If you read my reports on a regular basis you know I like to fish in and around Charlotte Harbor if at all possible. Charlotte Harbor oddly enough doesn't get as much fishing pressure as some other surrounding areas. In most cases when I pick up a group for the day, I start out at Punta Rassa and make the run north to Redfish Pass, however today I tried the Caloosahatchee. My first thought was to stay close to the mouth of the river thinking the fish haven't really began the migration up the river to the winter haunts, boy was I wrong. I saw great numbers of schooly sized Snook stacked up everywhere there was a break in the current all around 22" to 26" inches, nothing worth casting at. The real action started around Cape Harbor with large schools of Reds cruising the flats. I tossed greenbacks, pinfish, and shrimp at these bruisers with no luck. I checked the tide chart again and realized I had about another hour before the tide would turn and begin to ebb. So to pass the time I decided to boat a few small Snook, and that was fun enough but I had my eye on the giant Reds I saw earlier. Once the tide turned I went back to the spot I saw the red and they were still there. I pitched a greenback, nothing! I pitched a pinfish, nothing! I pitched a shrimp, nothing! Perplexed I pulled out a 3in. white Gulp bait with a quarter ounce head and pitched to the trailing monsters , FISH ON! I found the bait. During this time of year you have to be prepared to throw the entire tackle box if need be. October and November are transition months and the fish can't make up there minds what they want to eat. The best strategy is to have multiple rods rigged with multiple baits, always at stand by. Think of it like bass fishing, different baits for different times of the day. I like the outgoing tide this time of year and I cover a lot of water with a lot of casts. Keep plugging away at it, and you will find the fish. It seems like the river was choked with Reds today, they were everywhere, so why are you sitting around? Stop watching football! GET UP! GET GOING! And " GO CATCH EM"
Capt. Jason Marsh
239-246-3579
Sanibel fishing - www.AnglersChoiceOutfitters.com
