Fishing forecast for the Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Pine Island Sound region.
Predictable cold fronts for the next few weeks is the normal weather pattern.
Bait will be hard to find in most cases.
This is that time of year to head into the local tackle shop and pick up artificial bait.
I choose 3 different kinds, one on top of the water, one in the middle of the water, and one on the bottom.
My top water choice is no secret. Zara spook jr.
I prefer 2 colors, bone, and white with a red head. Most tackle shops also sell an item called tournament trailer. This is a treble hook with feathers tied to it.
Take some type of cement and paint the threads around the base were the feathers are tied on, and it will last longer. I also try to make sure and purchase a quality hook.
The next choice is a Mirrolure 27MR any color. This is a suspending twitch bait.
This bait works great for potholes and higher water with no weeds.
The last choice is weedless soft plastic or jig.
I like chartreuse for the weedless soft plastic. The last 2 years I changed my jig choice to a Strike King 3/8 oz white head, and the same body color, called Strike King redfish magic.
The trick to fishing this time of year, is tide movement, water temperature, and wind speed. I prefer going out on the low tide. January and February can produce the lowest tides of the year. The sand bars and oyster bars are all exposed.
The water is clear and cooler making it difficult to sneak up on any fish.
I usually will power to the area I've chosen to fish, turn off my engine, and use my trolling motor with the wind at my back to get closer to the target. I will also make sure no live wells are running and then turn off the trolling motor and use my push pole the rest of the way, make sure your hatches don't squeak! Sand paper on the edges of the lid will take care of that.
With the wind at your back, make long casts, using 15# line and light leader.
If your fishing before the front, more than likely there will be a chop on the water.
This is a good time to work the middle of the water column.
After the front passes I normally wait 2 days for things to calm down and the fish to get acclimated to the new temperature.
Then I bring out the top water plug and go to work. There is nothing like those big hits on top water! Snook, Redfish, and big Seatrout will all be moving up onto a grass flat to find some food. Working 2 to 3 feet of water is great, but if your tide is low enough look for the redfish tailing. The redfish are normally spooky so its always a good idea to get out and walk. This is when that weedless soft plastic comes in. I walk quietly when the fishes head is down, and then cast past the fish and bring the bait to its face.
One last thing to remember! The mouth of a redfish is low and under its face.
Many times the fish will produce a push of water as it raises its head to eat the bait.
At this point sometimes the fish will miss as it struggles to eat the bait. I have found if you reel the bait away quickly just a couple feet and then stop and twitch it, the redfish will chase it and forward momentum helps the redfish get its mouth up for a better bite.
O.K. one more thing to remember the water is cold and the fish are lethargic.
Try not to work the bait so fast " It's all about the feather".
See ya on the water.
Captain Greg Hood
www.tarpoons.com
239 822 5698
