FISHING REPORT 11/12/2014 Cooler weather with a bit of rain mixed in put the bite off a bit over the previous weekend but things picked back up by mid week. The winter pattern is in full swing with water temperatures down in the upper 60’s to low 70’s. It’s a bit early, by southwest Florida standards, but certainly doable. It’s just about time to change the focus away from snook and head more toward redfish, seatrout and sheepshead. Note: Manatee zones in Estero Bay are “turned off” as of November 16th. This means you can run a boat at a maximum of 25 mph anywhere in the bay except in the year round marked slow zones. Be cautious and courteous. Manatees are still in the area from time to time so you need to be watchful. Capt. Rob Modys, SoulMate Charters. The bite has been good despite the ever changing weather and slower tides. Sheepshead have been the saving grace for most anglers. They have made their annual spawning move into Estero Bay and most are of legal size. Small offerings of live shrimp on small hooks is the way to hookup with these great bait stealers. Seatrout have been a bit slower to show themselves. We are getting them on the grass flats but most are small. The biggest ones are in the passes and are being caught on the outbound tides. Redfish are in their usual haunts near mangrove shorelines. Best bite has been on the higher tides with good moving water. Capt. Jon Fetter of Catching The Cure Charters said that with the change in water temperature it’s time to switch to winter fishing patterns of slow and low. Work your baits or lures down in the water column and slowly across the bottom on the retrieve. The fish are slowing down and less likely to chase baits swimming away from them. The redfish bite has been good on the higher tides around the mangrove and oyster islands. Shrimp tipped jig heads or free lined pinfish has been the bait of choice. Work the passes on outgoing tides for spotted seatrout using shrimp tipped jig heads. The trout are also plentiful on the grass flats in 2 to 5 feet of clean water. Shrimp under popping corks work best. Anglers will also pick up ladyfish and a few jacks with this method. The sheepshead have started to make their migration to the back bays around the mangrove islands and oyster bars. Shrimp tipped jig heads will work best but remember to use just enough shrimp to cover the hooks and downsize your tackle for this fantastic table fair. Capt. Alex Dolinski of Spot On Charters noted that the water is cooling and the tides are slow and low. Look for moving water and deeper holes in the back bays to help get the bite going. Use half of a shrimp or cut bait on a 1/4 ounce jig head and let it sit on the bottom in the current. In heavier current areas, like passes, use just enough weight to get to the bottom with an offering of shrimp or pinfish. This should produce snook, seatrout, sharks and a few redfish. If you find yourself fishing in the afternoon during a higher tide, work the grass flats with artificial shrimp or your favorite soft plastic lure. The water warms on these flats in the late sun and the fish will respond accordingly. Be sure to use a slower than normal retrieve. Capt. Greg Stamper of Snook Stamp Charters said the changing weather over the past week has been more about where the fish are going vs where they have been. The seatrout are showing up on the grass flats on both sides of Pine Island Sound in 3 to 5 feet of water. Try using popping corks with shrimp or artificial baits under them. If its snook you’re after try live baits like sardines, thread-fins, or pinfish around the river and creek mouths. Redfish have been moving around in Matlacha Pass and the outer islands near Punta Rassa, but more in singles than schools. Most of the ones caught over the past week went for cut mullet left soaking on the bottom near the mangroves where schools of mullet were present.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 15:15:10 +0000
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