Southwest Florida Fishing Report - Bonita Springs to Captiva

Capt. John GiddyUp-Bunch
January 24, 2004
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Cool Temps means Hot Fishing Action (Naples to Sanibel)

2004 is getting started with some serious "GiddyUp." I've had 3 Charters in the last 6 days and everyone went home with fish for the Barbi.

Big Redfish: Schools of nomadic Reds have been prowling around the DGH Reef to the Wiggins Reef. These fish are all bruisers and will thrill your heart like the beginning of a Nascar Race. Throw anything at them and they will attack. This experience is truly extraordinary. Feeding in such a large mass produces one heck of a sight. A gorgeous red color from the fish against the steel blue of the Gulf of Mexico. "GiddyUp"

Tarpon: Tarpon? That's right, Tarpon in the same general area. Capt. Eric "Flip" Davis had a charter this week and was drifting live bait in the above general area. He jumped two POONS and his client landed an estimated 180LB Silver King after a 2 hour+ rumble. The fish was caught on a Stratic 5000 on a 10-17LB Rod. There appears to be so much bait that the Tarpon don't care about freezing their fins off. Water Temp is 64.5. Wet t-shirt temps!

Trout: If you find Grasss Beds chances are you will find nice Trout. Trout are fun but unless someone begs me to fish for them I go get my thrills elsewhere. Try the Sanibel Causeway Toll Plaza and remember to cut your wake for the Wade Fisherman. It is just not right to disrespect these serious anglers. Please slow down for them as in ZERO WAKE. Please.

Tripletail: I went out trolling for Gag Grouper and spotted a big T-Tail on a Crab Trap Marker. When I was leaving for the trip I actually thought this might happened but the 20yds from my dock to my house just seemed too far for me to walk (plus up the steps into my house)to get a rig already rigged for Tripletail. What a MAJOR DUFOUS MOVE! "If I'm lyin', I'm dyin" but I tried to catch this big Tripletail but trhowing a D.O.A. shrimp with a Calcutta 700 on a 20-40LB Rod. The cast had to start at 5 o'clock to hit 12 o'clock. I felt like such an idiot for being so darn lazy. Live and learn. But many Tripletail are on the Crab Pots. I know gas is expensive but it is well worth the run along the rows of Crab Pots to score these big fish.

Gag Grouper: All I can say is the fishing is On Fire for Big Gags if you troll for them. I love the Bagley Monster Prism Shad in Blue or the Green Fire Tiger. The Bagley Bang-O-Lure work great on Big Gags but the smaller 23-24" Gags seem to leave this lure alone. My second choice for a lure would be a tie between the Mann's Stretch 25 and the Yo-Zuri DD Minnow in lime green.

Snook: I'm leavin' them alone until 2/01/04 and I'm not telling you were they are until then. I just don't see the point of stressing them out when the water temps are this low. Please forgive me if my lack of disclosure pisses you off. At least you will only be mad at Capt.GiddyUp for one more week. Heck, the woman I date occasionally is always mad at me. I'm thinkin' of taking her Shark Fishing! "GiddyUp" Capt. John "G/U" Bunch

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