The water has cleaned up well since our torrential rains the week previous. We had an entire week of low winds and the continuance of hot days. There were some tidal days when we were forced to start a bit later in the back bays and near shore waters, based on no tidal movement. Offshore trips continue to catch plenty of red snappers and other nice bycatch. This week has some good morning tides so starting at sunup will be the way to go. Those that can get their trips done by 11am, can escape the heat of the day.
Back bay fishing for juvenile tarpon early in the mornings is a good place to begin. Finding the schools of juvenile 10–40-pound fish can be difficult, but when you find them, they will eat. Small paddle tails, flies, or 2-4-inch live baits are the way to go. Snook finished up an apparent spawn this week as hundreds of snook were seen in all the passes. Unfortunately, 3 of the days they did not want to eat during the day light hours. So, fishing at night was good. Red fishing has gotten a little better this week, as some are starting to be caught again. Trout continues to be the fall back when the bite was slow.
Nearshore is a broken record of tarpon, permit, mackerel, and small snappers. The tarpon has been spawning and that too can make them a bit shy at times. This new moon should make this week’s bite good though. Shark fishing was good all week as a lot of baits meant for tarpon, ended up being taken by sharks. The variety of sharks for those that do want to target them is good, and they range from three feet all the way up to about ten.
Offshore continues to be a get your two red snappers, then move on to other species. If your out past 150 feet your bycatch can be mahi, blackfin tuna, as well as the occasional wahoo. Those that are only out in the 70–100-foot range can find plenty of mangrove snappers, yellowtail, as well as some mutton snappers to play with.
On a side note, all this rain has made fishing all the local spill ways very productive. There are a mix of both saltwater and freshwater fish patrolling them when that first heavy push of water starts dumping over them.
Tight lines, Capt. Greg Stamper
Snookstampcharters.com, Fort Myers beach, Fl
239-313-1764