Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Heavy rains impacted inshore spots, forcing anglers to adjust
Up and down weather and fishing reigned supreme for the reporting period. Placid conditions quickly yielded to the passing of a tropical low-pressure system, the flux kept anglers on their toes with where to go and what to throw.
While the offshore grounds will rebound rapidly as rough seas never materialized with the storm, the dynamics of the inshore arena have changed due to nearly 24 hours of moderate to heavy rainfall. The influx or intrusion of fresh water has altered the salinity levels significantly within the middle and back bay systems and has pushed game and forage fish around from their traditional June haunts.
Savvy anglers venturing into the shallows will notice the profound changes and adjust their approach tactics accordingly. Until water quality conditions balance, the focus should be on the middle bays, passes and along the beaches where salinity levels will naturally be higher. Baitfish will be scattered with the best chances of filling the well out and over select nearshore artificial structures.
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Prior to the early season tropical activity, the distant offshore grounds were producing excellent catches of reef fish. Full-day outings were producing limits of red grouper along with an eclectic mix of snapper. Anglers making longer runs out to depths beyond 160 feet were returning to port with a bounty of American red snapper and red/gag grouper catches.
Look for the Gulf action to only heat up during June and the inshore waters to stabilize and become active once again with exciting and hard-charging gamefish activity.
Offshore: “Leading up to the weather system we have been busy running primarily half-day trips,” said Capt. Kraig Dafcik. “The action has been good with plenty of fillets for everyone to take home.”
Dafcik and his crews have been concentrating their bottom fishing efforts in water depths of 48 to 55 feet. Working various hard bottom features with a variety of jigs, squid and herring, the Alabama has been returning to the Port O Call Marina docks with catches of white grunts, lane snapper, a scattering of red grouper and a healthy number of Spanish mackerel on each outing.
Naples/Estero Bay: Aboard my Port O Call Marina-based guide boat the Grand Slam, I have been treating my angling groups to exciting light tackle action. Prospecting the middle bays, passes, beaches and nearshore artificial fish havens, a wide variety of species have found their way over the rail or into the landing net.
Early departures have found us setting a course both north and south of Gordon Pass along the coastline in search of tarpon, shark, and Spanish mackerel. The mid-morning to early afternoon bite has had us venturing into the middle bays and passes targeting snook, redfish, pompano, and mangrove snapper with a variety of live and artificial bait offerings.
Ten Thousand Islands: “Prior to the tropical weather, fly fishing was excellent in upper Ten Thousand Islands”, said Goodland-based guide Capt. Paul Nocifora. “I am hoping the waters will clear rapidly and we will return to a normal program of traditional sight fishing.”
Early in the fishing day, Nocifora and his casters can be found working shallow middle bay shorelines for snook or Gulf facing shorelines for tarpon. Casting a white-colored Lightbulb pattern has worked well for snook and presenting a large profile baitfish fly is attracting the attention of feeding tarpon according to Nocifora.
Nocifora recommends being out on the water at first light, concentrating on areas of moving water possessing baitfish and wading bird activity for best catching results.
If you have a report to share email captwill@naplessportfishing.com.
Anglers, email your photos to news@naplesnews.com and we will compile your images into an online gallery that’s featured each Thursday morning at www.naplesnews.com. Do not submit photos of fish caught illegally.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Tropical storm rain forcing inshore anglers to adjust, offshore not affected
