Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
February 21, 2006
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Chammber Weather Permited!

Greetings,

One bit of noteworthy news. We have added a boat to our charter business. I am thrilled to announce that my son in law Capt. Jim Schnering has joined the Magic Hook team. Capt. Jim is running the boat that many of you have been out on with me, the Mako 221. She has been re-powered with a new Mercury Optimax 225 and is as good as ever at catching fish. Capt. Jim also is running an Action Craft in the backwaters to fill that void in our business. This addition will allow us to keep many more of our good friends and customers in house rather than send them away because I am booked. Jim and I work well together on the water and that allows us cover twice the area looking for big fish.

This last week has been seen beautiful weather. Chamber of Commerce weather really. Calm seas and mid day temperatures have climbed the Gulf temperatures from the high fifty’s to a balmy sixty-eight as of today. Water quality has been steady on the rise with our normal emerald green or “Kingfish” green water running right up to the beach.

What does all of this mean? Well the good news is that there has been a sheepshead migrations into our local reef system that had been lacking all winter. Banner catches are the norm in the backwaters with many quality fish being taken. My son in law, Capt. Jim Schnering literally had to stop catching them on his last backwater trip as his ice chest was packed full with Sheepies up to ten pounds! They also had a really nice gag grouper that we would have been proud of thirty miles out. From the beach out to five miles the artificial reef system is coming back to life. I have been finding birds, bait, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and a few Cobia on them. Along the beaches on rock piles and coral I have been finding sheepies and trout.

Deeper from five to twenty five miles it’s been mainly Snapper and Bluefish. We have enjoyed one of the best snapper bites I have seen in years. A mixed bag of Yellowtail, Mangrove, and Lane snapper along with a good run of “Harbor Blues” to keep us very busy on our short days. On our run out and back it’s been really fun with Triple Tail as well. Triple Tail take a good cast and some patience but they are really fun to fish for.

Out in the deep blue sea it’s been strictly trophy permit fishing for our two boats. These permit average about twenty-five pounds are a thrill on light tackle. Mostly sight fishing and casting to cruising fish. This is a high effort, high reward type of fishing.

Take care and be careful out there. Watch the weather.

Sincerely,

Capt. Rick Featherstone

More Fishing Reports:

• All Reports by Capt. Rick Featherstone
• Fort Myers Fishing Reports
• Southwest Florida (Cape Sable to Boca Grande) Reports
• Florida Fishing Reports
• Browse All Fishing Reports