Southwest Florida Fishing for Redfish, Sharks, Snook and More

Strong tides with big afternoon highs gave us good opportunities for a host of fish around the waters of Pine Island. The bite wasn’t always red hot, possibly due to the full moon, but fishing was good overall each day. A mixed bag of sea trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and small sharks kept rods bending and the kids smiling with often non-stop action over deeper grass flats.

Our best shot at Redfish was over the afternoon full moon high tides; this was our best week for reds this spring with fish averaging twenty-four to twenty-six inches and one whopper that measured out at thirty-five inches.

 

The snook action was good all week; most are coming while targeting redfish along the Islands. We have caught and released snook of all sizes, it’s great to see them rebounding from the winter freeze a year ago.

Late afternoon shark fishing in Charlotte Harbor was good for blacktips from four to upwards of six feet. When these brutes grow to five feet or better they become one powerful fighting machine with no quit in them. Lots of fun!

   Tarpon are still rolling into the area, we haven’t targeted them just yet, but we did hook two over the week, one trout fishing with a live shiner, and the other on a cut ladyfish for sharks.

   With April quickly coming to a close it’s almost time to get serious about tarpon fishing.

   Have a happy and safe Easter.

For charter information, please contact us at:

“Catch the Action”

                                with Captain Bill Russell

Phone: 239-283-7960                

Website: www.fishpineisland.com

E-mail: gcl2fish@live.com           

Slammin with Snook, Redfish and Trout in Southwest Florida

Over the week we targeted snook, trout redfish, Spanish mackerel and sharks around the waters of Pine Island. Despite several days with slow tides we still put together southwest Florida inshore slams that include snook, trout and redfish. Of the three redfish was the most challenging to catch, but the fish we are finding are running in the upper size slot. The snook bite has been better than expected with good action on linesides with our largest of the week and of the season measuring forty-two inches. This big girl inhaled a live shiner right in the middle of a late morning storm that pasted through with very strong winds and an absolute down pour.

Sharks are showing up in good numbers, especially blacktips up to six feet hanging around the mackerel, trout and ladyfish. Blacktips of any size are an absolute blast to catch and one of our most under rated fish. Small pods of tarpon are showing in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound and are increasing in numbers daily, prime tarpon time is just about here.

The waters around southwest Florida are alive with huge schools of baitfish and gamefish of all kinds feeding on them. It’s a great time for fishing our waters.

      "Catch the Action"

 with Captain Bill Russell
http://www.fishpineisland.com/

  

Trout, Snook, Redfish, Mackerel and more in Southwest Florida

After several weeks of perfect weather this past one was more of a challenge as poor tides and days of really strong winds and some rain gave us a challenge. Even so, fishing was good as our waters continue to warm as we move into one of my favorite months to fish.

Spanish mackerel fishing has been great, most of our mackerel fishing has taken place in Charlotte Harbor, not only are they very plentiful, they are running big. On many of our recent trips we had children on board where they had a blast catching big macks, sea trout, bluefish, ladyfish and even a few sharks all from the same spot. A great way to get a kid hooked on fishing and also the best fishing choice over the slow moving tides.

Trout fish was good all week and even better once we left the slow two a day tides and went back on four a days. Fish are getting larger on average and often once the bite starts the action just continues to get better with more fish responding to the feeding activity.

Slow tides and low water made it challenging for redfish and snook early in the week, but we put together some good catches as west winds and afternoon high tides had them on a good feed around oyster bars and island Points in Matlacha Pass. About every area we try for a redfish we catch multiple snook.

Also, we are catching a few large jack crevalle, this is great news as I haven’t really seen that many as they were also affected by last year’s cold winter. There just aren’t many fish that battle as hard as big jacks, while they have no food value they are very under rated as a great game fish.

Tarpon continue to move into our waters, this past week was pretty windy making them difficult to sight, but I have no doubt once the wind settles this weekend there will be a good showing of fish. This week we are on strong new moon tides, this should bring out some great fishing.

"Catch the Action"

with Captain Bill Russell

http://www.fishpineisland.com/