Bull Bay snook and redfish are slaming the greenbacks

Capt. Darel Carter
April 14, 2015
Boca Grande - Saltwater Fishing Report

The day started out with launching the boat at about 10 am with the wife. We went strait to Devil fish key for bait because my usual spot did not produced on the last trip. I think it was because of the poor tide conditions or lack of tide. It took a little time with the chum. Like I say" chum and they will come". I made about 8 cast with my 8' net and had plenty for the day. The green backs (white bait) were large, I think some would choke a red fish.
On the first stop I got out and wade fished a large shoreline. I did not get 20 yards "Snook on", small but fun.I noticed that the snook were positioned in the sand from knee deep to waist deep. They were moving around in small schools of 3 to 5 fish. I could site fish most of the 10 that I landed. For the leader set up I used 30lb mono and a split shot to get the green back down on the bottom.Two or three snook were caught in deeper water over grass. I only fished about a 30 yard section.
The next stop was inside the island and no wade fishing because you would float your hat. This pattern was the same but I added a float up about 5 to 6 feet. Snook after snook would chase the bait, blow up on it or eat it and run. Some strikes came after the bait ran for about 15 feet. One trout was caught and about 5 snook were caught and released. I fished in the open area and started to have big Spanish mackerel crash the bait. My wife had fun with snook to 25".
The next move was to a small grass flat that dropped down to a 7 foot channel. Snook, again, one after another. Same set up cork, sinker and leader. The snook were sitting in a small depression that had less grass in it. This spot produced about 6 snook to the boat. Some very nice trout were also caught and Spanish mackerel came out of the channel. One black tip shark produced a powerful run before it was safely released. It was hard to believe that spot produced so much action with basically no tide at all.
The next spot was a thin grass flat that butted up to a set of docks. This produced a flats slam of snook, red fish and trout. The 3 reds were about 18" long or what might be called rat reds. The trout was 15" and the 5 snook were about 24" long.
After this spot slowed we were off and back towards the boat ramp. The last spot was next to the road. This area had a small section of grass that dropped off into a boat channel. This very heavy boat traffic area produced the two largest trout of the day. The days fishing ended at about 3 pm and was an exceptional day at that.
Of course it being April 1st something had to happen. One of my trailer tires completely exploded on the way home. Easy fix.

The fishing action is hot, so lets go stretch some line. www.hookedoncharters.com

Boca Grande Fishing Forecast:

Tarpon are in Charlotte harbor. Snook, trout, large blue fish and Spanish mackerel will be turned on with good tides.

Target Species:

Snook, red fish, trout, spanish mackerel.

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