Though some cold days still linger around, the weather is heating up, and that isn't the only thing! The fishing has been red hot. Most mornings start out a bit on the cold side, but by mid day you are in shorts and a t-shirt. There have been a lot of pressure systems on the move and this has proven to directly effect the bite in a good way.
All sorts and sizes of redfish have been caught. Monster fish in the 40 inch range to nice slot size 7 pounders. A lot of these fish have came by way of a top water lure or soft plastic bait, when it is tougher, live shrimp or cut bait will do the job. Incoming or outgoing tide haven't really mattered, but the slack periods yield no bite at all. Here Capt. Jason holds up a 46 inch monster one of his clients caught.....
Usually this time of year brings out the rat reds, but so far the opposite has happened with their bigger counter parts showing.....
There have been schools up to hundreds of fish all the way to many solo fish roaming the flats and some pods of 10-15 fish here and there. PI Sound, Charlotte Harbor, and Matlacha have all produced. Here an angler from up north holds up his first ever redfish caught while fishing with Capt. Tim.....
As usual, the same areas that are holding redfish tend to have big trout with them as well this time of year. Trout are hitting very bright colors lately, and top water lures is almost a sure thing. The shallower sandy flats will have the bigger trout in the 3-5 pound range. The deeper grass flats in 4-6 feet of water should produce smaller trout but in more numbers. Right now there really isn't anything a trout won't eat......
Be sure to handle these fish carefully and get them back in the water quick to fight again another day.
On to the snook. They are really making a showing on the flats. A lot of fish can be found but sometimes hard to get to eat. Fish have been caught early in the morning on overcast days with a strong tide. Under slot fish, slot fish, and a few overslot fish. Live pilchards is a sure thing for snook and the bait is starting to show in northern PI Sound. A few snook have came by way of top water lure and soft plastic white colored baits. They are also hanging around canal systems, creeks, and sea walls. Big snook like the one Capt. Jason is holding below will eagerly take a big white bait.....
Cobia for the past month have been holding heavily off the east and west walls. They can be found roaming with stingrays over sandy bottom. Most anglers will choose to sight fish them with live shrimp or crab. For the artificial lovers, the cobia have came on white color soft plastics worked very fast. Days can be hit or miss with finding them un numbers, but if you are lucky enough, you can tango with these brown race machines.....
That's it for now. Tarpon season will be here before we know it!
Tight Lines
