Ft. Myers - Offshore

Capt. Rick Featherstone
September 30, 2002
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Fall Pelagic Run Starts

Greetings Fishing Friends,

Its been a crazy time fishing our area lately. With tropical weather systems being broadcast around the country showing terrible weather along the "Gulf Coast" many of our visitors have changed plans and not come here. Of course we here know better. Many of our days have been nice. Even when its been blowing offshore our backwaters have been very productive.

Redfish are active in all the local backwater. Depending on tide, oyster bars and along the mangroves have produced best. Shrimp and popping corks, gold spoons have been the bait of choice. Drifting in San Carlos pass with pinfish has brought larger fish in as well. Snook and large Jacks have been caught along with mangrove snapper in the deeper holes.

Out along the beach and near coastal areas has been producing some of the seasons largest cudas. Permit and cobia have been eating also. We had one strange incident. While trolling for kings one afternoon, a school of large permit came into our spread of baits. We watched stunned as the school got closer and closer to the transom. They swam right up to where we could have netted them. Just when you think you have seen it all something like that happens. Good action on jewfish a.k.a. "goliath grouper" has made for big stories and smiles. We managed one over three hundred pounds up for a release. I am working with a biologist that tags and studies these great fish. Here on our coast we hold the largest spawning concentrations in the state. They are misunderstood by most anglers. Goliath's do not eat grouper and snapper as part of their regular diet unless they are injured or in distressed. I mention this because there have been a few killed lately by fishermen and divers. Most just left to lay on the bottom. Its a waste to see such a wonderfull sport fish go to waste.

Offshore has been nothing short of great on the calmer days. Awesome cuda action combined with cobia and permit has kept drags screaming. We are getting some early run kings along with the summer smokers that are still here.

Good luck and good fishing,

Capt. Rick

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