Redfish in the backcountry, sharks in the Gulf
Capt. Rob Modys
October 3, 2013
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
A mostly rain free week combined with decent tides made for great fishing on both Estero Bay and the Gulf waters. It looks like a return to some rain is in the forecast but it doesn't look like it will be the washout we had a couple of weeks ago.
If you like to go after redfish, now is the time. Red fishing has been fast and furious and that's usually the case in October. They've been schooled up in several locations across Estero Bay. Just look for the bait skittering across the top of the water and you'll most likely find the reds nearby. We've been using a lot of different baits and artificials with no set pattern in mind. They seem to like live pinfish and shrimp under popping corks the best, but they will also chase down a topwater lure or a well placed fly. We also picked up some nice seatrout in the same area. While live bait or shrimp is the normal go-to, we've had better luck using artificial D.O.A. Shrimp under corks.
Looking for action in the backcountry? Jacks are the word. They are everywhere and there are some big ones cruising in large schools around the oyster bars. They'll hit just about anything, all you have to do is keep your offering on the move.
The nearshore reefs are also action filled. The spanish mackerel are back in big numbers and size and there is also a mix of mangrove snapper, small grouper, flounder and pompano. Live shrimp on jigs and cut bait on circle hooks did the trick. The sharks are back after a slight downturn in previous weeks. Anchor up in 14 to 16 feet of water, chum up the area with small cut pilchards and threadfin herrings and then set lines with a chunk of cut bait. A piece of jack works best. It won't take long for the bulls, blacktips and hammerheads to show up. On our last shark trip we scored on multiple hookups with a total of 14 brought to the boat.
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