Full moon, southerly winds and high summer tides make for great fishing. Tarpon, Redfish, Snook and Seatrout are abound. Tarpon are here in big numbers! Big Snook are active both in the backcountry and off of the beaches. Tournament size Redfish are around the ‘hard to get to’ spoil and natural islands with structure and mangroves.
Southerly winds and higher summer tides give fishermen and fisher ladies alike more opportunity to target their favorite species and ‘catch a fish of a lifetime’, by allowing boater access to shallower areas that get a lot of less fishing pressure. Both live and artificial baits will work in quest of a big fish. Early morning hours are probably one’s best bet for the artificial presentations.
Working the structures around spoil and natural islands on the incoming tides will afford better opportunities to generate strikes before the water level allows the game fish to swim back into the cover. Getting them out of the cover will require ‘pitching’ some live white baits or chum along the fringes to draw the fish out to your presentation (normally cut or live baits).
The bite usually drops off at slack tide and patience is required until sufficient water movement on a receding tide rejuvenates fish activity and starts them following the current flow to different locations for oxygen, temperature, protection and feeding. A variety of backcountry species will be found milling around the flats at this time.
The canals throughout Lee County are holding lots of Snook, Jack Crevalle and juvenile Tarpon. My 1st Mate Vicki, is shown with one recently caught on crank bait while trolling in a canal.
More tips and information from Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters may be obtained by calling 239-357-6829 or emailing your requests to [email protected]. Until next week, good fishing and tight lines!