What a great day to be in Southwest Florida, especially if you like Tank top shorts and flip flops.
Yes, the weather is warm, it’s sunny and the fish are starting to really bite. Yes, the Florida mountains ranges are visible all over the Harbor and there is even bait fish showing up at the markers and on the flats on both side of the Harbor.
Weird thing here “Besides me” I used to always toss out any Skip jack “Leather Jacket”. In the net, I would these stinging little bait fish. If you grab them around the body, they have stingers and their belly and back. While not deadly they will light you up. I have tried them for bait over the Years and no real luck. Now for some reason they are great Trout bait! Yes Dracula likes them hitting the skip jack before a white bait or a shrimp?????
Now I am confused. I know most all of the rules about fishing, what to do, what works, how to rig. But I am really starting to think no one told the fish what the rules are. Al Gore I believe was right. It is warm, beautiful and January so why should the Trout be eating Skip jacks?? So enjoy the view. Catch some trout either side of the Harbor or for some bigger trout try 41 or I-75 bridges.
Where are the fish? Good question, But a key is also asking when.
For instance, Ponce De Leon park is loaded with fish. Sheeps head, Snook, Red fish, Jacks. But the trick is to catch the last half of the incoming tide. It seems they have somewhere else to be on the incoming, but load up in the canal during the out going.
Winter time on the waters in SW Florida may be ‘the right place, the right time’ for anglers to realize their dream of a ‘trophy’ fish. ‘Winter- fishing’ is only more difficult because we must deal with the elements such as wind, cooler temperatures. Additionally, the lower tides discourage or prevent many from navigating through ‘skinny’ waters to get to the ‘holding’ and ‘feeding’ areas of the fish. The fish are still out there, one ‘simply’ has to locate them and then ‘slow down’ the presentation, be it artificial, live or cut baits.
Winter time on SW Florida waters does not reduce the opportunities for ‘flats’ or ‘back country’ anglers. I will argue that there is more opportunity when considering the migratory patterns of Pompano, Spanish, King, Ceros Mackerels, Cobia and Grouper and other species as they relocate into shallower domains (I caught a couple of nice groupers off the backside of Chino Island a few weeks ago in about 12 ft. of water). These fish would not normally be found there during the warmer months. It is true however, that the huge Redfish have moved ‘off-shore’ (up to about 20 miles or so) but there are still plenty up to about 34 inches when you find them.
Additionally, species such as big Seatrout, Flounder and Sheepshead are more accessible and provide more opportunity this time of year. The Crevalle Jacks always provide a lot of excitement and like Snook are always found in the canals. I am including a picture of a nice Crevalle Jack caught by my friend’s son, Matt Volski of Cape Coral while home from college on Christmas break. Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of the 26 inch Snook caught by his friend on the same outing who was on leave from the Navy and currently stationed at Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida. As a ‘Jar Head’, I thank him for his service to our country.
Recently on a beautiful ‘winter’ day, my 1st Mate Vicki and I took to the Sanibel Lighthouse and a little offshore to spin cast and fly fish for Spanish Mackerel. The birds showed us the way, just as they will all up and down Pine Island Sound. We could not get them released fast enough to satisfy our ‘hunger’. During the ‘chaos’, Vicki (using a spin-cast) mentioned seeing and feeling a big ‘King Mackerel’ slap her ‘jig’ with terrific force. Unfortunately a few minutes later when my guard was down, one ‘slammed’ my ‘Clauser’ fly with unexpected force. My fingers burned when trying to slow the run. I dropped my hand to slow the spool, but without gloves the burning friction forced me to try and stop the reel only to have the handle bruise my hand. I lost that battle, as I was not thinking of such a ‘giant’ taking such a small presentation (I should have known better).
The coming week could provide some opportunities mentioned above. If the wind forecasts are accurate, there should be plenty of opportunity to get out there and give it a go. If you have any questions or want to book a charter, give me a call at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing you a great time on the water. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for additional information.
Jacks are back in the Harbor, as feisty and uncivilized and wanting to fight, as I am. Watch the sand bars down from 2 pines up to Pirate Harbor. Keep in mind the Jacks are looking for fast moving shallow baits, If you have a shrimp on the line, no sinker is better. Free line and fast retrieve, If you have a sinker on your line add a bobber / poppin cork and again reel fast. Jacks scare the bait fish and get them in a frenzy so slow or still baits are not what they are used to seeing. Make your bait or lure quick noisy and fast.
Trout fishing for a meal is cool, but a good size Jack makes it a day to remember.
The warm weather and low winds provided a lot of opportunity to get out on the water to enjoy catching and releasing a number of different species both off-shore and back-bay areas. My 1st Mate Vicki and I had a couple of days of quality time off the eastern tip of Sanibel Island catching Spanish Mackerel on light spinning tackle with jigs and fly rods. I hooked up a big Ceros Mackerel only to have my hand burned with both line and reel when trying to slow down the ‘run’. We ‘cruised’ the crab trap buoy lines with the sun to our backs and free-lined shrimp to Triple Tails and motored our bay boat to some close-by reef locations to catch a few Sheepshead, Snappers along with a variety of other species using Shrimp and Pinfish. If next week’s moderate wind forecasts are accurate, one may expect more of the same when ‘hunting’ the above species.
‘Back-bay’ charter trips are producing Spanish Mackerel on jigs with live shrimp as well as a couple of Pompano (the picture of my client Roy from Atlanta, Ga., planned on cooking this big Pompano for his wife ‘Jimmy’ for their 11th Anniversary dinner while vacationing on Sanibel Island). There are plenty of Mangrove Snappers and Flounder waiting to be fed and provide some ‘non-stop’ action. Unfortunately, I have had trouble finding schools of Seatrout over the last couple of days and I am somewhat puzzled as to why; especially with the warmer weather and water temperatures. Nonetheless, I am confident that the bite will pick up soon.
Until next week, this is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing you ‘happy times’ on the water. If you have any questions or want to book a charter, simply give me a call at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my website www.fishfacecharters.com to review recent catches as well as weekly and monthly published articles.
The cold fronts with the winds have created some havoc for fishing but this is winter time and is to be expected. Just be sure and layer up to withstand the morning and evening temperatures. I have had quite a lot of success catching Spanish Mackerel and Pompano off of the lighthouse of Sanibel Island, Redfish and North Captiva Passes when the weather permits. These fish are easy to spot when the ‘feed is on’, as the birds of prey target the bait fish being pushed to the surface by the migratory game fish.
Just off the Intercoastal, big Specks are on the flats in about 3 ½ ft. to 6 ft. of water. Patience is the key to catching these nice fish once you have found their holding area (see photo of 23” ‘Speck’ caught by one of my clients). However, impatient fishermen or ‘fisher-ladies’ should try trolling the flats with shallow running lures to locate the fish before anchoring or drifting. Like trout, the Redfish are also holding in the deeper pot holes and are more active with the sun being out to warm the waters. Snook are receptive to white baits and artificial baits along the cuts of the islands together with some current. Flounder are on sand/hard bottoms in good sizes. There are some Sheepshead and Gray Snapper around bridge structures and docks all along Pine Island Sound and Matlacha Pass, but I think the best is still yet to come these next few weeks.
Off shore, the Triple Tail, Mackerel, Snappers, Groupers and kings are awaiting a presentation. The winds will dictate any chance of a nice fishing trip.
In closing, this is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing you a Happy New Year! Be sure and contact me at [email protected] or via phone 239-357-6829 to schedule a successful fishing trip or to answer any questions that you may have. My website should provide most of the answers at www.fishfacecharters.com
Confused? I bet! The fish are feeling the same way. Hot, cold, warm, cool, is this any way to run a planet? I know, no one like these cold snaps, this is Florida, and it is supposed to be warm & sunny,
The great thing about the cold is that when the gulf starts getting in the 60’s this cooler temp is uncomfortable to the fish, so they head into the Harbors bays and creeks/ canals. The back water has a brown color and most of the bottom is black with muck or grass. Brown water + black bottom = solar collector. The water warms very quickly and the fish know this. So into the back waters they travel, much in the same way People do, If you live in Ohio and it is 10 degrees, You know it is in the 70’s or 80’s in Florida So where you gonna go?
People or fish all like to be comfortable, and cold weather means fish in the harbor and the fishin’, is very good. Trout have moved into the harbor, thick around Pirate Harbor, Alligator creek, Cape Haze the mouth of bull bay, and along Bay shore.
Red fish are biting from 16 inches to 38 inches, the outside of the bar in front of Turtle & Bull bay, the Jug creek shoals , to the mouth of the Peace River. Both the east & west sidebars have Reds on them, not as much under the trees as out on top of the bars. Look for patches of grass/weeds in a little deeper hole / pocket there are Reds laying there. You can’t really see them as their backs blend nicely with the color of the grass, but cast a spoon or jig past the hole and slowly bring it back through it, hang on the hit is hard and the fish are active and ready to fight.
Cobia are also here in the Harbor and near shore reefs. The cool to cold weather should have moved them, but here they are. The one thing, they are close to the surface baking in the sun, so watch for the dorsal fin of a Cobia while you are fishing, a Johnson gold minnow slowly reeled right in front of it’s nose will do the trick and the fight is on.
Another truth is; we need these cold spells to knock down the algae and fungus, and general funk which builds up in hot water. When it warms up a bit and you get out onto the water you will see clearer, cleaner water. Bacteria and algae are levels are much lower. Without the cold, we would end up with massive fish kills. What you say? Massive fish kills? No, not like you see on the T.V. news. Those are B.S. only bigger larger fish. Oh how terrible? Well not really. To tell the truth, they are not that important. They have already spawned many times and the fish, like me, are looking more at the end of their life not the beginning. They make great film footage and everyone exclaims how terrible, but the real the bad and the awful is what I am talking about.
The fish less than 6 inches long. The forgotten ones. The next generation. Funny, if someone kills an old dog or cat, well they lived a good life, sad but still maybe a kind thing for the animal. But kill a puppy or a kitten and you will be lynched from the nearest street light, and sent to a special place in hell. With fish, not so much. Kill a tiny/baby fish no one cares. Kill an old, ready to die, barnacled up fish and you will be lynched. Who started thinking this was good or normal? The young breed better, they do not pass along genetic defects and they are just more into it.
No matter, fish, people, or animals, us older ones, well we like the thought but are much less likely to do anything about it. And according to the most recent study’s maybe we should not let older creatures pass more defective genes to their offspring. On the other hand maybe a fish with fingers would be a good thing, or a tail like a monkey they could hold onto a rock with their tail while you tried to land them. This however is what people want fish to do? I don’t get it.
The cold weather kills a lot of the algae and bacteria which builds up in the water and then lowers the oxygen to the point that smaller fish cannot survive. So this has been a long winded way of saying the cold is good, even though me, I could do without it. I live in Florida because I like it warm. I like seeing snow on T.V. it is pretty there.
But to save the next generation of fish, I will put up with it for a few days.
I ran a few charters last week and had a lot of success catching, Spanish Mackerel, Pompano and larger than normal Seatrout. The Spanish Mackerel and Pompano provided lots of action around Point Ybel, Punta Rassa, St. James City and all the way to Jug Creek Shoal on the northern end of Pine Island. They prefer bays, points of islands and passes that provide ‘rip’ and strong currents with lots of bait fish to eat. I was using anything from live shrimp to ‘Silly Willies’ to catch these aggressive fish. Watch for the feeding birds and the surface action. The Seatrout have been larger than normal, with many caught in the 19 inch to 21 inch range. I have had most of the big trout success in 3ft.-5ft. depths around Wulfert Keys, Chino Island and other grass flats that are close to a sand bar protecting an adjacent estuary.
Offshore, there are Triple Tail, Cobia, Mackerel and Pompano along the beaches of the outer islands. Using the sun to my back, I have witnessed a lot of bird and feeding activities while cruising for these species. It has been an exciting week with the fish anticipating the coming cold front. In this regard, I suggest that after the cold front passes and the winds subside (around Christmas Day), the fishing should be fairly good.
This is Captain Terry Fisher and 1st Mate Vicki wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday! If you have any questions or want to get in on the ‘action’, contact me at 239-357-6829 or email to [email protected].
Fishing has been good for most species at certain times of the day. The bite has been predicated mostly on the water temperature especially, after the sun has had a chance to warm up some of the locations. Most of the mornings I go out, it proves to be slow until the warmth sets in on the flats and shallow areas. I have had the opportunity to see lots of feeding frenzies from Jug Creek Shoal, just off of Bokelia all the way down to St. James City and the Causeways of Sanibel. These feeding frenzies are including ladyfish, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, Crevalle Jacks and Sea trout. Lots of game and fun!
Last week, I took the opportunity to check out the activity just off beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. There is Tripletail on the buoys and Pompano off the beaches and in the passes. The Spanish Mackerel are showing up everywhere, both offshore as well as in Pine Island Sound. The water temperature is good for these migratory fishes. Although to date, I have not had much success with the Sheepshead as I would like, but I suspect as the water cools the bigger ones will be on their way.
We are catching some small Redfish around the Spoil Islands and nice size Snook on moving tides along the creek cuts with mangroves and deadwood for bank structure. There are plenty of Grouper in Pine Island Sound holding in structure (fallen trees along the banks with deep holes of 6ft-12ft). Flounder’s are being caught in the surf off the beaches and on the harder bottom and around the channels, passes, mangroves and Spoil Islands. I understand there will be Cobia as long as the water temperature holds. The baits of choice for most species are shrimp and cut bait fish. Naturally, artificials are working as well. Watch for the birds and top water feeding frenzies as the sun warms up the water and get your presentation to them and have some fun!
Until next week, this is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com or contact me via email at [email protected]. I am easily reached via phone at 239-357-6829 if you have any questions on where and how to catch the fine game fish.
A good incoming tide today, with over cast skies can only mean one thing. Get out your top water lures. Today is a great example of when to use top water. Fish have a hard time looking into a bright sunny sky. With the over cast sky the fish can see their target.
I would go to the east side of the Harbor and start casting up against the Mangrove Trees “Bushes”. The big Snook and Red fish will be moving under the branches to feed while the tide is rising.
When you cast your lure, let’s say a torpedo, a tail drop lure (at rest the butt end of the lure sits lower in the water), cast it under the branches, the splash when it hits the water gets the attention of the fish. From a fishes point of view, is it a stick or is it food? Only movement will tell the fish that your lure is alive and ready to be eaten. So do not start jerking it out right away, just shake your rod tip, make the lure wiggle a bit. Just enough to show life, but not enough to move it away, it should be a live easy to catch prey. So it is splash, wiggle a bit, stop, wiggle a bit, then start working it out away from the trees.
After putting all of the effort into casting at that perfect spot, why? move it out right away, give the fish a chance to decide if it wants to eat it. Casting in and working the lure back quickly will produce fish but mostly smaller younger fish. The older larger fish, takes a minute more to decide do I want that? Is it worth the effort? The young ones will See it and smack it without thinking.
In a nut shell, when casting lures under the trees you want a lot of movement with as little forward motion as possible.
Good luck I hope you get to see a big ole Snook do a back flip, completely out of the water as it engulfs your lure, or the swell and push of the water as a Red fish swirls up with it’s back out of the water while taking your bait. The rush of seeing the fish hit that lure as well as the feel of the strike, knowing your movement of the lure, your ability to make that piece of plastic come alive is what did it.
Winter time on the waters in SW Florida may be ‘the right place, the right time’ for anglers to realize their dream of a ‘trophy’ fish. ‘Winter- fishing’ is only more difficult because we must deal with the elements such as wind, cooler temperatures. Additionally, the lower tides discourage or prevent many from navigating through ‘skinny’ waters to get to the ‘holding’ and ‘feeding’ areas of the fish. The fish are still out there, one ‘simply’ has to locate them and then ‘slow down’ the presentation, be it artificial, live or cut baits.