Locate Us: MAP ♦ 26.55.701N | 82.03.826W
Local Fishing Report
Gulf of Mexico
The wonderfully mild weather that's been enjoyed by Southwest Florida anglers thus far has affected the fishing. Water temperatures in early February edged up into the low 70's, springlike levels that resulted in unexpected catches of Spanish mackerel around the passes and a few miles offshore in late January and the first week of February, and the early appearance of sharks along the beaches. If warm temperatures continue then it's possible that king mackerel will soon appear also! Other offshore action is centered around mixed-bag bottom fishing. With grouper season closed, anglers are filling fish boxes by targeting other species. Mangrove snapper, sheepshead, triggerfish, hogfish and plenty of white grunts are stacked on inshore ledges in 30 to 50 feet of water. Fishing on flat limestone bottom in 60 plus feet of water will mean few sheepshead, but will add porgys and lane snapper to the haul. Finding a wreck or artificial reef in about 90 feet or deeper will add the possibility of some yellowtail snapper and amberjack.
Charlotte Harbor
Warm inshore water has moved fish onto the flats much earlier in the year than normal. Trout which in February are usually found in deeper water, have been biting on grass flats two to three feet deep on both sides of Charlotte Harbor, accompanied by scattered pompano and a few cruising cobia. Even snook, fish which are less cold-tolerant than just about any other species in Charlotte Harbor, have been active. Most of the snook action has been in canals and waterways, but some fish have been appearing on the flats where they'll bite best during the warmer afternoons. Redfishing in the mid and upper harbor continues to be the best it's been in at least a few years, with good number of mid slot fish taken on higher tide stages. The artificial reef has been a good stop with a mixed bag of mangrove snapper, sheepshead, a few Spanish mackerel, and some boats have reported as many as two or three cobia taken there in an afternoon.
Notes:
Snook season remains closed, opens September 1, 2012
Gag season closed Nov. 16, will open July 1
Red grouper season closed Feb. 1, opens April 1
New shark rules for state waters became effective January 1: tiger sharks and all species of hammerhead sharks are now protected from harvest
Let's Go Fishing!
Capt. Ralph Allen