As water creeped back up around 70 degrees, snook are beginning to eat. They are the slowest to recover from the recent cold weather. Snook were caught and released in and near canals, creeks and deeper shorelines.
Seatrout, pompano and Spanish mackerel went for shrimp under floats in the Sound near Bokeelia and west of the fish shacks.
None were caught in big numbers, but some of the trout and pompano were good sized.
As I write this, a cold front is passing through. Looks like a couple of cold and windy days then warming up as the week progresses. This front should only affect fishing for a few days. If you don’t mind the wind and cold, the sheepshead will be biting.
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app. It has current regulations and seasons with pictures to help identify fish.
If you have a fishing report or for charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service; phone (239) 410-8576, email gcl2fish@live.com or you visit us on the Web at www.fishpineisland.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.