Bonita Springs to Pine Island Sound

August 12th, 2008

Too Much Total BS in Fishing Reports

Has the fishing world gone absolutely mad? Now there is a new website whereby you pay $$$$$$$$ to get "insider information" as to how and where to catch fish. What a giant loaf of total BS. Before I start this report, pls feel free to copy and paste this link if you are interested in fishing SW FL.

As an Outdoor Writer, I try to draw a realistic picture about fishing and when you best chances might be. Here is the link for "Understanding SW FL Fishing". It appears in several newspapers statewide. http://display.naplesnews.com/SS/Page.aspx?sstarg=&facing=false&secid=50453&pagenum=10

OK: Let's light this candle with some serious "Insider Information." Truly, now I've heard it all. Anything whatsoever to put a buck in the pocket. Amazing.

Snook: Bait is on the comeback and with great bait scoring great snook is a piece of cake. The beaches along Sanibel and Captiva are holding some great fish from sunrise to 2-3 hours later. One of life's true joys is to walk the beach with the sun at your back looking for snook in the surf. If you are getting your feet wet, you are doing "it" all wrong. (Few things are worse than doing it all wrong. Just ask your wife). Do you best to stay up on the beach and cast down the beach according to how the snook will be facing. How does one ascertain the direction a snook is facing early in the AM? Hmmmmmm. This will not cost you an "Insider's dime" but look out at the no-wake markers or look for anything floating. The tide will be pushing it in one direction or another. The snook will always be facing into the todal flow. Throw your Bagley Bucktail (others don't compare and I have no pro association w/Bagley)upbeach or upcurrent and retrieve it so as to NOT hit the fish in the chops with it but maybe 3-5 feet away. He/she will pick up the VIBE via their lateral line running the length of their body. This is a free "Insider" tip for you.

If you go with live bait from a boat, snook fishing right now is like getting lucky in Winnamucka,Nevada. If you have the cash to run to the beach, scoring is like going to the Mustang Ranch. The gas crisis has drastically reduced the fishing pressure.

Redfish: "Insider Special at N/C!" Dead Shrimp in a pyramid leadheaded jig is all you need around oyster bars and mangroves in Pine Island Sound. The Redfish are here very early and probably because of all the rain. Anyone, it is very easy right now. Last 2 hours of the incoming and the first 2 hours of the outgoing. Neanderthal fishing. 1 Dead Shrimp. Half or Whole. Chuck it out. Place the rod in the rodholder. Crack an ice cold Coors Original. Start telling lies and your rod will go off. Try the areas around the Historic Fish Shacks.

Trout: What an amazing Trout Season this far. Shut out on one day and onfire the next. Kinda like being married from all the reports I receive from those spending time in hell. Anyway, Big Gator Trout can still be found under the glass minnow schools. I'm talkin' big trout in the 4-5LB class.

So there you have it. A N/C "Insider Report". I shutter to think what is next. "GiddyUp"

PS: On the 4th piling tomorrow AM at about 7AM there will be 2-3 snook hanging off the east side of the 1st dock at the entrance of Tarpon Bay. "Insider Fishing Report" special. Excuse as I have to hurl!