It has been feeling like summer around here this week. With temperatures in the high 80’s our fish are not sure which way to go. We have had some thick foggy mornings to deal with, making a few of the early morning starts a bit challenging to navigation. Back bay fishing has been a hodgepodge of cold weather and warm weather action. The nearshore guys have gotten back into some tarpon, as well as the usual suspects. Lastly the offshore trips have been going well, as weather has been nice.
A few super foggy mornings made many anglers start close to their departure points for the first few hours of the morning. No worries though lots of trout and redfish were more than happy to eat. Live shrimp under popping corks over grassy areas in 3-5 feet is still the easiest way to limit out on trout. Top water lures worked in the same areas, did produce the biggest trout this week. Redfish continue to be cruising around the oyster bars and sand bar edges during the lower tides. As the waters rise most of the fish move under the shelter of the mangroves for cover. Snook fishing especially in the rivers has continued to be good. Pompano are getting fired up, and should be a staple as we move through the Winter.
Nearshore waters warmed up a few degrees this week, but the fish that have already moved down from the North stuck around. These cold front lines in December have been weaker that those the previous month. Tarpon have been seen cruising the beaches chasing mullet and threadfin schools off Cayo Costa down to blind pass. Permit fishing continues to be very good, as well as the crabbing one must do before fishing for them. Snappers, black drum, and mackerel will fill up the rest of your time from 0-9 miles out.
Offshore runs were very doable all week. Winds never got above 15mph, so things were good most of the days. Snapper fishing took up a lot of the days for mainly mangrove snapper. The jolt head porgy action was reported as very good out past 120 feet. Kingfish are now being found often and can be caught on a flat line when bottom fishing, or by simply trolling the same areas. If there is bait being seen on the surface, then there are probably predators underneath them.
Tight lines, Capt. Greg Stamper
Snookstampcharters.com Fort Myers beach, Fl
239-313-1764
Feels like Summer
