Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
June 20, 2001
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Summer Patterns

Greetings;

Our fishing seems to have pretty much moved into a summer pattern. I sprained my ankle and was slowed a bit but I have been out fishing and here is what we found.

On the offshore stage there are king mackerel still around amazingly. We got mostly schoolies. The permit action is hit and miss but when you find them they eat well. We released 13 on one trip from twelve to twenty pounds. Cudas are all over the heavy structures and ready for a fight. We had a twenty pounder land in the boat on the first jump last Saturday. Goliath grouper (Jewfish) are on the same spots and stand ready to test your stamina and tackle any time you drop a live bait down to them. I have heard reports of some good snapper fishing out deep also.

One morning while running out I spotted a bunch of frigate birds working a anchored shrimper. When I got close the water was churning up in the by catch trash that had been tossed in. I was thinking LT's (little tunny) and blackfin's at first. But it became obvious it was a ton of sharks in a feeding mood all crashing the surface. As we quietly drifted by we sight casted to a dozen or more big black tips, lemons and hammerheads. I don't know how many we hooked but we released five from twenty to eighty pounds.

Inshore is the good news. A nice big bunch of poonies have migrated into our area. With them came a bunch of spanish mackerel and sharks also. We had good success with both live and cut baits. There is some good snook and jack fishing around the dock and bridges right now too. Live baits will get you the most strikes, but everything will work.

Have a great week and enjoy. Watch the afternoon thunderstorms and don't take any chances.

Capt. Rick Featherstone

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