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16 May 2018
Capt. Jim Conant
May 16, 2018
Matlacha - Saltwater Fishing Report
16 May 2018
High Tides
With summer upon us with southerly winds and higher tides it is time for some great catches. Now that business has slowed down for summer and hot days the fishing is getting better and easier. This week's rain and winds is flushing out stagnant waters and cleaning the grass. Everybody has noticed the stench of decaying grass around, well, hopefully the summer time showers and pop up storms will wash that out. It is already happening in some areas which will bring in new bait and bigger fish. The pinfish have started showing back up mixed in with greenbacks. It does suck puling in all the dead rotting black grass while throwing my net, but it is going away. Now with these higher tides and south winds reds will be getting easy to catch. Lately I've been on them with live greenbacks and pins and most have been in mid slot range casting out on the flats and up in the groves on hi tides. Catfish have been abundant when you leave your bait out to long or not close enough to the mangroves. Snook have also been plentiful ranging in size from 22-27 inches. Tout out on clean grass flats have been a lifesaver on slower bite days. I've been using shrimp under a popping cork and free lining greenbacks on a 2/0 circle hook. Tarpon have been everywhere! While I have clients fishing for the norm of snook reds and trout I have to be very courteous of all the tarpon guys around and try to get past them and sometimes it's hard when a boat or two or three are blocking a cut I have to go through to get to where I am going. I don't have a shallower enough draft to float over a bar like some of the smaller boats. But I try and go extremely slow or troll past. I guess what I am saying here is be respectful of other fisherman and guides. I don't think you would like hiring a guide for hundreds of dollars only to have a boat out of nowhere come by on plane and ruin the area for a little while.
Tips: If you catch lady fish save a couple on ice and use them for redfish and snook.
Tight lines
Check out and like my Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jimbocharters/ and Instagram #jimboscharters page for recent pictures and trips. If you're ready to go fishing give me a call to plan your trip so we can try and catch the tides right. If you're a Disabled/ Retired Veteran or first responder I have discounts for you. I'm also on Facebook at Jimbo's Charters where I post pictures if my clients let me and my website www.Jimboscharters.com and my You tube channel I am slowly building https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDg-V7oR-ex6W-5ztwLAQ
Also, if you see me out there say Hi. I am a friendly guy that likes to help. Just don't ask for a pin point location, but I will tell you what I am catching fish on.
Captain Jim
239-671-4692
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