by Capt. Matt Mitchell
Heading out in the canal at 5 a.m. to catch bait, and the water temperature is already 87, basically welcome to another Southwest Florida summer. Everything just seems to move a little slower in this heat. That morning window of good action seems to end for me the last week, mid to late morning, just as all the shiners in the live well start to die. Rain always helps by cooling the water, though we are not quite in our daily summer rain pattern yet.
My best action this week is still coming in and around the passes. A decent-sized mangrove snapper for clients who want dinner has been the go-to. Usually this time of year, I’m catching lots of snapper out on the flats, though this has not happened for me yet. Some of the bigger snapper I’m getting are in and around the rock jetties, docks and snags with fast-moving current. Small free-lined shiners are the bait of choice for these fish.
Captiva Pass is always a great place to target these summer snappers. Drifting the pass with small pinfish or shiners fished close to the bottom in the deeper areas is a great way to get on them. During periods of slower tide, a spot lock trolling motor is deadly, as you can position the boat right on the many rocks and ledges. Docks on both sides of the pass are also a good option.
Summer catch-and-release snook action has been the best way to keep a rod bent. Both the passes and the snags out along the beaches are loaded with snook of all sizes. Snook just don’t seem to care how hot the water temperature gets; as long as there is a tide, they feed. The rebuilt rock jetty on the Southside of Redfish Pass has been a hot spot, though the groups of snook move day to day. Chumming live shiners quickly tells you where these fish are. I’ve been setting up and casting right to the rock edge as these fish draft behind these rocks.
Some of my favorite tarpon fishing of the year is just starting up. Although we do not see as many fish as in the spring, when you locate them, they just feed better. For a few days this week, I saw slow-rolling fish anywhere from Redfish Pass up to Cabbage Key on the bay side. Big live pinfish under a float are my bait of choice. Once you locate these fish, you can stay on them for days. Slowly creeping around them on a trolling motor, all it takes is one good shot to get that bite.
Over the next few months, it’s my favorite time to fish for tarpon. Unlike in the spring, when you make a good shot, you will more often than not get a bite. As business slows down over the next few months, I will spend my personal time out on my skiff chasing these magical fish. Most days, you have them all to yourself. It just doesn’t get any better than sight fishing for tarpon at first light.
Capt. Matt Mitchell moved to Sanibel in 1980 and has lived in St. James City since 2000, when he started his fishing charter business. He spends over 300 days a year “living the dream” fishing. For questions and info: bookings@captmattmitchell.com.
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