Fall is in the air and the redfish are biting
Capt. Rob Modys
September 16, 2013
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Water quality and clarity has been improving in Estero Bay and the nearshore Gulf Waters. The rains have slowed a bit and that certainly has helped. There are also schools of bait along the beaches, birds in the backcountry and lots of dolphins hanging out near the passes. Fall is in the air!
Redfish are the focus. They are schooled up on the flats as well as along most of the mangrove shorelines of Estero Bay. The majority are in the slot and eating just about anything thrown their way. Cut ladyfish is a favorite but live shrimp on jigs will also do the trick. The flats bite is happening early, just after the start of the high tide. There's also a good bite around the mangrove islands later in the morning around the high tide.
The Gulf of Mexico was the best place to be for a big smorgasbord of available species. At the top of the list were spanish mackerel. They were everywhere; passes, beaches, nearshore and offshore. They were also easy to spot. Just locate a bait pod with birds flying over the top of it and you'd find the macs.
The nearshore reefs and rock piles were also good and held croaker, flounder, trout, pompano, grouper, mangrove snapper and some very big snook. We used a combination of live shiners and live shrimp on circle hooks and jigs. Be sure to mix the baits up to find out what's working best.
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