Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
July 29, 2002
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Hot Weather Hot Fishing

Greetings;

Fishing from Naples to Sanibel offshore has been action filled for us. Most of our time has been spent within five miles of the beach looking for tarpon and sharks. The times we made the offshore run, loads of action with little tunny (false albacore), big sharks, cudas, permit, and goliath grouper have kept our reels making that beautiful drag screaming sound.

We have worked the shoreline from Wiggins Pass to Sanibel playing with pods of tarpon and many sharks of all sizes. Some days are red hot for tarpon other are slow. There is no pattern except early and late are best times. The good news is that even when the tarpon are not eating the sharks are. Twenty five shark releases has been common on our half day trips lately. Loads of blacktips from five to thirty pounds have been a blast using eight pound outfits. At the same time we have hooked many six to eight foot and bigger hammerheads, bull, and lemon sharks. Also we have boated several nice spanish mackerel to six pounds. This action is nonstop once it starts.

Out deeper from twenty to thirty miles there is good cuda and permit action. We have had several releases on yellow and white jigs tipped with shrimp and DOA Terrorize. The little tunny's love white jigs, surface poppers, and plugs. A big blue runner or jack will bring you a goliath bite pretty quick on most any ledge out there. If snapper is your game, they have been best at night, but decent daytime fishing for lanes, mangs, and yellowtail has been good on small shiners.

Its a great time to go early and go home early. Beat the heat and the storms. Good luck and take care.

Sincerely,

Capt. Rick Featherstone

More Fishing Reports:

• All Reports by Capt. Rick Featherstone
• Fort Myers Fishing Reports
• Southwest Florida (Cape Sable to Boca Grande) Reports
• Florida Fishing Reports
• Browse All Fishing Reports