Fort Myers to Boca Grande Christmas Fishing Report
Capt. Scott Hughes
December 26, 2011
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Its been unseasonably warm for the past month. It hasn't really hurt the fishing except for the flounder have pushed off the flats and more toward the gulf. Redfish and speckled trout fishing is still very good with double digit catches of both species common on 4 or 6hr trips. I've had excellent fishing in all areas of Charlotte Harbor. The east wall, west wall and Pine Island Sound are all producing about the same results. Low to mid slot redfish, lots of good trout and a few keeper flounder are normal catches on almost every trip. I've only been using artificial lures. Shrimp will also work but since its been so warm, the pinfish and trash fishing will steal most of the shrimp so you catch more fish on the lures.
There are also a lot of smaller spanish mackerel and huge ladyfish running near the passes and in the middle of Charlotte Harbor. This is a good bet if you have a larger boat that doesn't fish the shallow flats well.
Fort Myers Fishing Forecast:
I expect good redfish fishing to continue from now until the end of April. Trout fishing will get better as it get colder and starting on New Year Day they will be in season and you can keep 4 per person. If it remains a warm winter expect the tarpon to show up in april again in 2012.
Target Species:
redfish, speckled trout, flounder
