Redfish starting schooling a few weeks ago and this is the best time of the year to catch good numbers of “bull” redfish. These over sized reds are moving though the passes and schooling on the nearby grass flats. Any outside grass flat near the passes can hold a school of redfish this time of year. I’ve been mostly fishing the bars in Charlotte Harbor but Pine Island Sound and Lemon Bay are also holding good schools of redfish.

Even though the fishing charters are pretty slow right now I have been doing quite a bit of fishing to stay with the fall tarpon migration. The tarpon are following the bait schools and feed heavily to fuel their migration for the winter. Most of these tarpon are very large averaging over 100 pounds. I have been doing well with a variety of artificial lure and live baits. Live ladyfish and sardines hooking the most tarpon; with spoons, jigs and soft plastic swim baits producing as well. There are a number a locations that have been holding tarpon. Look for bait schools on the beaches outside of Boca Grande Pass, Captiva Island and Fort Myers Beach. You can also run into groups of migrating tarpon in the bays.

Fort Myers Fishing Forcast: The tarpon fishing is just about over. We may have no more than 2-3 weeks of good tarpon fishing before its over for the winter. Fishing for bull redfish should remain strong for the rest of the fall. The large schools of redfish should be around into early November. After that its mostly singles and small groups.

Flats Fishing And Back County Charters

During the winter I my run 22 foot Texas Shallow Sport fishing machine. This dry stable fishing platform allow me to access the shallowest of flats. As the winter months progress in to negative tides and extremely shallow flats where trout and reds are trapped in pot holes I have the right boat to access these areas, and score days where triple digit fish numbers are the norm. I am ah expert in the use of artificial lures. The majority of fishing from November to March is done with artificial lures. I have found that artificial lures out produce live bait during these months. This insures you are not dealing with long waits at the dock or cancellations due to the lack of or limited bait.

I also own a high end 24 foot bay bay boat for dry and comfortable Tarpon Fishing and near shore charters. Equipped with 4 stoke out board and state of the art electronics, including hi def and side and down scan imaging. I keep up to date tackle From Penn, G Loomis, Accurate Reels and American Rod Smith. I have both earned a reputation in the industry as proven veteran fishing guide with results. An extensive amount of information can be easily searched online or references provided on request, assuring you are hiring top full time fishing guide

Boca Grande and the pass seen some great snapper action as all summer for those looking for a good dinner. There was also some fast action on Bonita schools for anyone looking to bend a rod. The tarpon where also available when you but their pattern together and timed your trip correctly. Along with some nice early kingfish action in the 30-40lb range Boca Grande Pass as usual gave its best in Early October.

The unusual early arrival of cold weather in the area should push the king fish further south and the grouper closer in. The redfish should continue to school up for the next few weeks and trout fish should begin to improve. Snook fishing should also continue as they are migrating back to winter hang outs. The winter tides should begin empting some flats that have been fished all summer and make them less accessible to the average boater. This year I have added a extremely shallow running skiff to my business and I am looking forward to fishing the winter negative tides. A rigged a 21.5′ Texas Shallow Spot with a 150 four stroke engine for quite reliability and a tall tower for sight, and have increased my flats fishing ability 10 fold.

The new boat allows ample room for a max of 4 anglers and can access some of the shallowest water you have ever fished in. This will be a plus as the water temps drop and fish seek out shallow flats to warm up in the winter. If you would like to see some fishing grounds that you have never seen call me and get on my book for some exciting shallow water winter fishing.

Capt Andy Boyette
1-888-880-0006
www.gofishcharters.com
www.tarponcharters.com

I took Tim Burnham and his friend Scott on a recent trip. The fishing was a little slow to start and the snook would not cooperate so we moved on to look for redfish. We seen a few tailing reds and Scott caught one rat red and proclaimed it was the biggest fish he had ever caught and his first fish in a long time. As we waited on the tide to rise and to work our way into the backside of Bull Bay to look for Scott a better redfish the sea fog moved in and I was not comfortable going in further into the backcountry waters for safety concerns. I found I nice deep pothole and anchored up and Tim and Scott spent the next two hours on none stop seatrout and took home a nice fish dinner.

I also had the pleasure of taking my good friend Bob Southerland out fishing and the target a keeper snook. So after taking a look around at some areas I haven’t fished in a few years, which Bob didn’t mind as he enjoyed the sights and the ride, we went to a faithful undisclosed snook hole. Within the fist 5 minutes Bob had a nice 30 inch 8 1/2lb’er. Bob did a great job of working the fish from the bushes in out to open water without ever getting to excited. Great ob Bob it always a good time fishing with you and I look forward to doing again. Next time will make sure we take your son with us.

Look for the tarpon to start showing up in good numbers in March if the water temps continue in the 70′s absent any really cold weather fishing will continue with spring time patterns.
“GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WITH BAIT”
Capt Andy Boyette