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Updated 2/04/08
A Good Week
Capped With
Anniversary Red
by Capt. Matt Mitchell
Warm winter afternoons and light winds is making for some
awesome February fishing. The redfish last week even seemed to
get bigger than the regular rat reds I have been catching all
winter. Reds to 34 inches were caught from one end of Pine
Island Sound to the other with lots of slot-sized fish in the
mix too.
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The best redfish bite I found all week was in Pelican Bay on Cayo Costa
while fishing the low incoming tide. Live freelined shiners thrown to
potholes out from the shore had the reds fired up and eating baits right
of the top of the water.
Most of the small mangrove islands in the southern sound also held lots
of reds on the higher tides. Sitting way off the shoreline and making
long casts as not to spook the fish was the best method of catching
them. The clear water makes redfish very spooky so be quiet as you
approach. Better yet, shut your motor off way out and use the wind to
drift into position before anchoring.
Seatrout fishing conditions really don't get any better than they are
right now. Clear water and clear bright days are without a doubt the
best for trout fishing. Trout to 22 inches were common with some
potholes holding as many trout as you wanted to catch. Soft plastic jigs
bounced slowly across the bottom caught trout almost every cast. Look
for any flat or channel with grass flats near by. Areas like this from
four to six feet deep are a sure bet. Drift until you start catching
then anchor up or drop a marker. If you like high activity fishing this
is the best way to keep your rods bent
Some of the biggest trout caught this week were taken on free-lined
shiners, throwing to mangrove shorelines for snook. This time of year I
like to start off a fishing charter with this non-stop trout action
before moving on to a sometimes more difficult species. After a few
fish, clients really get the hang of casting, hooking and fighting fish.
During the later afternoons I managed to get on a few good snook bites.
As the weather continues to stay warm the catch and release snook
fishing will get better every day. Snook to 30 inches were caught last
week with the biggest taking a large hand-picked shrimp fished on a jig
head.
I had the pleasure this week to fish with Peter and Jane Pmykrantz. from
Englewood. They where down for a few days to celebrate their 50th
wedding aniversary. Their kids had bought them a few nights at the
Tarpon Inn in Bokeelia along with a fishing charter.
Anchoring up on the first spot of the day, Peter quickly hooked and
caught a 22-inch redfish for dinner. After a few more casts he hooked up
on something big. The big fish ran up and down the shoreline taking drag
and shaking its head. After a five-minute fight, a big copper-colored
redfish came up at the boat. The fish kept surging and trying to run
under the boat and motor. Sticking the rod tip down in the water he
managed to wrestle it to the surface where I grabbed it and pulled it in
the boat for a picture. The redfish measured 34 inches and weighed 14
pounds, Peter's personal best.
Click the links below to view copies of my other recent reports.
01/07/2008 -
01/14/2008 -
01/21/2008 -
01/28/2008
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