Boca Grande to Venice fishing is starting to heat up!
Capt. Van Hubbard
March 2, 2011
Venice - Saltwater Fishing Report
2011-3-2 fishing report from Captain Van Hubbard
It's windy along our Venice/Englewood Beaches but fishing is fine.
Monday started out different; Michael and family showed up on time at eight-thirty but climbed onto one of the other guide boats and pulled out as I docked. We ended up laughing about it after they came back and we matched up clients and guides. I was able to catch some minnows; first ones this year, and one of my guide friends also gave us a hundred more. We had fine shrimp and whitebait and I expected to tear um up. I should know better but the south wind usually turns fish on. Not Monday but we did end up with a nice mess of trout and some Spanish Mackerel for dinner. The ladyfish and small sharks kept us busy.
Today Zane, Jim and Garry joined me to have fun catching a mess of fish. The youngster got things started with a couple of keeper trout. The other two took longer to get cranking. We would catch a few fish and then move along to pick up a few more. Zane was the shark man today, catching several up to four feet, but everyone ended up catching some drag pulling sharks. Garry got the biggest trout about four pounds. We ended up with a bucket full of fish and smiles all around. We had enough fish to draw a crowd at the cleaning table. We had some fried trout at the Grille for lunch and discussed another trip before they head back north.
It was beautiful so we cruised the Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island Beaches home to Stump Pass. Waters were calm and clear but no striking fish yet. I expect to see screaming gulls, minnows, and mackerel any day now. Water temps are above seventy and climbing everyday. I spent my evening making up kingfish leaders and I'm guessing we'll catch some soon.
Pompano are heading our way but still too far to chase with gas prices. I expect to be catching everything before the next Full Moon on the nineteenth. If you want to get in on the hot action it's time to lock in a reservation or risk missing out. Let's Go Fishin' soon. Tarpon will be here before you know it!
Venice Fishing Forecast:
waters are warming and some minnows have already come ashore. mackerel are here and kings are comming soon. snook will bite when we can catch minnows. trout and Spanish are here and hungry now.
Target Species:
mackerel, trout and more soon.
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