Another week of great conditions translated into wonderful fishing. The back-bays and shallow water areas continue to produce both snook and redfish. Our nearshore waters gave anglers plenty of shots at tarpon, permit, and gag grouper. Offshore has been great for those going out 40 plus miles as winds were relatively calm all week. These Summertime patterns are full speed right now and will continue as the rains have begun.
The rain has brought large amounts of bait into all the bays throughout the area. Those going after live green backs have found it easy with several days only taking one or two throws. A couple of times we’ve had to chum a bit to get them in front of the boat, but either way we’re getting them. Using a 10-12 foot ¼” cast net is the way to go as you’ll get less hangers stuck in the net itself. Once we got our bait its been redfish on the incomings and snook on the outgoings for the most part. A good pattern is starting around the oyster bars and docks early in the tide and working your way back to the mangrove shorelines as the water rises.
Gag grouper season opened here, and some of the gag grouper did not get the memo. Usually as soon as the season opens gag groupers suddenly move out of the shallow waters and head out deep. This time it looks like we have got a week or two before they catch on. Gags have been caught in lots of areas in 25-35 feet of water and in a few spots in less than 12 feet. Tarpon fishing continues to be good with some boats jumping up to 10 fish in a trip and leader touching about half. Permit continue to show up on our wrecks and reef structures that have good relief from the bottom.
The offshore fishing was good almost every day and should continue to stay in this pattern. Those out past 120 feet have been blessed with blackfin tunas, African pompano as well as their bag limit of snappers, and groupers. Those fishing inside 100 feet have mostly been on the Mangrove snappers using pinfish and catching yellowtails, lanes, and muttons when trying shrimp, squid, and ballyhoo.
Tight lines, Capt. Greg Stamper
Snookstampcharters.com , Fort Myers beach
239-313-1764