Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor & Matlacha Pass
Capt. Glenn Grimes
April 24, 2005
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Hi,folks fishing has steadily improved over the last few days.The snook have made a vast improvement over the last week.My clients have caught some nice snook and also lost some nice ones also.Snook to 30" have been hooked and lost with most of the snook running 22 to 26".The methods involved for catching these fish include using greenbacks floated on a cajun thunder cork.Also freelining a greenback under or near the mangrove trees has been productive.The snook season will be ending after the 31st of April.Snook will be catch and release till September 1st.
The redfish have made vast improvements since the weather has started to warm up.Clients have caught reds to 27" this week.Methods include poling along the shoreline and pitching alive greenback or small dollar sized pinfish under or near the mangrove trees.I have also caught reds by anchoring on certain spots while fishing for snook.I have been using live bait to catch all of the reds this week but other methods that are productive are poling large flats on low water periods of the tide.I cast gold spoons and crank them back keeping them just over the grass.Also jigs such as cotee's with gold grub bodys will produce.I also use cut ladyfish fished under or near the mangrove trees on a flood tide.
Seatrout fishing continues to be excellent with fish of up to 26" being caught.I also like to use live bait such as greenbacks,pinfish,shrimp.Trout are not exactly picky when it comes to feeding.They can be caught on a variety of lures and plugs.Some of my favorites are gold spoons,cotee jigs,top water mirrorlures.Trout have also been hitting top water early and late in the day.I personally like to catch trout on the flyrod.For the flyrod enthusiast these fish are a perfect fish to fish for as they readily smash flys with gusto.Patterns I like to use are seaducers,deceivers,and top water poppers.
Cobia have been showing themselves from time to time.These fish have been mostly undersized fish but are a blast to catch on light tackle.They have been hitting baits intended for trout.These fish are not very choosy when it comes to feeding.It is hard to beat a small pinfish for a hungry cobia.
Large and small sharks are now quite common now.As the summer draws near sharks will be getting thicker in the Sound.For people interested in shark fishing large bull and lemon sharks mixed with some blacktips will be plentiful thru the summer.Well that will do it for this week.Capt Glenn.
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