Some Good Fishing Despite Rough Weather

The saying is that “March roars in like a lion” has held true this year!  The last two weeks have brought some relentless weather systems to Southwest Florida.  With one cold front after another bringing cool temperatures and many days of strong northerly winds, water temperatures dropped into the 60 degree range making fish a bit lethargic.  It has been rare to have a day where we have taken the jackets off.  Despite that, Capt. Ben and I have had a full schedule and have been working hard to keep clients on the fish.  Some days have been just plain tough to get the bites with less than favorable conditions, some days have turned out some fine catches.

Sea trout have been cooperating in some of the deep channels way inside.  I fishes last Friday afternoon with Dave Dougherty and Jim Chisholm.  The guys caught at least 30 trout in one spot using Gulp shrimp on jig heads.  The fish all ranged from 16 to 19 inches.  all but a couple for dinner were released.

Redfishing has remained a bit spotty, but we managed fish in the 23 to 25 inch range on several trips.  Live shrimp presented along flooded mangroves at high tide produced a few fish.  I expect redfishing to improve as soon as warmer, more consistent weather patterns settle in.  Here are some pictures of a few anglers and their redfish from the last week…

Joe McGurrin released this nice red on one of the coldest mornings of the year!

Barrett Gilbert and daughter Mary Harbin with another red on a cool afternoon last week

Tim Gill wih a nice back country redfish 3/14/13

Sheepshead are schooled up heavily in the passes right now and feeding well on pieces of shrimp fished near the bottom. Many of the fish are running in the 3 to 4 pound range.  They provide plenty of action on some of the cooler days and are great table fish.  Along with them are some nice black drum and a few redfish.

On Friday 3/15, Capt. Ben had a busy morning catching a variety of species including this large black drum released by George Bariso...

Geroge Bariso with a large drum released with Capt. Ben Geroy. 3/15/13

We are expecting a warmer week ahead.  If this forecast holds true, we should see the return of snook action and maybe some tarpon starting to move into the area.  We are ready for spring to settle in and the fishing action to really explode.


- Capt. Todd Geroy

March Fishing Starts Strong!

March 2, 2013
 
We have now rolled into March and are off to a good start with last weeks fishing showing a strong rebound from previous weeks.  Red tide no longer seems be an issue on the inland waters at least for now.  Warming waters and the return of bait fish have contributed to some great action with snook, redfish and a variety of other fish.

Snook fishing really turned on last week as water temperatures reached the upper 70′s for the first time since early December.  It was as if somebody opened the gates and the snook magically appeared on the scene.  We caught as many as 30 or more on a couple of trips, releasing many small fish and several ranging to 28 inches. Live sardines were the bait of choice.

10 year old Gavin Woolman is proud of his first snook catch last week!

Redfish were also cooperating on several trips for Capt. Ben and myself.  We sight fished to cruising reds on shallow edges at low tide as well as producing fish along flooded oyster laden shore lines at high tide.  Sardines, shrimp and jigs all took fish this week.

Gavin Woolman with a healthy red fishing with Capt. Todd Geroy last week.

On Friday, Ben fished with Kevin Vance, Scott Steinberger and young sons Jason and Wyatt Steinberger.  The group caught a variety of fish including redfish, some hefty black drum, snook, mangrove snapper, gag grouper and big jack crevalle.  Here is Scott with a nice redfish…

A nice redfish comes aboard while fishing with Capt. Ben Geroy on 1/1/2013

I spent a full day out on Friday with Bill Palmer, son David and their buddy Gary.  A goomy chilly day with temperatures only reaching 63 degrees, we found some great action.  Using live sardines all day  they released over 30 snook, countless jack crevalle and nice redfish.  Here is Gary with a nice redfish released late in the day…
During the week we also found some nice sea trout running to 18 inches along with pompano and bluefish.  I have been spotting some big tarpon in the back bays along with sharks, but we have not made any attempts for hookups yet.  It is looking like March fishing is going to shape up nicely!


- Capt. Todd Geroy