Fishing is picking up after a cool, windy week.  Most of the plentiful species were easy to find and catch.  Baitfish are showing up well on the grass flats and along the edges of the outermost islands of Charlotte Harbor. 

Seatrout and ladyfish were the most abundant and we found some just about everywhere we fished.  The best patterns for them are the basic Estaz marabou and a Clouser minnow.  Both of these should be fished on intermediate sinking lines.

Redfish were scattered and we didn't see many, but my partner caught two very nice ones while fishing the mangroves.  It appears that the fish are moving around a bit and will probably settle into new locations before the weekend cool front moves in.  With the abundance of baitfish in the bay, the redfish are focusing on them as prey right now.  Any medium sized baitfish imitation fished deep will work.

Snook proved to be too fussy for me yesterday.  I saw a lot of snook.  snook in the mangroves.  Snook in the pot holes. Snook on the deep grass.  And some damn big ones.  We threw a whole box of flies at them but couldn't get a strike.   I'm not over them yet.  It's four in the morning now and I'm getting ready to leave for the harbor for another attack.  I'll get 'em.

Hey, it's almost tarpon time.  We should be seeing tarpon in the sound any day now.  There are probably some there already,  but I haven't fished them yet.  Next week, I'll look some more.

Fish Hard,
Pete