"The Bite" and Water Temps are slowly on the rise
Capt. John GiddyUp-Bunch
February 20, 2011
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Last week was a freakin' nightmare. 3 great guys board my boat at Punta Rassa for a 4 Hour Fishing Trip. My 4 hour trips take 5 hours because my customers get 4 hours of fishing. With this clarified, allow me to make the following disclosure. IN ORDER NOT TO GET SKUNKED and personally embarrassed, I extended this charter to 6 HOURS. We tried outside first. We never saw a single bait school, nervous water, big fish exploding on little fish, airborne kings, or birds "working." After 2 hours of NOTHING, we split for the high probability of Captiva Pass.
As we change gears and started to fish the pass, trust me when I tell you my eyes are all over other anglers. Never once over a solid 1 hour at Captiva Pass (Incoming Tide) did I see anyone score a trout, bluefish, ladyfish, or pompano. Drastic times call for drastic measures and the GiddyUp clock was turned off.
Upon catching our first trout, my customer made fun of our first 14" miracle sent directly from heaven. (Please keep in mind after numerous stops and observations, we continued to see no one catch anything) By the end of the day, the charter was probably my worst in 2 years. Upon speaking to the dock-master at the Sanibel Harbor Marina, I wasn't alone. Reports had several Guides being totally SKUNKED.
Bottom line is as follows. The above disaster took place when water temps at 0900 were 60 degrees. By the end of the charter, the temperature was 64. The fishing sucked. Yesterday the water temperature was 63 at 0900 and warmed to 66 by the end of our charter. Trout/Pompano/Flounder/and ladyfish were all on the bite. We scored no Redfish.
This report contains no happy smoke to blow up your posterior.
When water tempts spike above 70, we will see better fishing. It started to get better yesterday.
With increasing water temps we might have an early Tarpon Season. Our new Governor needs to grow a pair and issue an Executive Order opening grouper in State Waters. His name is Rick Scott. Let him know how you feel about the State of Florida blindly following the lead of the Federal Government closing Grouper Season for Recreational Anglers and Fishing Guides.
Florida "The fishing capital of the world" (?)
No snook
No Grouper
1 redfish
4 trout
Thanks Governor Scott!
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