Sea trout season open and we are catching
Capt. Rob Modys
January 5, 2012
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Our first big cold front showed up just after New Years Day and brought with it the first major cool down of the winter season. It was chilly but not cold enough to put the bite off for most of our backcountry fish.
Trout season opened on the 1st with a bang! It wasn't unusual to land 20 to 30 fish with about a third of them in the slot. Live shrimp on 1/4 oz. jig heads under popping corks worked best. We also had a mix of flounder, ladyfish, jacks and a few spanish mackerel mixed in.
The redfish bite fell off a bit with the cooler weather and most of the ones we caught were undersize. They should bounce back later in the week with the return of warmer temperatures.
Pompano picked up another notch. Large schools are on the sandy areas of our passes and have started moving onto some of the near beaches. Live shrimp on yellow or pink jigs heads were the go-to baits.
The sheepshead are getting bigger and bigger and more aggressive. Small offerings of shrimp on small hooks or jig heads is the way to go. We've been catching them around docks or in the cuts near oyster bars on either the falling or rising tide.
If you are looking for some rod bending action, the bonnethead sharks have moved to the backcountry grass flats for the winter. They average about 3 feet long and put up a heck of a fight. We've been baiting them with live shrimp or cut bait under a popping cork. Pop the cork a lot to get their attention.
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