Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor & Matlacha Pass
Capt. Glenn Grimes
January 30, 2005
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
cold front blues
It was windy and cold as we put in to fish the first annual Silver Magic Inshore classic fishing tournament.Sadly to say the cold front combined with low water conditions really made for poor fishing.The fish had lock jaw and were just not in the feeding mood.Only after the tide changed to the incoming did we manage to land a fish which was a redfish that was 151/2" long.We only managed to catch one other small redfish.It was embarassing but such is the sport of fishing.
During the first part of the week seatrout,redfish, gag grouper,sheepshead were the main catches.These fish were caught near tree snags that were blown in from the hurricane Charley.The seatrout are being caught mostly with D.O.A. shrimp imitations fished on popping corks.Live shrimp also are working with the popping cork combo.The seatrout have been hitting alongside the many spoil islands and oyster bars in the Sound.
Snook season starts the 1st of Febuary which means live greenbacks under the mangrove trees on a good moving tide.I also fish snook at night with bomber plugs trolling them along certain deep areas in the Caloosahatchie river.The snook fishing has been a little slow due to cold water.This week the water temps came up a few degrees so snook fishing will start picking up very soon.I have seen many snook already but not much biting going on.We need a little warm weather to spark a feed.
The best bets are fishing for gag grouper in the passes and tree snags of the Sound.Sheepshead in the same spots as the grouper.Redfish on the open flats and backcountry creeks and canal systems.Also seatrout will be on the open grass flats in Matlacha pass and in Pine Island Sound.Snook season will be opening the 1st this means hitting the backcountry creeks and the mouth of the Caloosahathie river.Well that does it for this week.See ya on the water.Capt Glenn.
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