It has been another outstanding week all around Southwest Florida. The bite should continue to be good for most species. There has been a lot of hot weather for over a week now, but those fishing early inshore have done well. The offshore anglers are loving the flat sea conditions and have been doing great on the long runs. Nearshore fishermen continue to find snappers, permit, tarpon and sharks regularly.
We will start off with the offshore bite this week as it has been good for those willing to go out far. One thing about living is Southwest Florida means being an offshore angler you are going to run a long way to get to deep water. Those that got out 50 miles plus about a 130-foot depth start, did the best. Red snapper has seemed to move out to the deeper waters from 150+. Those that fished in these areas found mahi, tuna, African pompano, and even a few sailfish as bycatch.
The back bays and flats continue to give anglers plenty of options. The key here is good moving water, either incoming or outgoing and starting early. Redfish, snook, tarpon, and even trout have been happy during the first few hours after morning light, as well as nightfall. There is a lot of snappers seemingly everywhere in the bay ranging from eight inches up to thirteen. With this said shrimp, is a tough bait to choose right now unless you want to catch snappers. Cut baits, pilchards, or pinfish will stay on your hook long enough for other fish to find. The juvenile tarpon caught all week, have ranged from five pounds all the way up to fifty. White bait worked best, but pinfish will definitely work for them as well.
The nearshore bite for our permit was outstanding all week as calm conditions often brough fish to the surface during the peaks and valleys of the tides. Tarpon are from Boca Grande all the way to the Naples anywhere from ten to forty feet eating threadfin herring, pinfish and crabs on the outgoing tides. Should you want to catch snapper on our nearshore wrecks and reefs, that should be no problem for anglers that use a jig with a shrimp attached.
Tight lines, Capt. Greg Stamper
Snookstampcharters.com Fort Myers, FL
239-313-1764