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Fishing in Fort Myers and Sanibel Island the past couple weeks has been a bit tough.  Mother nature has produced more storms then we're used to this time of year, which has made the normally windy months of spring even more windy.  Now that summer is approaching, the wind will start to die down and we can start taking advantage of those flat, calm days that make fishing much more enjoyable.

The bait has been scattered and harder to catch the past few weeks. The wind usually holds off until the afternoon hours but it hasn't been giving us much of a break, even in the mornings.  So between the rain and the wind, it has stirred up the water making it hard to steady yourself under the causeway to throw the net or to even find the bait.  

On days when bait is a hot commodity, I like to get as many pieces as I can without throwing out my back and then head to my lady fish spots.  I catch lady fish with shiny artificials that have hairy tails.  If the lady fish are there, you'll know right away because they devour these baits.  I'll use the smaller ones as live bait for snook usually in the river or deep cuts. The bigger lady fish is used as cut bait for redfish, trout, etc...They are attracted to the scent of cut bait.

It's been a few weeks since I've had some time to catch up on my sleep, gather my thoughts and sit down to write a fishing report. I've been fishing EVERYDAY since the 2nd week of February, so although I've had a lot to report about.  I just haven't had the time or energy to put it in black and white.  So here we go...

The month of March has brought Fort Myers and Sanibel Island with some of the best weather we've had in years.  Beautiful skies with no rain.  Perfect for spring breakers and boaters.  A little less perfect for anglers.  With this great weather pattern comes high pressure, which is usually more difficult for fishing.  The fish will still eat but you basically have to put it right in front of them.  The theory is that barometric pressure is greater in shallow water (which is where we fish) than deep, probably due to the pressure of the weight of the water in deep water being so high, that the air pressure above it is less significant.  A great example would be the experience I had yesterday. We had a cool front come in late evening, early morning before my trip.  This weather system brought in a lot of rain and wind.  This was the first time in almost two months that the pressure was falling because of the degrading weather.  I came very close to canceling my trip because of the rain and wind.  The problem was that these guys were driving in from Tampa, just for the day to fish.  So I didn't want to disappoint anyone.  On the way to the boat ramp, I had a blow out on my trailer, so to say the least it was not off to a good start.  I got to the boat ramp late, at 7am and still had to catch bait before I picked my clients up at 8am.  All of the other guides canceled their trips for the day except myself and my friend Bruce.  Fortunately Bruce didn't have a blow out on his trailer that morning so he was already on the bait.  I threw my cast net once and I couldn't even pull the net in my boat because it had so much bait in it. Once I got it in the boat, I emptied it into my live well and the rest spilled out all over the boat. All of a sudden I was being attacked by birds and pelicans. Bruce was just sitting back laughing at the chaos, lol.  I started thinking then, that the fishing's gonna be awesome today.  I was right. We caught fish all day long.  We were still catching fish when it was time to leave.  We left with three keeper redfish, four trout and released the snook that we caught (closed until 8/31/12). We caught everything using live Pilchards with 20 pound Power Pro, 30 pound leader and #3 hooks.  The tide was really high, so we fished the mangroves because the fish were pushed up into the trees.  These boys knew how to fish and pull them right out of the structure.

On to the subject of tarpon.  I have been noticing more and more migrating in each day.  My first tarpon trip is not until this week. I'm a little leery because I've seen them but not in large enough numbers to really target.  I haven't noticed them in the passes yet but I have hooked two under the bridges and one on the flats. Unfortunately I was unprepared to catch a tarpon and we were using light tackle gear.  It was fun though.  Once I realized what was on the line, I dropped my anchor and put the boat in gear.  My client fought the tarpon under the bridge for about 5 minutes, which I'm surprised it lasted that long.  It was hooked on a 7 ft medium action St. Croix rod with 20 pound line and 30 pound leader.  I was waiting for the line to break at any minute but it just kept going. Finally after the 3rd jump the leader broke about 3 inches up.  I thought maybe, just maybe I was going to be able to say we caught a 150 pound fish on a light tackle set up.  Maybe one day......

It's been spring break here in Fort Myers and Sanibel this week, which means a lot of fishing trips and a lot of opportunities to catch nice, quality fish.

The temperatures have been in the mid eighties all week with perfect weather conditions.  We had a few breezy days but not too windy.  Water temperatures were an average of 75 degrees.

I had my best days this week when it wasn't too windy and I could get up into the river to fish.  I'd start the morning off loading my livewell with bait off the beach.  Enough bait so that I could chum. I'd then head to the river.  We did really well catching Snook using 40 pnd leader with 4/0 or 5/0 circle hooks.  With the larger Snook I would use a live ladyfish with a heavier action rod, 30 pound power pro, 40 pnd leader and 6/0 circle hooks.

On days when I didn't fish in the river, I fished near Matlacha and Pine Island on the flats.  I had more luck away from the trees on the flats with Snook, Redfish and Trout.

Tarpon are becomming more abundant.  I've had reports of them being jumped in the Captiva area.

Today was a perfect day of fishing on the water here in Fort Myers Florida, other than all the weekend warriors. Between the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp festival, two fishing tournaments and spring Break boat traffic we still managed to be where the fish were, all day.  The temperature was a sunny 86 degrees with the winds 5 to 10 out of the N.E.

I started the morning off catching a load of pilchards off the beach. I picked up my clients, Dave and Doug Hawley from Minneapolis Mn. and headed into the river.  I had some really nice sized bait so I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity with some big fish.

Today I had the poles rigged with 30 Pound leader and line with a 6 o circle hook.  With our first two casts we caught 2 decent sized snook.  I decided to move just around the corner where I know there's really big snook, there just usually finicky eaters.  I had enough bait that I chummed up the water with the extras and had them throw there lines out.  Those juicy pilchards must have been just what the snook ordered because I would see them swim past the bait and swim right back and explode on it.  We lost atleast a 40 inch snook right at the boat when I had the net in the water.  It decided to take one last leap into the air and spit the hook right out. We had to take a breather after that one.  Or just maybe me, because my hands were shaking from excitement! Hooked another one about the same size but lost it to the trees.  

Over all we had a good quality day catching Snook and Redfish! Spotted Tarpon on the way in but didn't give it much time.  We were all whooped.  The tarpon have been making scattered apppearances but not enough to really concentrate on them yet.

What else can I say about the past few days of fishing other than It's been great and the weathers been amazing.  Blue skys with sunshine and temperatures reaching 83 degrees.  The winds been calm and the water temps have stayed steady at 73 degrees.

Today I fished in the afternoon, picking up at 1:00 PM.  The tide was incoming until 3:00 PM so it gave me a great opportunity to fish a spot that always produces nice quality redfish.  I just have to get in on a high tide and out before the tide becomes to low.  The area was near the entrance to the caloosahatchee river and always seems to pull through for me.  It did today too. 

I've been noticing this week that the larger fish are starting to show up and eat.  Today was no exception.We Caught a few nice sized Redfish and Trout along with some really big snapper.  We were using live white bait, 30 pound leader and 20 pound power pro. Great day on the water!

Today the weather in Fort Myers and Sanibel Island was a vast improvement from yesterday.  We had sunny skies with temperatures reaching 76 degrees.  Water temperatues at 72 and winds out of the N, NE at 5 to 10 mph.

I started the morning off catching a cast net full of baitfish under the Sanibel Causeway.  I had two charters today so I was able to catch plenty for the day.  

My morning tide was a very low incoming tide.  We fished in Matlacha and caught Trout, ladyfish and Redfish on 20 pound power pro and 30 pound test leader with a 2 watt hook and a popping cork.

My PM trip we fished in Ding Darling on an incoming tide and caught redfish and Trout again.  We caught the redfish on cut ladyfish that we caught earlier today.

Fishing has remained steady in Fort Myers and Sanibel Florida the past couple day.   Winds were 5 to 10 mph today out of the S, SE. Tempertures reaching 83 degres and water temps at 70.

Today, I fished the flats with the Boyd family from Minnesota.  We fished for Trout with shrimp under a popping cork using 20 pound test power pro and 30 pound leader.  We fishing the back side of Sanibel Island near the Ding Darling area.

I have been noticing the Snook (big snook) sunning on the sandy bottoms in the warmer water. They have not been taking the bait, although I did have a client hook up with one this week but broke of at the boat!  A couple more weeks with these warmer temperatures and the fishing bigger fish bit will be on.  Cant' Wait.

Tripletail begin appearing throughout most of South West Florida including Fort Myers and Sanibel Island around early March and hang around until early October when the water starts to cool down. Inshore, most tripletail average between 3 and 12 lbs. but larger fish in the 15-20 lb.

Tripletail tend to hang around channel markers, buoys, crab traps and bridges, the common factor being structure.   They are a slow moving fish,  preferring to drift with the currents to take it where they will than to set course and go to it.  Especially if there floating under debris or vegitation

For bait, nothing beats a juicy live shrimp. Tripletail just can’t seem to resist them. A close second to the natural critter would be a D.O.A. root beer color shrimp fished under a cork.  Tripletail will also take a variety of chunked baits such as fresh cut pieces of pilchards or mullet and a small whole squid will also be too hard to turn down.

My line of choice is 12 lb. mono and 18” – 24” long 30 lb. leader, usinf a 7ft medium action rod.

Upon noticing virtually any floating object, you should idle up to a point close enough to provide good sub-surface visibility but not so close as to spook any fish which may be present. A distance of 40 to 50 feet is about right in clear water and bright sunlight; a little closer may be necessary in less ideal conditions.

March 20th is the first day of spring.  The ancipated warming climate allows the water temperatures to rise here in the Fort myers and Sanibel Island area, welcoming the Spring migration of Cobia to the North.  During this time, usually the later part of Spring, you may spot Cobia traveling in small schools and/or with rays inshore and nearrshore right here in SW Florida.

Cobia aren't only known for there thrilling fight but also there flavor and texture.  I practice catch and release, but if you choose to bring it home for dinner, please keep in mind the FWC regulations are 33" to fork.  One per harvester or six per vessel per day.

The information in this report is provided as a service to the Fort Myers and Sanibel Island angling community by FishSkinner Charters, Fort Myers, FL.

Today fishing in Fort Myers and Sanibel, the winds were out of the Southeast 5 to 10 mph.  Water temp was 72 degrees.  Mostly cloudy with scattered showers.  Temperature reached 83 degrees.  

The redfish bite has remained steady.  Every charter that I have taken out in the past couple weeks has produced 10-15 redfish on average.   Not many within slot but fun nontheless.  

Grouper can be found inshore under structure where the water is deep and has good tidal flow. They're great offshore too but at the moment I prefer not leave inshore with the winds being high.  

I was fishing with a client the other day when she kept breaking off. I knew after a couple times of her line snapping, that there was only one thing it could be.  A goliath grouper (jewfish).  I had an extra rod set up on the boat for situations such as this, thanks to a lesson I was taught once on a hunting trip.   I was about 14 years old and I left the tree stand to use the restroom.  To my surprise as I sat there doing my business, a nice 6 point buck walked out.  There I was. No rifle at all, just a roll of toilet paper!  Maybe I could sneek up on him and blind fold him, lol.  After returning to camp and telling mu uncle what had happened, he got pretty upset and said, "you never go into the woods without your rifle".  So, I've taken that lesson into the fishing world.  You never leave the dock without a heavy rod and reel because you never know when your going to need it.  

With the larger rod in hand, we used one of the ladyfish that we had caught earlier in the day and tossed it right under the rubble.  It took about 10 seconds for that grouper to take the bait.  To her surprise the fish at the end of her line was fighting a lot harder than she expected.  After some words that usually come from a sailors mouth, she had the fish right   beside the boat.  It was about 15 to 20 pounds but she called at a monster.  It was carefully released of course.

Today I took the Porter family out from Georgia.  The wind gusts were 25 - 30 out of the N, NE. Not ideal fishing conditions but we made the best out of it anyways. The Sun was out, the sky was blue and the temperature was 80 degrees which makes fishing in that kind of wind a little easier.

I normally talk about all the Trout and Redfish we're catching this time of year but I'm gonna talk about something else we caught today.  Something I've never seen or have caught while fishing in Fort Myers or Sanibel Island before.

Walking Batfish, live on the bottom, covered in sand. These fish are flat, resembling pancakes.  Their pelvic fins act like feet, complete with little hook-like elbows for hopping along the sea floor.  Batfish reportedly produce scented secretions that entice prey with their odor. They are capable of swallowing fish nearly as large as themselves by suddenly opening their mouth very wide, creating a suction effect.  Batfish can be between 2 and 20 inches long, but the average length is 7 inches. Most batfish are found along reefs, dwelling anywhere from the water’s edge out as far as 1,500 feet. Some species prefer shallower water, but most batfish remain in deeper waters between 200 and 1,000 feet.  Batfish partly hide by covering themselves in sand or mud during the day, and swim at night.  They have no angling value, but anglers occasionally observe them in shallow waters, and, infrequently, they may catch one.

Keep in mind when fishing for Trout, Florida's fishing regulations for slot are 15"-20", except one over 20" per person.  Max is 4 per harvester per day.  Trout have very soft mouths, so try not to set the hook too hard otherwise you'll miss out!

That's your daily Fort Myers and Sanibel fishing report.  Now get out there and fish.  Have a great day!

It's been an unseasonably warm couple weeks in Fort Myers with the temperature today, January 24th 2012 reaching 80 degrees. Winds out of the SW 4 to 6 mph.  A great day for fishing and enjoying some Florida Rays.

I started of the day catching some nice white bait underneath the Sanibel Causeway.  With the water temps warming up out on the flats I decided to work on some Redfish and Trout on the incoming tide near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River.  With 20 pound test leader and a popping cork we cast our poles onto the edge of an oyster bar.  We caught 4 Trout and one Redfish until I believe the fish were onto us.  We then moved closer to Matlacha, around its various oyster bars etc...  The bite was a bit slow at first so I decided to chum with the white bait I had caught earlier in the morning.  we ended up catching Trout into the 5 pound range.  We all had a blast until that bite shut down too.

I decided to switch up the tackle a little.  Still using the same 20 pound leader, I changed the hooks out to 1/16 ounce jig heads and used broke up little pieces of shrimp for bait.  Depending on the current I will add split shots to get the line to the bottom of the water.  We cast our poles in the deeper holes under mangroves. Came up with keeper Sheepshead and Snapper.  Not a typical Snook rush but lots of fun especially for the kids.  

That's your daily Fort Myers and Sanibel fishing report.  Now get out there and fish.  Have a great day!