During the morning hours we've been targeting family action over the deeper grass flats with sea trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish and other fish to give steady action. The grass flats are loaded with schools of small pilchards and herrings and gamefish are feeding heavy over the morning tides. Look for pelicans, gulls and cormorants or surface activity from feeding fish. The deeper grass flats from north Matlacha Pass around Bokeelia into the northern Sound are showing this type activity. We've been doing best with live shiners but shrimp under a cork or small silver spoons or bucktail jigs should also work well. Many of the trout are undersize but there are some keeper size fish mixed in, plus some good size silver or grey trout.
Redfish are feeding under the mangroves on the higher water. A chunk of ladyfish or a live pinfish with the tail cut off has worked best when fished as far under the trees as you can get. Summer mangrove snapper are also beginning to show under the trees.
Late afternoon up until sunset has been the best time for shark fishing. There are blacktips, bulls and lemons of all sizes in north Matlacha Pass and Charlotte Harbor near Bokeelia during the late day falling tide. The sharks are cruising the shallow channels or troths along the sand bars, most in less than seven foot depths. Fresh cut bait like a ladyfish or mullet half has worked best fished on bottom in areas with a decent tide movement.
Summer is passing by fast, it will be time for school before you know it, I encourage everyone to take a kid fishing or boating before they return to the classroom.
For charter information Please contact us at:
Phone: 239-283-7960
Website: www.fishpineisland.com
E-mail: gcl2fish@live.com
"Catch the Action" with Captain Bill Russell
