Warm wet weather, but the fish still cooperated
Capt. Rob Modys
December 14, 2012
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
An unusual batch of rain interrupted some fishing trips early in the week, but warm temperatures and good tides kept the fish biting if you could work around the weather.
We had a good redfish bite around the mangroves in the backcountry of Estero Bay. Fishing on either side of the high tide was best using live shrimp on lead head jigs. The forecast is for more seasonal weather so they'll move around a bit this week. Best bet will be in deeper cuts near oyster bars.
Sea trout were on the flats but seemed to like the falling water better than the up bound. The best bite was on live shrimp under popping corks. They were pretty concentrated so using a drift method to find them was more productive. The water temps should remain warm enough to use topwater lures like Chug Bugs or Rapala Skitter Walks.
The winter sheepshead push to spawn is behind schedule due to the warmer water but we are getting our share of keepers fishing oyster bars and docks. Keep the tackle light and the baits small for success. You'll also find a good number of black drum and the occasional flounder in the same areas.
The nearshore rock piles and edges are holding a good mix of fish. Mangrove snapper, sheepshead, pompano, grouper and triggerfish are all biting. Spanish mackerel are also bunching up into large schools. Look for the birds over the fish just a couple of miles offshore and try tossing something shiny at them.
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