Warm Winter Temperatures Equals Great Fishing
Capt. Rob Modys
December 22, 2011
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
The pleasant and warm weather should stay with us through the Christmas weekend with a slight drop in air temperatures as we move toward New Years day. The higher water temps will keep the bite going so get out there and enjoy!
The warmer water temperatures have kept the snook on the feed a bit longer than usual. They migrated off the beaches long ago but instead of heading back to their cold water haunts they've taken up residence around the mangrove islands in mid Estero Bay. Live shiners or hand picked live shrimp on circle hooks has been the ticket. We managed to catch and release 14 of them in one morning!
The redfish bite has been good just as long as the water is moving. Picking the right time of day to go after them is essential to success so check and double check your tide chart. The back bay oyster bars have been a good place to start and then move to the mangrove islands as the water comes up. Live shrimp on 1/4 oz. jig heads under popping corks has been working best and we've landed a few on fly and artificials.
Sea trout season remains closed for another week but the catch and release action has been top notch in 3 to 4 feet of water on the flats. Popping cork rigs, artificial lures and flies have all been working. We've also been hooking up with a lot of ladyfish and jacks in the same area.
Pompano are making their winter run. Large schools are on the sandy areas of our passes and will readily go after a piece of shrimp on yellow or pink jig heads. Look for them skipping out of the water on both the inbound and outbound tides and make your cast. They are fun to catch and delicious to eat.
The sheepshead are getting bigger and bigger and more aggressive. Small offerings of shrimp on small hooks or jig heads is the way to go. We've been catching them around docks or in the cuts near oyster bars on either the falling or rising tide.
When the winds allow there are still tons of spanish mackerel feeding in the nearshore Gulf waters. Head out early, look for the birds and you'll find the fish. Small white bucktail jigs worked best but you better but a small piece of wire leader on or you'll lose a ton of jigs!
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