Back to Basics

Offshore: Back to basics this weekend as wind maybe a factor when tripping off the beach. Not bad wind to 14 knots by midmorning. Otherwise, looking good, had some decent reports on the grouper front. The marks at 20 plus miles gave up legal fish, limits could be had. Snapper took up the slack with nice fish up to 4-5 lbs. reported. Other action included cobia, kings and scads of Spanish spread out from one mile off the deeper marks just keep an eye out and a plug rod at the ready. Close action was doable with plenty of snapper, Spanish, white grunts, flounder and pomps. Tarpon time is just around the corner with silver king hunter's already reporting fish just off Ft. Myers Beach and points north. Threads, pins and jigs scored on first of the season poons. Backbay: We had a good bite in Estero Bay and Pine Island Sound with slot reds, snook and trout all on a chew. Mixed bag action around the docks and creeks kept use busy with snapper, sheepies, black drum and reds. Simply pattern worked well shrimp, cut stocks, Gulps and shiners when available. Tide will be more favorable this week with midmorning highest and a tad less wind. Fly guys found snook, jacks and baby poons all active in the numerous creeks, good stuff. We found active bass and cichlids all along the ditches, ponds and far reaches of the creeks and rivers. Snook and tarpon are active in the Peace and Myakka rivers, good stuff all around. Capt.'s Corner: Be flexible and have a couple of patterns available for quick reaction angling. The flats are coming alive so bait and scented plastics or surface plugs should be handy. We found trout picky at times with shrimp and jig rigs the standard but scented plastics a handy search pattern. Reds ate shrimp and cut stocks on the bottom rigs and under a cork. Scented plastics and smallish gold spoons worked in the clearer creeks and lagoons. Best to fish slow, bottom bouncing retrieves or soaking your Gulps and other scented plastics. Capt. Ron Kowalyk www.fishswfla.com [email protected] 239-267-9312