April/May 2004 -
It doesn't get any better than springtime fishing
in Southwest Florida.
Snook have moved out of their winter spots
(canals and rivers). They are heading to their summer locations
which include the flats and along the beaches and the passes. Snook
season closes at the end of April.
Redfish are plentiful now. Fish for them on the
oyster bars or mangrove points that have a good flow of water. Fish
the mangroves when the tide is halfway up or higher. Live bait such
as threadfin herring or scaled sardines work great;so does anchoring
on an oyster bar, chumming it up, and throwing out cut ladyfish.
Seatrout are everywhere. Just find grass flats
with 2-5 feet of water and you will catch trout. We have taken 3
Cobia up to 37" while fishing for trout. Live bait works well; so
does shrimp, jigs, and topwater lures.
Tarpon are showing up in fairly good numbers;
these fish are both inshore and out in the Gulf. We fish several
ways for tarpon; chase them and throw live bait in front of them.
Another way to catch tarpon is to anchor and chum and then put out
either live or cut bait. If you anchor and chum, which is my choice
most of the time, you also have a great chance of hooking a really
nice shark. We have taken hammerheads, blacktips, bull, and nurse
sharks, many of which are over 100lbs. It is not a tarpon, but it
sure is fun.
My new boat has arrived. It's an Action Craft,
Model 2310 Coastal Bay boat. It will easily carry 6 people and can
float in 12" of water. It also has a head (toilet) on board.
Pictures of the new boat will be forthcoming soon.
Good fishing and remember to put some back for
the next generation of anglers.