Target Tarpon

Capt. Ron Kowalyk
July 7, 2015
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Offshore: Lots of action throughout the region. Crews found grouper on the reefs at 9 plus miles. Grouper are active and pinfish, squirrelfish and threads are go to baits. Snapper area mainstay and limits of fish in the 1-3 plus lb. range are available on the close marks 3 -5 off, bigger, better, more out on the marks in 50-60 plus ft. of water. Sorry the hot shot offshore guides aren't giving up their GPS numbers, but it ain't brain surgery, run and gun till you fine a bite. Chum is a must, Spanish sardines are a good choice for "doggies", snapper, as are cut threads, mullet, pins and shiner; pick your poison! Be ready for some bruiser action on your snapper hole, cobia, Goliaths and sharks are eating doggies as they reeled up. Keep a bull work rod dumped over the side with a big livie and you might fine a prize monging your pin. threads squirrely or whatever! Also keep a big plug rod at the ready for cruising ling (cobia), bonito, sharks or kings.

Tarpon (poons) are the hot target this time of year are reports are very good with fish in the 80lb. class typical. Schools are reported off the Twins at Ft. Myers Beach, from point Ybel to Knapp's Point , around Redfish Pass and points north. Boca is on fire if you like fishing in a traffic jam. Threads. pins under a cork, squirrelfish, and crabs are the top baits but cut chuck and chummy are a good bet if the other crews don't run you over. You can drift and livebait fish or throw plugs. Fly guys did best around the passes and right tight to the northern beaches. Permit were reported on the southend reefs at first light before boaters put em down. Charlotte Harbor has lots of water and therefore lots of options, decent trout action reported and nice redfish if you gun the mangrove canopy and feeder creeks, good stuff at and behind the Burnt Store Bars.

Inshore: Hot-Hot again this week so get out early if tides permit. Guys keep reporting lots of snook and reds in the passes and at the docks adjacent to the passes and channels, it's a crap shoot so look for moving water, bait and shaded features. Got reports of double digit hook-ups in New Pass, Big Carlos, the Sanibel Causeway and up in Pine Island Sound on the backside of Captiva. Them Caloosahatchee turned in some fat cat reports of evening snooking up by the Cape Coral Bridges. The Imperial and Mullock Creek reported snook action, there'll be plenty of boat traffic this weekend so plan accordingly. Redfish action was a tad slow this week with very warm daytime waters temps into the 89-90 degree range, look to the creeks, deep canals and marina docks for you spottails(redfish), bluetails ( juveniles redfish). Guys in the know slowed there presentations and soaked, shrimp, cutbait or smallish pins and found some slot reds. Trout are sluggish in the warm water so fine deeper cooler moving water in the morning or late afternoon. We managed a mess of trout but mostly shorts, we had to fish live shrimp to get any consist ant action. Gulps and other scented softplastics work as well but only after you located the schools of specks with shrimp. Ladyfish dominated the trout drifts but luckily the fly guys like the action, they love to fight city hall and tough it out with bugs, Good Show! Charlotte Harbor, lots of water lots of option. Good action around and behind the Burnt Store Bars. Watch out for crazed weekend "fishing flash mobs" glad I can't dance. I'll be wayback in the wayback I hope with my guys. Peace in our time, well maybe!

Capt. Ron Kowalyk
www.fishswfla.com
[email protected]
239-267-9312

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