Ft. Myers Fishing Report

Marco Island and Fort Myers fishing report
Capt. Scott Hughes
December 31, 2009
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Fished Charlotte Harbor today. Landed 70-80 speckled trout up to 23 inches, 4 redfish up to 30 inches a few sheepshead, snapper, bluefish and ladyfish. All fish were caught with shrimp and jig and Mirrolure MR 17's.



Started out of Marco Island yesterday. Water temps in the mid 50's. Worked various areas south toward Everglades City. Landed several keeper redfish, speckled trout, sheephead a bunch of ladyfish and a small snook. All fish were caught with shrimp and jig.


Fort Myers Fishing Forecast:

With cold weather moving in, look for the fish to move to deer water. Speckled trout are now in season so now is a good time to go out and get a nice mess of fish for the frying pan.

Target Species:

Specks, reds, snook and sheephead

Fishing report for Boca Grande to Fort Myers
Capt. Scott Hughes
December 14, 2009
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Week tides and a 20 knot wind slowed the flats fishing this past week. But the ingredants are still there for excellent fishing. The tides are going to be better this week and with highs in the mid-80's the fishing should get HOT!

Speckled trout: Trout fishing was good last week but not as good as it has been. Lower slot sized trout were in the shallow pot holes from Boca Grande to Pine Island but I couldn't find those 20-27 inch "gator" trout that I like to target. The tides were high most of the week and i believe that alot of fish were scattered over the grass beds.

Redfish: We didn't catch a lot of redfish last week but we saw alot. I saw plenty of "tailing" redfish feeding on the grass beds but with high winds and groups of 3-4 anglers on every trip we weren't set up well for sight fishing. We gave it our best shots but didn't get any hook-ups. The lower tides this week should move the reds in the depressions and this will allow us to blind cast for them or soak bait.

Grouper: There are still pleny of grouper nearshore and in the bay. Live bait, cut bait and shrimp with catch them.

Snook: Most of the snook have migrated into the rivers and canals. Live sardines have doing good for the guys that have going up there. I don't fish docks and canals but I do fish natural habitat in the rivers. I'll hitting some of those spots as it gets colder.

Sheephead: I haven't been fishing for them but the sheephead are moving in. I'm seeing quite a few near the passes and on docsks.

Bluefish, Jacks and Pompano: There has been alot of action from these species near the passes. Boca Grande, Captiva and Redfish Passes very active on thr rising tides. Look for the birds. You'll also find tons of ladyfish mixed with the Blues and jacks.

Fort Myers Fishing Forecast:

The fishing has been better on the full and new moon tides. The lower water has helped concentrate the fish. A little cooler weather won't hurt. The fish are a little confused with all the mid eighties highs.

Target Species:

Speckled trout, redfish, snook, grouper, bluefish

Winter flats fishing report
Capt. Scott Hughes
December 3, 2009
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

We are now getting a regular dose of weak cold fronts. These fronts haven't been cold but it has dropped the water temps into the mid 60's which is fairly cold for most of the tropical species that I target most of the year. The fishing is still good for the colder water species like speckled trout, grouper and redfish.

Speckled Trout: The trout fishing in Southwest Florida is as good as I've seen it in many years. The lack of redtide the last few years has allowed for the spawn to reach maturity and right now we are seeing an explosion of keeper sized trout. I'm finding good numbers of trout in the deep and shallow water in Pine Island Sound and all along the bars of Charlotte Harbor and Matlacha. I've been using a variety of soft plastics rigged weedless and on jigheads.

Remember, trout fishing is catch and release until January 1st.

Grouper: Inshore grouper fishing is excellent right now. Any structure offshore or inshore is holding some gag grouper. The size of the structure will determine the size of the fish. Live sardines and pinfish have been the best baits.

Redfish: I am catching some nice sized redfish but its not exactly on fire. There has been some "tailers" on the shallow flats on low tide and there are a few groups that are holding way in the backcountry but there are not nearly as many redfish in our area as there should be.

Mackerel: There are plenty of spanish mackerel and bluefish near the passes. So keeping rods bent is not a problem. Look for birds and dolphins. They will be near the fish. Throw spoons and jigs or fish live sardines.

Snook: Snook are not a cold water fish but the fishing has been good on the warmer days and when I've been able to find larger live sardines. There has also been some good fishing for them in the rivers and canals. Trolling plugs and live baits are the best baits.

Fort Myers Fishing Forecast:

As its gets colder the trout fishing will get even better. The grouper should be good most of the winter but the larger fish will start to get fished out in the popular areas. Sheephead fishing really start to pick-up this month and the flounder will get better. Hopefully some better redfish action will come with the colder weather.

Target Species:

Speckled Trout, Grouper, Redfish, mackerel, snook