Posts Tagged ‘trout fishing’
March comes roaring in! 3/5/2010
March is here and it came roaring in like a lion! The wind has been relentless and the cold just as bad. The weather has made for some very tough fishing conditions. I was able to get out twice in the last week and let me tell you it was not easy! Winds 15 to 20 knots out of the north west with some serious gust thrown in made for some very well planned out trips. Picking the right launch site was key to getting to areas with protection from the wind.
Canals were the main target area this past week. The fishing was slow with mainly sheepshead and lady fish being caught. The sheepshead make great table fair and the lady’s they make for some fun rod bending action.
The sheeps head were caught around the dock pilings in the canals using small live shrimp on a 1/0 circle hood weighted with a small split shot. The lady’s on the other hand were eager to eat our artificial baits. Just about any soft plastic on a 1/8 oz jig head would do the trick. Letting the bait hit the bottom of the canal and then bouncing it back along the bottom would entice the strike.
The trout bite was totally off and I think this had to do with this latest front coming thru. Sometimes the fish just get lock jaw and there is nothing you can do about it. The fishing so far this year has been very unpredictable. I know I am not the only one that hopes the weather soon breaks and we get some warm temps.
Keep checking back for more reports. Spring is just around the corner, I hope.
Residential Canals Produce 2/14/2010
The weather has been brutal with below normal temps and high winds. Its been tough to get that window of opportunity to get out. But when you do you have to take it. Right now is not the time to expect a trip catching trophy sized fish but instead get larger numbers of smaller fish.
The residential canals have been a good place to get some shelter from the chilly winds. Water temps are still in the mid 50s so the fish are still a little sluggish on the bite but seem to be getting a little more aggressive. I think this may be due to the lack of bait around the bay so these fish are really getting hungry.
Notice the 55 degree water temp
The bait used on our recent outings has varied between live shrimp and a mix of artificial soft plastic baits. Live shrimp on a 2/0 light circle hook with a small split shot about a foot up the 20 lb floro leader has been producing well and is a great choice for the angler who mostly wants to just cast,sit back and feel the bite.
Soft plastic artificial on the other hand have produced well in different colors. Mostly we have been pairing either the Hybrids Flurry or the DOA Cal with a 1/4 oz jig head. Casting out and letting it drop to the bottom then slowly jigging it back has produced the best strikes.
The Hybrid Flurry in assorted colors
The fish seem to be concentrated mostly in the middle of the canals with some hanging near the edges of the drop offs soaking up the warmth of the sun.
Trout caught on a DOA Cal ,pearl with chart tail
Bringing one to the boat,Spotted Sea trout
Most of the fish we are catch have been in the 17 to 20 inch keeper size range. Spotted sea trout make great table fare so you can look forward to taking some home for dinner.
Trout have been the story as of late but with some warming temps soon to come this should change. I am really hoping that March will be a new story and some of our other species will be coming to life. Its been a brutal winter so all we can hope for is that mother nature is going to show us some love soon.
Good friend Capt. Steve Nagy from Bonita Springs