September 30, 2017 by Capt. Steve Nagy
Fishing is heating up as it cools down. Redfish bite is good in Estero Bay. Look for schooling fish over grass flats this time of year. Cast in front of the school, let the fish find your bait, don't toss your bait on top or in the middle of the school. My top artificial is a Savage Gear medium size TPE Shrimp in brown or olive. Live Pinfish under a popping cork or a live Shrimp will work great. Redfish will also be under Mangrove Islands. I love to skip a 1/4 oz jig head with a 3" Hybrid Flurry in glow of charboil under the bushes. Pinning a live Pinfish to the bottom under the bushes is also a good choice. Lots of slot size fish being caught, so book a trip and don't miss out on the action.
Snook are open for business, target outside islands and passes. Sanibel Island beaches early in the morning before there's many people walking on them. Blind Pass is producing quite a few Snook on outgoing tides. Bait of choice is a live Pilchard on a 2/0 Mustad Circle Hook. Arificial baits, Savage Gear Mud Minnow in Bone or Dirty Roach during low light conditions and a silver or gold spoon when the sun is up higher in the sky.
Tarpon are moving back south along the beaches. Look for rolling fish in 15-30'of water. Cast live Crabs or large Threadfin Herring in front of cruising fish. Stout Gear is required, I like Okuma Azores 65 reel spooled up with 50lb bradied line on a Okuma Shadow Stalker 7' XH rod, also 4-5 of 60 lb fluorocarbon leader and a 9/0 Mustad Demon wire circle hook. These are big strong fish. Tight lines
Capt. Steve Nagy
www.bonitaspringsfishing.com
(239)398-1528
Posted in: News
