With the moon in its waxing phase, we will have very good outgoing tides these next few mornings. Good moving water throughout the area means lots of fish biting. Inshore will be most affected by these great tides, followed up by nearshore then offshore. Having good tides in the mornings also means you can start early and get off the water before temperatures get stifling hot.
The inshore and back bay bite continues to be good. As mentioned before the best bite has been early in the mornings for tarpon, redfish, and snook. Pinfish both under corks as well as freelined have been working very well. Topwater during the first few hours has also produced a good number of fish all week long. Those that want trout can start a bit later in the morning and work the flats in 2-4 feet of water with either live or fake shrimp under popping corks. These baits meant for trout will also produce pompano, bluefish, ladyfish, and the occasional snapper over the grass flats.
Nearshore continues to be productive for permit and tarpon. Tarpon continue to be consistent off Captiva, with occasional schools both to the North and South. There are plenty of threadfin herring schools around the tarpon. Many captains just sabiki a few baits in the same areas you will be fishing for them. Permit on the nearshore wrecks that have the most relief has been consistent. The permit have been eating live shrimp and crabs freelined around these structures. Many captains are having the best permit bite mid-morning till about 1pm.
Offshore has been all about snapper and grouper. Those that got out 40 miles plus caught the bigger of these species. The anglers that got out but fished in less than 80 feet still caught good numbers just not as big as those in 100 feet plus. Red grouper was the most common grouper caught, but gags, scamp, and a few blacks also ate some of their baits. Mangrove snappers and lane snappers filled most of the time, with a hogfish or two as a nice bi-catch.
redfish heaven
