The early morning rains were in full effect this week. Heavy down pours occurred both in the pre-dusk hours as well as the usual afternoons. So far so good on the tropics not throwing anything other than the norm so far. Fishing after these am storms was very good this week. The rain cools things off and the fish like that. The combination of good tidal movement made the bite good till about 11am.
The back bays were the place to be during these good morning tides. There was a lot of redfish moving around the bays, and they were eating. Pinfish took top billing this week both live, and as cut bait. A simple 2/o circle hook rigged through the pinfishes back, got it done. Snook continue to be plentiful along the mangrove shorelines. Throwing small jerk baits into the shady pockets produced many. None of the snook this week were over 25-inches but catching 20 per trip was no problem. Trout continue to be active in 2-4-foot of water over the grass.
Nearshore fishing continues for tarpon. There have been random schools of fish just off the beaches from Boca Grande to Naples. Crabs and threadfin herring have worked well for the tarpon on 5/o circle hooks. The big snook have been caught on the local wrecks. Threadfin herrings dropped to the bottom around the wreak, not on it will do the job. Freelining small crabs will still produce permit in these same areas. Some snappers as well as a few sheepshead have been the other catches.
The offshore boats that got out far did well. Some black groupers have been caught way out past 150-feet. Those in the 100-foot range caught red groupers, mangrove snappers, as well as small aj’s. Most of the trips limited out on snappers within the first few hours allowing the boats to get back in before the coastal scattered thunderstorms began.
Tight lines Capt. Greg Stamper
Snookstampcharters.com Fort Myers beach, Fl
239-313-1764
Rain on me
