Last week delivered truly spectacular weather, translating into incredible fishing opportunities. We experienced cool mornings, brilliantly sunny and warm afternoons, and minimal winds, creating ideal conditions on the water. The calm seas opened up limitless angling choices, from the inshore flats to offshore waters. Combined with favorable tides and actively feeding fish, it was one of the best weeks for fishing this season.
I concentrated the majority of my time in Pine Island Sound, targeting the resident snook, redfish, and trout. During the periods of lower tide, we focused our efforts on the deeper, natural channels, both out on the main flats and deeper within the mangrove creeks.
Live shiners were readily available and proved to be the top bait for all three species. With a good supply of shiners, I was able to live-chum, which quickly got the fish aggressively feeding right on the surface. The diversity within the mangroves was remarkable; on one morning alone, we landed over ten different species of fish from a single creek.
As the tide began to rise, we transitioned to the shallower mangrove shorelines, and the snook bite was phenomenal. While these fish generally weren’t giants, they made up for it with sheer numbers. Though we didn’t hook many large snook, fish in the mid-20-inch range were consistently caught.
Earlier in the week, I had a trip with clients focused on targeting sharks.
With the water temperature still holding in the high 60s, I initially had some concerns about locating them. We started at a reliable spot near Captiva Pass, but after a half-hour without a strike on our cut baits, we quickly relocated.
The next stop was a deep, natural channel cutting through a shallow flat in the northern part of the Sound. Within ten minutes, we had our first shark hooked and brought to the boat. For the next two hours, we had non-stop action, waiting no more than fifteen minutes between strikes on numerous four-to-five-foot blacktips.
The most effective bait for these blacktips was a half-fresh ladyfish, fished free-lined. My go-to shark setup includes a heavy-action 7-foot rod paired with a 6000-series spinning reel. I spool the reel with 300 yards of 50-pound braid and construct my own leaders using six feet of 200-pound monofilament.
At the top of the leader, I use a heavy-duty barrel swivel, and at the terminal end, an 11/0 circle hook, secured with crimp sleeves due to the leader’s thickness. Opting for a mono leader significantly increases the number of bites compared to steel, and the circle hook ensures a safe hook-up in the side of the shark’s mouth. Once alongside the boat, I use a long hook-removal tool to safely release the sharks unharmed.
With no significant cold fronts expected before Thanksgiving, we anticipate the excellent action and favorable weather to continue for at least another week. This is welcome news, as the Thanksgiving holiday week is always a busy time with clients. Consistent weather continues to be the key to consistent fishing.
I encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the amazing fishing opportunities our local waters have to offer.
