This might have well been a Lady’s Florida state record at 6.2 lbs. but this Pompano made its way to the dinner plate.
January and February can be an interesting time to fish in Southwest Florida. With a cold start to the month Fort Myers and Sanibel Island has seen record low temps and winds blowing hard out of the northeast. Finding a place to hide has been our biggest issue in Pine Island Sound. Finding a place to hide where there’s not twenty other boats doing the same thing is another problem. Despite off of that our captains have been getting it done and finding some hungry fish.
Tripletail fishing is a favorite of locals of SW Florida
Captain Matt has managed to venture out into the Gulf of Mexico between blows and has gotten on the triple tail bite. The bite has been insanely good and his clients have been pleased with the awesome table fare. This prehistoric looking fish can offer quite a fight, not to mention the thrill of the hunt. The intensity of this fish on light tackle is thrilling to say the least.
Captain Bill has been beating the bushes and deeper channels to pull out big sheephead as well as snapper and trout on the colder days. He is also been finding nice slot size redfish on days when water temps rise about 65. Slowing down the retrieve and soaking baits have been the key in the cold weather.
Captain John has proven that perseverance pays off this month. John uses techniques that remind us a little bit of the methods used by most of the old timers. Patience has paid off on big outgoing tides on the flats and the redfish can’t resist. For Capt. John’s clients nice slot size redfish and gator trout have put smiles on their faces.
Don’t count out the cold months of January and February, it can be an awesome time to fish with a little patience and some warm clothes. You are sure to have a great time on a fishing charter with the captains from Endless Summer Charters no matter what time of year.
Check out our What’s Biting page on our website to see what species are most likely to bite per month.
Sheephead is great table fare for those who know how to filet this bony fish.
We want to thank San Carlos Marine for keeping us up and going on the water. We also want to thank Dan James Custom Rods for the best fishing rods around and Florida Fishing Products for supplying us with top of the line reels. To top that off, Fins Situational Braid line is our number one choice on the water and try their Wind Tamer line on windy days.
Make sure to call and book your Spring fishing charter as soon as possible. We are booking quickly. Tarpon charters in May, June and July are also booking fast!
Call 239-691-1966 to book your charter now!
There’s more than one reason we are called the Tarpon Capitol of the World. One reason is the fact that the first tarpon was caught right here Tarpon Bay on the bay side of Sanibel Island. It was the first tarpon caught on hook and line. That started the ball rolling. When sports fishing anglers heard about the magnificent fish and the fantastic fight they came droves. They soon found out that the migration of the tarpon took them from off Fort Myers Beach to the north tip of our county, Lee. The north tip of Lee County ends a Gasparilla Island. Gasparilla Island is known for a little town called Boca Grande. South of Boca Grand is the famous Boca Grande Pass. Boca Grand Pass is know three things, deep water, Tarpon and shark! The nutrient rich waters of Charlotte Harbor empty into the Gulf of Mexico through Boca Grande Pass. The waters carry what we call around here, pass crabs. These crabs are like candy to the tarpon and they will pile up in layers waiting for their crunchy goodness.
Because tarpon became so popular as a game fish it also became the downfall of the tarpon fishing industry. Along with the ecologically responsible anglers and guides came the money hungry tournament anglers. What was once a gentleman’s sport became a “take no prisoners” kind of fishing. The boats got faster, fishing style over the top and testosterone running higher than ever. Luckily, in recent years the efforts of the responsible anglers have won out. Sure, there’s the occasional yahoo that doesn’t know the etiquette of Boca Grande pass or tarpon fishing as a whole but for the most part we are slowly returning to responsible angling here in the Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers Beach areas.
