Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
February 27, 2001
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Fishing Improves

Greetings;

Its been very busy lately. First of all I want to thank all that attended the Florida Sportsman Fishing Show seminar's. It was great to meet so many people with a passion for fishing. Secondly we fished our first SKA (Southern Kingfish Association) tournament held in Ft. Myers. I met a bunch of great people there also and had a blast fishing with them.

Inshore fishing is picking up as the water temperatures have risen to the seventy degree range. On the close wrecks sheepshead, spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper offer the most consistent bite. There is a good showing of silver trout along the beach as well.

Offshore the mangrove snapper fishing is as good as it gets. Limits of three to five pound fish are the rule if you take your time, use light leaders and light wire hooks, and very little sinker. You will hook a few fish you cant land but the action and the size of the snappers well make up for the difference. Barracuda action has picked up dramaticly this week. We had great fun tossing tube lures and bombers to catch several over fifteen pounds. One of my younger anglers age twelve fought and landed a beautiful twenty two pounder. Permit are hit and miss, but when you see them, you will see plenty of targets to cast to. The bulk of the king mackerel are still to our south, I expect these to start into local water within the next two weeks. I seen a nice tarpon hooked forty miles south of here also so they are thinking about coming home too.

Watch the fog, play is safe! There is always another time or day if you feel conditions are dangerous. I have spent my last day in heavy fog, blowing the horn hoping big shrimpers with sleepy helmsmen are paying attention. With the death of a local angler due to collision, I became convinced. My new radar is on the way to the house as this is written.

Sincerely,

Capt. Rick Featherstone

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