Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor

Capt. Van Hubbard
February 23, 2006
Boca Grande - Saltwater Fishing Report

It felt like spring this week.

Finally the fish are starting to bite.

Weather co-operated this week and the fish responded wonderfully. We are not into the red hot spring bite but the snook are moving. There is no white bait yet so we are using artificials and shrimp. Just like magic fish started to appear everywhere as the water warmed up to the mid-seventies.

Today Kenneth Diggs and Pascal Girard of Rehoboth, Delaware joined me to catch some fish. We started out in dense fog near Stump Pass marina in Lemon Bay. They caught several trout and all the ladyfish they wanted. Several were taken on Fly by Pascal. Then the fog lifted and we went south to Whidden’s Creek. The fish were slower but we did catch and release several almost big enough snook. Then Ken hooked into two different big ones only to have both throw the hook. Stuff happens and it was exciting. We all were smiling ear to ear. The both fish a lot and said it was the best day either had ever had. Beautiful weather and fish too. Life is great.

Yesterday Tom and his family joined me at Little Gasparilla Island. Katie started things out with a trout and ladyfish. Then Max and John each managed a few trout and ladyfish. The fish were hard to find early but things improved as it warmed midday. They are from upstate New York and enjoying Spring Break together. It’s great to see families playing together, especially as the kids grow up and go off to work on their own.

Tuesday Gene and Joe also coincidentally from Delaware shared a ½ day with me. We worked jigs, as there were no shrimp. They caught some trout and a bunch of ladyfish as the day progressed. Again early was slow. Joe had a fine pompano and then an almost big enough cobia. We used DOA jigs and 10-pound Fire line.

It’s great to see blue skies and fish all over. The mullet came back and everything else seems to be coming. No baitfish or mackerel yet but any day they can appear. It’s looks like we are in for a cooler week but nothing to worry about. Off shore I hear they are seeing lots of tiny minnows so we should have bait soon? Let’s Go Fishin”.

Captain Van Hubbard

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