ON THE FLATS REPORT
Red Fish were hiding from me this weekend, but on the East side against the first row of Islands Snook, Snapper and Tarpon, all were pretty easy. The tarpon wanted top water plugs. The larger Heddon Torpedo or The Skitter Walk, and it was darker colors, like gold or bronze colors. The Trick to the hook up was starting and stopping the lure with a short hard pull. Then a complete stop for 2 seconds, and repeat.
The inshore bite has been as good this year as any I recall. Snook are in the passes, under docks and in the back areas of Pine Island Sound. Plenty of white bait, Pinfish and other offerings will entice these fish. Snook season opens September 1st, so I suggest one takes the opportunity to practice up on angling skills so as to land and harvest a slot-size fish when the opportunity arrives next month.
Fishing should prove to be really good the first part of the month. The tides will be high, the water movement swift, creating a lot of oxygen and motivating the fish to eat. I predict that virtually all species will be active, especially after things settle from tropical storm Emily.
Subject to working around the squalls and storms, fishing was good over the last 10 days or so. Pictured here is Mrs. Lou Wolsefer of Clairmont, Florida holding a big Spanish Mackerel, one of many fish she caught on a half-day charter. Her son, Evan, is holding a nice size Seatrout. I had the pleasure of taking the Mark Wolsefer family and their friends on three expeditions last week while they vacationed on N. Captiva. Some of the family and friends are featured in a photo prior to departing on one of their adventures. Thanks for the memories guys and gals!
Lots of fish were caught by recreational and professional fishermen alike over the 4th of July holiday. Weather and tides cooperated to bring forward a great time to be on the water for both offshore and inshore fisher-people.
Except for the early part of the June 4th week, inshore fishing remained good due to high tides. The next 10 days should yield great results and opportunities for all summer species so long as the weather permits. The tide levels should be very high throughout, especially in light of summer rains. Water currents will be strong encouraging aggressive feeding.
Read more “Father’s Day 2017 SW Florida Inshore Fishing Report”
Just like weather reports, not all fishing reports and predictions are accurate. Fortunately however, my recent Memorial Day fishing report proved close to the content. Moreover, I have all of the confidence that the next ten days will prove more of the same with our inshore and offshore game fish, subject only to summer storms. The summer tides are here, offering great opportunities.
Read more “Captain Terry Fisher’s SW Florida Fishing Report”
In my view this week and throughout the Memorial Day Holiday, the signs all point to great fishing opportunities, both offshore and in the back-country areas (spoil Keys and otherwise isolated islands). With high hill tides motivating species like Tarpon to migrate northward, Tarpon are on many angler’s minds and should be! These fish will be found ‘rolling’ in Charlotte Harbor, in the passes and just off the beaches from Ft. Myers to Boca Grande Pass. Pictured here is Mike Aden of Wyoming, removing a hook from a 95 lb. Silver King he caught on a Pinfish during my first Tarpon charter of the season. Mike is a pro angler when is comes to big game fish. He is also a big game hunter and guide in Wyoming as well as around the globe.
Over the last 10 days I have had the opportunity to fish from the mouth of the Caloosahatchee to Charlotte Harbor in search of Redfish, Trout and more recently Tarpon. I have found that the fishing has been better for all 3 of the species mentioned above north of the power lines, which service both Pine Island and Sanibel Island. Albeit, the tides have been higher ‘south’ of the power lines, but the productivity has been lacking.
It has been sometime since I had the opportunity to write a report for the offshore and inshore areas from Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor. During the last few weeks, fishing has been ‘spotty’ to ‘really good’, depending on location, wind direction, wind velocity and tide levels.