Spring Fishing on Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Finally the waters have warmed over 70 and are likely to stay above 70 this year.  With the warming temps at 74-75 the magic number for many species.  Redfish are again showing up in number, Snook is improving every day.  And the first Tarpon have pushed into the bay for the dedicated die hard tarpon addict.

I will switch primarily to tarpon around mid April as the waves of fish continue to push in.    If you’ve not fought a Silver King, your missing one of the greatest fishing adventures you could ask for.   Strong and acrobatic, we had a near 200 lb fish pull us 4.5 miles in the Gulf, a 24 ft Pathfinder with 3 people on board.  Incredible.  I’t wasn’t all “pull” we have chase to get 300 yards of line back as it kept nearly spooling us.   Not doing so would have risked a cut off by a passing boat.

One of the more interesting things this spring is the number of slot sized permit being caught, in the gulf beach zone and in the Mangroves.   Tipped Jigs with Shrimp and on a float is getting the job done.    Pompano are running near the passes, and the lighthouse Bar. Cobia are starting their annual run, Kingfish wont be far behind.  Triple Tail on the crab bouy’s, Big Trout are prowling the flats.   Opportunities abound.  The nearshore and offshore wreck and reefs are loaded with snapper, grouper and cobia.

This 4-5 week period from now forward will offer some of the years best fishing in the Sanibel Captiva and Pine Island Sound area.

Send a request with your dates below, Im on the water most days but will call you in between trips or at the end of the day.

Tight Lines!

Capt Paul Primeaux

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Snook & Redfish

February 2016 has been one of the most challenging months to fish I can remember in a very long time.   Extreme weather conditions accompanied by the heaviest rainfall totals ever recorded in February has let to a double whammy of red tide and extreme water releases from Lake Okeechobee.

Water temperatures have ranged from 57 degree’s to about 70 briefly on a few days and at this writing, 68 degrees.   Cool nights are keeping the temps from crawling up into the low 70’s.  Despite the conditions and freshwater, snook have turned on markedly in the last week.    A few tarpon in showing up in the mouth of the river.  I fish Tarpon Bay with Tarpon Bay Explorers during the weekend’s where catches of trout have been steady, with some over 21″ers showing up.  Soft Plastics and shrimp on a popping cork are go to baits.  The soft plastics are great for covering large areas and pinpointing the schools.

girl holding snook.

Meghan from St. Louis Snook hit a shrimp in Ding Darling.

Contact Capt Paul Primeaux to book your trip.   Book early for Tarpon Season!

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Jan 1 2016 Grouper Season is Re-open

The New Year was ushered in with balmy temperatures in the mid to upper 80’s. Water temps are hovering around 77-78 degrees in Pine Island sound.

Red grouper was closed in early October as the catch quota limit was reached early. The clock started again on Jan 1.

This Gag Grouper made its presence known, caught by an Hudson, on leave from the Air Force.

gag grouper captiva

Captiva Gag Grouper by Hudson. Air Force Serviceman on leave.

Unfortunately Gag season is not schedule to reopen until July 2nd as stocks are rebuilt.� Most guides will tell you that they are already rebuilt.� This one swam away happily and will be waiting for us in July.

Contact Capt Paul for a Red Grouper trip while they are in close for the winter.

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Hook to Table Mackerel

Pine Island Sound was invaded by threadfin and the food chain followed These hefty Mackerel are a blast to catch with drag screaming runs on light tackle, and cooked fresh a variety of ways, in this case, 1 3/4 hours of buttonwood smoking, a delicious treat Some of this is destined to become some of the best smoked fish dip you ever ate.

 

Spanish Mackerel

December Pine Island Sound Mackerel

Smoked Spanish Mackerel

Buttonwood Smoked Spanish Mackerel

December Fishing Reports Sanibel & Captiva

El Nino has lived up to is forecast for warmer and wetter than normal winter so far We opened December with 82 degree water temps. The fall bait migration is still in full swing with massive bait schools in the gulf and the bays as well.

One of the more noteworthy standouts is the amazing Tarpon and Redfishing. The bait and warmer water Temps now hovering at 75 just ahead of a front coming through now, has held large numbers of Tarpon and a schools of hungry Bull Redfish making for some of the finest December fishing I can remember in a very long time. The artificial reefs are producing monster Cobia, Amberjack and all the usual cast of reef dwellers mangrove snapper, and king fish.

Inshore the upper slot trout are cooperating along with Pompano, and snook now moving into the backcountry for their winter residence’s  At this writing the coldest air of the year should hit us with a 55 degree low predicted for Saturday night. Winds Northeast wind 18 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph will slow things down a bit.  Below is a pic of sanibel island resident Bob Moyle on a recent trip, that produced three of these Reds to 40″‘s, Triple Tail and Scamp Grouper.

Bull Sanibel Redfish

40″ 29lb Sanibel Redfish caught by Sanibel Resident Bob Moyle on 12/11/15