Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
January 31, 2005
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Shallow Water Sightfishing

Winter in Southwest Florida brings some of the lowest tides of the year. Couple that with a hard north or east wind and you'll see almost as much dry ground as water in some places. These low tides make for some excellent sightfishing for redfish, trout and snook. Wading or the use of a very shallow draft boat helps because the water is very clear and this makes the fish extra spooky.

Redfish: Reds have been the best thing going on the flats lately. We have been poling the flats on low tide looking for tailing redfish. The best "tailing" action has been during the first half of the rising tide. We have been catching fish on a variety of soft plastics and live shrimp. If the reds aren't active then blind cast the potholes. Most of the reds have been in the legal slot. There are also tons of smaller reds in the feeder creeks that line Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. Jigs and shrimp have been producing the best. I like to fish the first half of the rising tide when creek fishing also.

Trout: Trout action has been excellent with most days producing at least 30 keepers. Soft plastics and jigs are the main producers. Larger "gator" trout over 20-inches have been scattered among redfish on the shallow flats. Slot fish between 15 and 18 inches are schooled up on most of the grassflats of Pine Island Sound and Cape Romano which is south of Marco Island. However, the Marco bite during a falling tide has been a bit slow when compared to Pine Island Sound.

Snook: Snook fishing hasn't been as good as the reds and trout, but that is to be expected for this time of year. Afternoon high tides this past week produced a number of snook up to 26-inches. Most of the fish came while blind casting plastic jerk baits. Generally the afternoon is better for winter snook because the water has had time warm from the midday sun. I always try to find dark muddy bottom that attracts the suns rays best when trying to target snook in January.

Good Luck!

Capt. Scott Hughes

Blackwater Charters

941-575-2389 hm

941-628-4247 cell

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