Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
February 13, 2001
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Spring Has Arrived! (Maybe)

Greetings;

Well fishing friends I am hoping that it is not premature to say that spring has sprung. Our water temperatures have climbed ten degrees in the last week. Bait schools are migrating into our area also. This past weekend I found a huge school of permit well offshore. Barracudas were up on the surface over heavy structure. Air temperatures have been above eighty all week and nights in the sixties and the last cold front was much less intense. All of these signs seem to point to spring and I for one am very glad to see it this year.

Inshore fishing along the beaches and artificial reefs is picking up nicely. There is a strong sheepshead bite any place you can find rocks, debris or structure. We had a pretty good time one morning just off the beach fishing under birds for silver trout, jacks, and blue runners. Light tackle and small white jigs kept us pretty busy releasing nearly fifty fish before noon. The gag grouper bite around these same places is turning on also. A great way to get the bigger fish is by trolling big plugs.

Offshore is showing signs of both winter and spring patterns. The snapper bite is as good as it gets. Big mangroves, and a few yellow tails are the main show with bottom fishing. We were able to get our limit of mangs ranging from three to six pounds on a couple of trips. There are grouper available also with the reds being a bit further out. I mentioned finding permit in the first paragraph. We were running from one spot to another when I remembered finding some permit this time last year. I stopped in that same area and just drifted a while. Suddenly like a switch was turned on, they were everywhere as far as the eye could see! Let explain what I mean by a huge school. This mass of fish was over a mile across!

We did spend a little time this week looking for the early bird king mackerel or tarpon. None were found, but the way I see things it could be anytime. So if you head out, keep those rigs handy.

Sincerely,

Capt. Rick Featherstone

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