Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
January 4, 2005
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Winter Pattern Prouduce Lots of Action

Greetings,

Our winter pattern is in full swing now. With water temperatures in the mid sixty’s and regular cold fronts passing through our winter fishing is solid. Its this time of year that we focus on numbers of fish most days rather than our summer glamour species.

Inshore on and around the artificial reef system you can find quality gag grouper on days the water quality is good. Typically that will be two days after a front passage and up to the day of the next front. Sheepshead is also starting to show as well as a few bull redfish.

Offshore the most action is centered on ledges and Swiss cheese hard bottom. Gag grouper, red grouper, lane snapper, mangrove snapper, and some yellowtails are in full force. On the shorter days up to six hours we are still catching between fifty and one hundred fish. Limits of snapper are common with a grouper or two for good luck tossed in. On the longer days five or six keeper grouper are common, but the runs are longer.

Goliath are still here and willing to play the game. We released a few over Christmas that pushed three hundred pounds.

Take care and keep and eye to the weather.

Bow em’ Up,

Capt. Rick Featherstone

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