 |
Fishing Report for Pine Island Sound, Florida
Capt. Terry Pitz
February 25, 2001
Pine Island Sound - Saltwater Fishing Report
Welcome to Capt. Terry's FISHING REPORT:
Feb. 26th, 2000
Redfish the last couple of weeks have been picking up finally. Try the usual spots the holes on the flats, against the mangroves and look for those tails on the flats. They can be very stubborn and spooky so be patient. I have to tell you, I seen the biggest redfish I've ever seen last week. Without a doubt this fish was well over 30lbs. I was poling on a flat, with a client, in the Ding Darling area and it passes me on the right as if it was a boat taking me over in the intercoastal. Not the brightest fish, but the biggest for sure! Don't know where it came from or what it's doing down here, but it makes your mind wonder what it would of been like if we got a decent shot at him and he hooked up. In less than a 1' of water what a fight that would of been on an eight weight fly rod. I'll be looking for him again, you can bet on that! Flies, artificials and bait all are working well for these beautiful strong fighters. Try bait fishing them with pinfish, shrimp or white bait or pole the flats and sight cast to them with a earth tone colored fly. Average size about 18" to 30" with some larger ones around. Fish them on a tide thats producing good current.Watch for those TAILS!!!
Snook are starting to get back to their usual places as well. I've been finding them near or on the holes on the flats and against the mangroves. The pigs 15-25lbs have been laid up on the mud flats do to the water being much warmer. When they are there, they haven't had much of an apetite, though i have gotten a couple to take with persistence. Brightly colored flies or jigging some of the deeper holes on or near the flats have been working well. The takes have been very soft even with the larger snook, so stay focused. Keep your eyes open and fish them on the tides that create a good current. Fish them on an out going tide will produce the best results. Hungry Snook means Bait, though throwing a well placed fly will usually be rewarded with an aerial show.
Speckled Trout are abundant on or near the grass flats. I've been finding them in three to five foot of water. Some very respectable Trout in the 20" to 25" range being caught with flies in or near the holes on the flats. A great top water feeder makes for some sure fun. Again flies, artificials and bait will bag a few of these hard hitting fish.
Tarpon: I've put my tarpon rods up for the season. Yep, it's time to clean, lube and repair the tools that gave me so many great memories of those silver giants leaping away from those screaming reels. Nothing now but anticipation for the first tarpon to come back through the pass this coming spring. When they do you'll find me writing my Fishing Reports in the middle of the night, cause my days will be spent chasing, catching and dreaming of the Silver King. If you put your time in, I'm sure you can still find some in the canals and in the rivers. When found and conditions ideal, an experience of a lifetime awaits you. Flies, artificials and bait can hook these sought after critters, but getting them to the boat is a whole other story. These beautiful fish will range from 30lbs. to 160lbs. They will test your skill and your equipment when hooked with the fly rod or light tackle.
A day on the flats will always take you home with some stories and remember it's not about how many fish you catch, but how much FUN you had!
Till the next update take care and keep those lines TIGHT!
CAPT. TERRY PITZ
More Fishing Reports:
|
|
|
|
