(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) The good spring weather together with stronger and higher tides should prove to be the biggest asset to any fishing trip. The location that one chooses to fish should depend on the height, strength and time of tide movements for best results; especially when they work together with the early morning hours. Most all species should be very active and receptive to a variety of live or cut baits, both ‘in’ and ‘off’ shore. They are all here and virtually all of my charters have been successful finding and catching the ‘target’ species when working during good tide movement, be it ‘flood’ or ‘ebb’. The only exception to this has been the lack of a lot of Tarpon action.
Nonetheless, reports of Tarpon catches around Mile Marker 4 (off of ‘C’ Span by Sanibel) and other areas up and down Pine Island Sound are becoming more common. A few Tarpon are being taken off of the ‘Outer’ Islands as well. If one belongs to an organization such as; Cape Coral Tarpon Hunters Club, access to catches, locations, techniques and baits are easily obtained on a daily basis. Mackerel, Catfish, Mullet, big Greenbacks and Pinfish should do the trick for those looking for these fighting game fish.
There are lots of Seatrout in the grass and ‘potholes’ from James City all the way to Cayo Costa. I am finding that some ‘schools’ are producing numbers of big trout over 20” on a regular basis, but one needs to move around to find them (I am having most of my success for bigger fish in the northern corridor of Pine Island Sound, above Redfish Pass).
In the ‘back country’, big Snook and Redfish are both up and down Pine Island Sound on both the east and west sides. Other species, such as Crevalle Jacks, Bar Jacks, Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, may be found anywhere along the above corridor on the flats with the Seatrout.
The gulf is loaded with species such as; Kings, Snapper, Permit, Grouper and Cobia. Keep a lookout and a ‘rig’ loaded for Cobia. I keep a lead head with an 8”-12” eel ready to cast. The fish have been very active and I forecast more of the same over the next week with the added benefit of more Tarpon opportunity.
In closing, I want to acknowledge the casting and catching abilities of 15 year old Andy Batchelder of Carmel, Indiana (grandson of Lee Longstretch of Indianapolis). He is pictured here with two of the fish caught during his first ‘back country’ excursion using only artificial lures. I am looking forward to our next ‘outing’ together for more and bigger fish. Great going Andy! Practice your casting liked we discussed before next year and you may catch your ‘fish of a lifetime’!
If anyone has any questions or would like more information on your favorite type of fishing, feel free to contact me at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my websites and my article ‘links’ at www.fishfacecharters.com or www.captainterryfisher.com