Southwest Florida Fishing Report - Bonita Springs to Captiva

Capt. John GiddyUp-Bunch
March 13, 2004
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

The Calm before The Storm

All hell is getting ready to break lose down here in SW FL. This is a good thing because I am getting reports of Cobia and Tarpon arriving before April. March is always a windy month. It was windy in SC in March where I fished as a nipper and Florida is just as windy. So, how windy is it. I saw a windsurfer blow by my 2400V Pathfinder with 225Yammie but he was flying and I was going through chop. One hell of a sight and a YAHOO he yelled.

Here is the scoop. Water temp is between 69 and 72 degrees. I much prefer the former number. Wind has been between 15-400KTS it seems. Winds seem to decrease and sunset and top of ebb tide. Don't ask me why.

Pompano: Man, I love catching these tough little guys and enjoy taking only one fresh fish home for dinner. I would check the bars at Hickory and Big Carlos Pass. You can score 3-4LB fish with live shrimp (smaller do just fine) on almost ant jig.

Snook: The Snook fishing was on fire during the recent full moon. I fish the dock lights at night through all tides but like the bridges when tide gets rippin'. Try the Hurricane Bridge on the outgoing.

If you don't catch em' you can listen to music and drink your favorite beverage at The Channel Mark.

If you have not been catching Snook, buy a Hydroglow Fish Light. These things are awesome. In my opinion, they will be outlawed but I don't think they should be.

Big Carlos Pass is also producing Big Snook trolling the bridge fenders with Deep Diving Mann's Stretch Lures. I like the Stretch 8 model in Blue.

Tarpon (My Passion) have just begun to roll here and there. Salty Sams Marina owner Darrell Hanson reported a 150LB hog being taken off Knapp's Point by some dufous TROLLING. I wish the DUFOUS would have been me. Anyway, it will not be long.

Big Trout have been caught off Bunche Beach by Trollers looking for Cobia! Big Trout. The tide must be moving and they seem to bite better when the Jet Skiers are gone. Imagine that.

I have also heard reports of decent size Trout off Picnic Island. My

baby blue eyes have not seen them and the Captain that gave me the 411 is pretty trustworthy.

Redfish Pass grass flats are producing nice Trout right now.

Tomorrow is Sunday and I'm running to find Cobia and Pompano.

I'll let ya know what I find as soon as I can.

Capt. GiddyUp has not heard or seen any good Grouper lately. Dragging the Big Lures 3-4 Miles out has dried up worse than my 5th wife's face. Be safe and think like a fish. "GiddyUp"

OH! PS: Big PS::: Next year our Fishing Show on Fox will be seen from Texas to Virginia on all cable systems and on Direct TV. We are regional Florida this year. You will then see the face of the guy that gives you all the great Fishin' scoop!

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