Post Irma
Capt. Jim Conant
September 29, 2017
Matlacha - Saltwater Fishing Report
28 September 2017
Post Hurricane Irma
Fishing after my first Hurricane has been good. Tides changed and stayed high for quite a while but the reds stayed in their general areas.
It's been a month since my last report and fishing has been good when I've gotten out between cleaning up Irma's mess and helping out in the community. What did change: before I was fishing the outgoing tide on flats for reds and snook with good success. Post Irma I'm fishing the mangroves on top of high tide worked best although I did struggle a bit some days. With help of some other anglers that had gotten out right after the storm I got dialed back in pretty quickly. The reds did move from spots I like but not far and to a bit cleaner water with more bait in the area.
Snook have been small and I'm really not targeting them until I start getting on bigger ones.
Black drum 14"-20" are in Matlacha and I had clients limit out on them where I was expecting snapper to be. Tarpon are in the Harbor and if you get the good size white bait you're going to have a blast on light tackle.
I went offshore with Captain David of Jawsome last week and had dirty water out to 36 miles before it cleared up. Hopefully it clears quickly as my busy season will start picking up here in late October.
Tips: get out before the water gets to 88 reds and snook start shutting off at that temp. Fish the correct tides, fish change from time to time fishing either the incoming or the outgoing or the top or bottom of either. Slack tide is killer and beer time and a good time to find birds. Find the birds and when they start moving its time to start fishing.
Tight lines
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 Veteran with proof I have the best prices around and I guarantee it. 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
Matlacha Fishing Forecast:
October Fishing
My favorite time! Weather starts cooling off and fish come in from offshore. My favorite time to fish the flats watching for tailing and pushing reds. When it happens you'll know it. Downside: it starts getting windy from then through winter. Otherwise cooler temps more fish and all kinds of fish start showing up from October on.
More Fishing Reports:
