Ft Myers to Punta Gorda fishing report

Fishing wasn't better for me last week despite some red tide in Charlotte Harbor. I had a good day in Pine Island Sound using live sardines. We fished the day before a cold front and caught lots of snook up to 29 inches. We also coughs several keeper mangrove snapper and jacks along with 4 barracuda and number of undersized gag grouper. A few days after the cold front I fished out of Punta Gorda and we targeted redfish and speckled trout on the flats of Charlotte Harbor. We caught quite a few redfish but they were on the smaller side. Also caught a bunch of trout and were able manage enough keepers for a good dinner. Along with the trout and reds were a few jacks and sheepshead. All in all, the fishing was pretty good. Not a lot of size but good action which is about normal for November through February. The forecast for the next few months should be about the same as this report. Good action but smaller sized fish. Snook fishing will be declining as the weather gets cooler but the trout and redfish should get better as it gets colder. Hopefully we'll run into a few pompano and flounder as it gets into winter also.