by Captain Terry Fisher
It is that time of year when huge numbers of big snook and bigger redfish (‘Reds’) move into the back waters of Pine Island Sound and other secluded estuaries north and south to feed and spawn. They are aggressively eating shrimps, crabs and baitfish. Big snook will also be found just off of the beaches of the outer islands of Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva, Cayo Costa. Areas include, but are not limited to, Bull and Turtle Bays (northwestern area of Charlotte Harbor), the eastern areas of Charlotte Harbor (along the sand bar of Punta Gorda), Matlacha Pass, south to Estero Bay and the Everglades.
Moreover, a variety of other species, such as seatrout, Spanish mackerel, Jack Crevalle along with larger mangrove snappers are being caught in abundance, when compared to a couple of years ago. This year, everyday in July (weather permitting) should offer a good opportunity for a ‘fish of a lifetime’ to anglers that target the above-mentioned game fish. I believe a few of the most effective strategies and tactics are as follows.
1) Work the top half of the incoming and outgoing tides. I prefer to fish for snook on an outgoing tide and ‘reds’ on the incoming tides.
2) When possible, fish the higher tides of the month and during both new and full moon phases.
3) Do not sit in one spot too long. Move around (quietly) to different locations until you find the game fish. Work points of islands, fish in and around ‘dead’ wood. Fish a presentation very close to or under mangroves. If pinfish and mangrove snappers are biting, move on, as it is unlikely that big snook or ‘reds’ are at that location.
4) Fish the windward side of islands, keys and structure when possible.
5) ‘Free’ line live pilchards and threadfins for best snook results. I like to use circle hooks, but ‘J’ hooks are as good. Use sizes 1/0 to 3/0 depending on the size of the bait (not the fish you hope to catch). The bait needs to have a natural presentation and oversized hooks will defeat this purpose. Large shrimp, crabs, cut pinfish or cut ladyfish should produce ‘reds. If large (jumbo) size shrimp are available in the waters you fish, that is likely to be the ‘bait of choice’. Otherwise, try the other baits mentioned. However, regardless of the bait, redfish presentations should be placed on the seabed or suspended under a cork. Not ‘sexy’, but very effective.
6) Artificial baits such as weed-less soft plastics, twitch, top water, spoons and crank baits can all be effective, but usually not as effective as live bait.
7) Re-visit previous stops at different stages of the incoming and outgoing tides (the fish simply may not have arrived at that time).
8) On the grass ‘flats’ for seatrout, pompano, Spanish mackerel, Jack Crevalle, etc. simply fish either on an outgoing or and incoming tide. Not much difference so long as the water is moving.
Over periods of time fish will relocate (if not more than a few yards) given a number of variables and changes in the area’s habitat, including, the amount of fishing pressure, changes in structure (dead wood and oyster clusters, etc.) sea-grasses (amounts of and types) and cover (mangroves). Other factors include wind speed, wind direction, water level and water clarity.
Every July, I am constantly looking for new ‘haunts’ that hold snook and reds. Again, this year (as always) I take my 1st Mate Vicki and/or good clients (as a reward for their loyalty) to accompany me on trips to seek out new, productive locations. We work the top half of the incoming tide. We fish on the bottom with a 1/4 oz. Strike King Jighead with shrimp, cut pinfish or quartered crab. I insist on a weighted jig so that the strong, incoming current will not move a good presentation from under or near the mangrove roots (where most fish swim or lie in ambush). As an alternative, I also require that we fish a ‘cork’ with a suspended, weighted jig, allowing it to drift with the current, along the mangrove roots.
The Covid-19 Pandemic has not affected the fishing here in SW Florida. The fish are oblivious to it and fishing our beautiful waters offer families and friends opportunities to ‘get out there’ and enjoy where we are ‘Blessed’ to live. Even though many species are restricted to harvest, none are precluded from ‘catch and release’. It is a good time to practice one’s skills to land a ‘fish of a lifetime’. Due to the wise decisions to restrict harvesting over the last number of months, seatrout, snook and redfish populations are numerous and in my opinion rebounding from previous years. Contact me to schedule a charter to catch your ‘fish of a lifetime’. I am also available as ‘Captain for Hire’ (by the hour) on your vessel for safety, navigation, fishing techniques and actual locations to insure catching fish is a daily and regular event.
www.fishfacecharters.com fishfacecharters@yahoo.com
