Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

El Nino winter Usually we have two months of pretty cool weather during winter. Lows in the upper 40's and highs in the mid 60's are common. This makes our water temps in January and Feburary around 65 degrees. With the water in the 60's the trout, redfish and snook seek shelter in deeper water usually near creeks and canals. This year most of our winter days have been in the mid 80's with lows in the upper 60's. Water temps are over 70 degrees and the the fish are acting like it's fall instead of January. Instead of holding in deeper water the reds, trout and snook are cruising the flats looking for baitfish. Whitebait which is noramlly long gone off the flats by now is still plentiful. This makes for some easy inshore grouper fishing. Look for inshore grouper to hold near anykind of underwater structure. Sardines (whitebait) or pinfish are excellent baits. Trout and redfish are still out on the open flats of Charlotte Harbor. Soft plastics are the best lures. Snook near the creek mouths but not that far up the creeks. Again soft plastics are my favorite lures. Good Luck! Capt. Scott Hughes Blackwater Charters 941-628-4247 cell