Redfish bite is hot despite high winds in Charlotte Harbor

Despite high winds for the past two weeks the redfish bite has been excellent with catches of redfish up to 16lbs daily. High east and NE winds push water out of the bays and rivers and the low tides are making finding large schools of redfish easier. We're catching lots of bull redfish with cut bait in Charlotte Harbor. These fish are averaging 10-15 pounds. Other areas are holding lots of redfish schools as well. Lemon Bay, Sarasota Bay and lower Tampa Bay are all holding dozens of schools of redfish. The only place that isn't is Pine Island Sound. The sound is mostly holding scattered redfish that are running a little on the small side. We're catching keeper reds in the 3-5lb range from Ft Myers to Punta Gorda. Redfish aren't the only game in town. Large speckled trout are moving out to the deeper grass flats so they should be getting ready to spawn next month. We are catching plenty of trout to to 24 inches throwing soft plastics on 1/4 oz jig heads. I've been having the best success with the new Fishbites shrimp tails in watermelon and the jerk baits in new penny. Also try them rigged under a Cajun Thunder popping cork. Fish the grass beds in 3-5 feet of water. Snook are moving out of the backcountry and are staging on the points of the islands. Small live sardines are the best baits but with all the birds around this year I'd rater throw lures. I like the Mirrolure MR17 twich bait.