Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
September 3, 2002
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Early Fall Action

Greetings;

As early fall approaches the fishing improves as more and more bait migrates into our waters. Both inshore and offshore stages are very active especially on the moving tides. The key has been to "match the hatch" so to speak. What ever type of bait is in the area I try to either match it with flies, or catch what's there for best action. Glass minnows, menhaden, threadherring, ladyfish, are just some of the kinds of bait that predators like tarpon, mackerel, cobia, and kings love to chew on. If we don't get a big storm of any sort it should get better and better as the water cools toward the end of the month.

Inshore the fall tarpon have arrived. Plenty of fish are showing and feeding heavily each day during the peak tide movement. We have had plenty of fly rod action as well as plug casting. Deceiver's have been the fly of choice. DOA Bait Busters have been launching them every day. These fish are shallow typically less than fifteen feet so the light tackle rigs are just the ticket to a great time. In the tarpon mix are sharks of all sizes. Bull sharks, lemon sharks, and plenty of blacktip sharks will keep you busy if live or dead bait is presented near the bait schools. If the poons are not active there are options. We have been chasing the schools of ladyfish and jacks with clouser flies and small jigs on eight pound test. Fast action and loads of fun. Big spanish mackerel have been working the same places so a trace of wire is handy of you get your bait deep into the feeding schools.

Offshore fishing has been very good for cobia and permit. We have also had consistent action on summer smoker kingfish up to forty pounds or so. Little tunny and sharks are active in and around the shrimp boats. Our permit fishing has been as good as any summer I can remember. Patience has been my key to success. They seem to be getting smarter each year as they get more pressure. My best success has come with small white and yellow jigs tied with marabou tails. Presented gently, and fished slowly we have had up to twenty fish on a day. Cobia came into the area during a odd cold front that passed through last week. We released a couple of big ones in the forty pound range, and several more smaller ones. They seem to love a white jig with a glow worm trailing. Cudas are as active as they get right now and we have caught some dandy's. Lots of them of all sizes have kept our reels screaming and our faces smiling this summer. Right now just pick your favorite bait and they will eat it. The little tunny' (false albacore) have really been blasting everything in sight around the shrimpers as they dump their by-catch in the mornings. Put any jig, plug, or fly into the melee and you have drag burning action as fast as it gets. On the grouper and snapper front, there are loads of bites, and undersize grouper. We are catching thirty to forty undersize grouper for every keeper. Its non stop action, but large fish have been a challenge. Snapper fishing has been steady and should improve as the water cools. If targeted limits have been reached every time. Mangroves, yellowtail, and a few muttons.

Take care and watch the afternoon storms, they have been very strong lately.

Sincerely,

Capt. Rick Featherstone

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