Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor

Capt. Van Hubbard
January 14, 2006
Boca Grande - Saltwater Fishing Report

Life is good and fishing makes it even better.

I have enjoyed some good weather providing fine fishing trips. It’s pleasant to start out later in the mornings for a change. Cooler weather often offers better afternoon action. The windy days are different; south winds are warm and fishy but north ones not as productive. If you’re flexible so we fish in fair weather we can find some good fishing.

Everything but snook are legal now, it’s good to have speckled trout back. Snook opens back up in February but do not expect hot action until the waters warm up latter in the month. It’s time to line up those reservations for spring snook and later tarpon trips.

Trout fishing is fine plenty of smaller fish for the future and enough slot fish for dinner. Some big gator trout to trick you into thinking you have a nice snook until it’s boatside. Some surprises are good. Soft plastic jigs seem to get larger fish than live shrimp. Many of the new pre-rigged ones have graphics that could be considered art.

Pompano have been a blessing so far this winter. We can almost depend on a mess for dinner. We had a dozen yesterday and most days at least five or six. A few trips over the holidays even had us moving off of biting pompano because we limited out “six per angler”. The rig here is a double jig custom rig I make up. I start with a ½ once pompano jig. Usually a cream colored head, like a sandflea and bright yellow skirt. Bright white heads and skirts are better on bright days. I add a small bright fly on a foot of fluorocarbon leader. It’s tied to the shank of the jig. Pink, white and yellow all work at times. My other hot ticket is to use a Doc’s Goofy Jig on either end. It’s a heavy jig with the lead on the shank of the hook. As crazy as it sounds some of our biggest fish have been taken chartreuse and white ones. I do not claim to understand what chartreuse looks like to a fish but it fools them. Check em out when you can.

Sheepshead is getting ready to spawn and will gather up on the deeper edges of flats and work towards the Gulf Passes. They move thru the passes on the big tides of the full and new moons. Anything they lack in glamour they more than make up for in abundance and on the table.

Redfish and snook will pick up as the waters begin to warm later this month. Ladyfish, bluefish and whiting all are ready to bend your pole if things get slow. Working with the weather in winter is the best tip I can share. Don’t do it the hard way if you don’t have to. Let’s Go Fishin’ soon. Captain Van Hubbard

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