Fishing this time of year in southwest Florida is top notch! The sticky summer mornings usually start out with slick calm condions, alot of mosquito's and lots of big hungry fish willing to take anything at first light. Due to the summer heat, the bite is usually best at pre-dawn hours up until around 9:00 am. and then again the last couple hours of light. Mid day gets pretty hot and the fish like us search for a cool hinding spots.
Deep holes and live bait will keep the bite going a little longer, but for the artificial guys like myself it gets tough! Estero Bay through the Everglades has been consistent with Redfish and Snook. Most of the snook can be found around the passes and outer points. Early morning calm conditions the fly rod is taking alot of fish. A white streamer pattern is all you need, although if you are fishing the passes or deeper points, a white/chartuece clouser will get the job done. Most of these snook are the small males ranging from 20 inches through the bottom of the slot. I prefer a 7 wt. on the beaches with floating line or a 9 wt. if I'm fishing the passes near some sort of structure. Red fish have been very abundant as well!
In Estero, the water can be very clear in between magor rain storms providing great sight fishing. The Reds have been best at the last couple hours of the outgoing tide,making them visual targets for the sight fisherman. Black clousers and crab or shrimp patterns have been working well. As for the spin fisherman and plug casters, top water and jerk baits at first light, and jigs later that morning. I prefer natural colors as well as black or chartuece. In the 10,000 Islands the reds and snook are plentiful on the outside points at the top of tide as well as the first two hours of the falling tide. If its early morning, its hard to beat a top water plug for explosive strikes. This is the time when you fool those giant snook with artificials. Its an amazing sight to see a 20 lb. snook blast a top water plug at the wee hours of day light. And don't be surprised if a tarpon grabs it as well! Redfish have a hard time taking these baits, being that their mouth is on the under side. A jerk bait will work alittle better, but the jig is probably the most consistent. If its tarpon your after, you can find smaller tarpon in just about every creek or river system in the back country!
Once again first light is the best for spotting rollers. A fly is hard to beat, like a deer hair slider or Dahlburg Diver. Black is an old standard thats hard to beat, and a 9wt. will handle just about everything. If its the big boys your after, the beaches and passes at first light, then the quiet back bays when the sun is high enough to hunt for the laid up giants. Once again the fly has the best presentation, but a well placed plug will work as well. Aside from the top three game fish, there is always other speceis willing to bend the rod. Jacks, ladyfish, pompano, triple tail, as well as many others can be found on the outside grass flats. A jig tied on an ultra light spinning rod will accomplish everything you need! Its a great time to be fishing, so get out and enjoy some of the worlds best fishing in our own back yard. Until next time tight lines and screaming drags to all willing to face the heat of summer!
Capt. Jeff Legutki
Anglers Addiction Guide Service (239)293-1664