Eventually we will not get a cold front ever 4 days! Yaa, it has been a bit of a crazy few weeks and I promise we are almost done with it. Typically, this weather begins to settle down as we enter March, and the gradual warming of our mean water temperature begins. Fish are still being caught even though the groundhog saw his shadow anglers just had to work a bit more to get them.
Nearshore was again about finding clean water to find easier fishing. The water does not have to be gin clear, just less muddy in general. If I can not see the bottom of my live well, I’m probably in what I call dirty water. The Pine Island area from Redfish pass up was not bad, as well as south of Big Hickory. Trout fishing using either popping corks or top water “walk the dog” type plugs worked well. Red fishing was not that easy, but fish have been caught daily. The redfish have been mostly on shrimp or cut baits. If you’re a good caster, swim baits tossed under mangrove edges and worked out slowly will also get anglers some redfish. Sheepshead have now moved in and simple size 2 circle hooks with a small piece of shrimp, crab, or sandfleas will get you plenty.
The nearshore guys have had days when it was not too bumpy to get out. Sheepshead and nice size ones are being caught on all the local rock piles and wrecks. A few permit schools have been found on the wrecks from 5 miles out. Using 2-inch crabs freelined or with a small split shot attached works well. Mangrove snappers, a few trout, and pompano are the bi-catch.
Not a lot of days worked out for the offshore guides. The few trips that did get out there caught fish. Red grouper in 100 feet of water was easy pickings. The lack of pressure due to rough weather has helped the trips that do get out pick up limits of grouper, and assorted snappers quickly.
Tight lines, Capt. Greg Stamper
Snookstampcharters.com Fort Myers beach, Fl
239-313-1764
239-313-1764
SnookStampCharters@gmail.com
