Quick Cast:
 Area Reports
 Find-a-Guide
 Forums
 Tides

Departments:
 Articles
 Books
 Clubs & Orgs.
 Fishing Reports
 Feedback
 Forums
 Fly Fishing
 Guides & Charters
 Links
 Photo Gallery
 Reef Locator
 Regulations
 Software
 Survey
 Tournaments
 Travel
 Weather
 Home

Administration:
 About Us
 Advertising
 Contact
 Privacy
 Terms of Use
 Web Development

16 August 2018 Red tide and dirty water

Capt. Jim Conant
August 16, 2018
Matlacha - Saltwater Fishing Report

16 August 2018

Red tide and dirty water

Since my last report water has gotten dirtier in Matlacha and red tide has bloomed out of control on the SW coast. Luckily Matlacha waters has been unaffected by red tide. What I've noticed in the last several weeks. Last Wednesday was my last time going south of the power lines because of what I witnessed. About a 1/8 mile south of the power lines there were dead fish, green algae and nasty foul smelling waters that was making me cough and onset of a headache. I was praying it didn't make it any further North for my livelihood. I worked up a little ways and no dead fish but the green algae was scattered about and as I always do I am looking for signs of life on the waters. I had to head North almost to the bridge before I started seeing mullet and bait swimming. Now keep in mind the fish kills and green algae could have floated up with the tides and not been directly in that area. But I'm not taking chances and having my clients see the negatives out there. I still wake up every day and go pick up my clients to take them fishing or on a nature tour praying today isn't the day it made it all the way up to my stomping grounds.
Just like last month's report on how to fish dirty water nothing has changed. I have changed to a no kill policy for the time being and releasing ALL fish alive. Hopefully everyone follows suit so we don't kill our little estuary. We have to give our fish a chance to replenish the area which is going to take a while. I hate seeing people at the dock cleaning a ton of fish in the current conditions. So when our waters clear and there are no keeper size fish you are also to blame as you didn't help preserve our fishery.
Fishing
By now everybody and their brother knows Matlacha is the place to be. Snook, Reds, Snapper, Jacks and Trout have congregated in pockets all around the cleaner areas making them easier to catch. Remember they are concentrated in areas evading certain death from bad water. Catch and release please unless your only source of a meal comes from your fishing.
For my clients, Reds have been caught on cut bait on an outgoing tide. Snook have been plentiful and some in the 40" range have been caught in the cleaner waters with moving current using pins or greenies and some on cut lady fish. Snappers caught on free lined shrimp has been the ticket.
When fishing seems to fail I head out into the harbor for sharks, Spanish macks the occasional cobia and whatever else shows up.
Bait spots: find the birds if you're looking for greenies otherwise pinfish are plentiful.
I hope this information helps you up your fishing game. Not much is going to change during the summer months but hopefully the waters clear up with everyone pushing our elected officials to do the right thing and get out of the pockets of the people responsible for the destruction of our fishery.
Check out and like my Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jimbocharters/ and Instagram #jimboscharters page for recent pictures and trips. If you're ready to go fishing give me a call to plan your trip so we can try and catch the tides right. If you're a Disabled/ Retired Veteran or first responder I have discounts for you. I'm also on Facebook at Jimbo's Charters where I post pictures if my clients let me and my website www.Jimboscharters.com and my You tube channel I am slowly building https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGhDg-V7oR-ex6W-5ztwLAQ
Also, if you see me out there say Hi. I am a friendly guy that likes to help. Just don't ask for a pin point location, but I will tell you what I am catching fish on.
Captain Jim
239-671-4692

More Fishing Reports:

 

Fish from a 2017 Nautic star 2400 sport for Redfish, Snook, Sea Trout and other inshore and off shore species for 1-6 anglers live & cut bait. Also Fishing Pine Island Sound, Matlacha and Charlotte harbor.

Contact Info:

Jimbos Charters
Phone: 239-671-4692
Email the Captain
Visit his Web Site
Display Find-a-Guide Listing


Copyright © 1997-2024, CyberAngler - All Rights Reserved
Privacy Policy :: Terms of Use
For Questions and comments please use our Feedback Form
Back to the Top