Fishing with Capt. George Tunison | Weekend low water conditions could make boating difficult
The weekend inshore angler and pleasure boater will face low water conditions with a Saturday -0.7 low to start the morning. The tide chart shows little water movement during the whole day which isn’t great news for hungry fish, most anglers and could definitely spell trouble for pleasure craft straying outside marked channels.
South Matlacha Pass is a good example as there are quite a few areas in the pass that during extreme low or negative tide events getting just a few feet off the marked path will put the boat and everyone aboard in danger. The key, of course, is to slow down and pay strict attention. Having binoculars onboard helps find distant channel markers. Don’t move the boat till you can spot the next marker and never boat without an active tow package from an on-water service provider like Sea Tow, otherwise what you will do if trouble comes your way?
Use caution launching during very low or negative tides so you don’t back the trailer’s wheels over the end of the ramp, which could turn into a hefty recovery and tow-out fee.
Winter winds have kept most local offshore anglers in port or probing nearshore numbers catching a variety of snappers, sheepshead, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and one reported and pictured 43-inch snook just trying to stay warm. If the weekend winds permit a safe trip, then fuel up and head off to distant numbers to catch snappers, grouper, amberjack and African pompano. If you’re unsure about the weather, don’t take the trip but if you do, try and bring home a delicious grouper for dinner along with some tasty snapper fare.
Sheepshead like it cool so it’s time to sharpen up your micro-bite detection and hook setting skills. Be ready to lose some fish and expensive bait till you get with the program. Pay attention and watch your line for the slightest twitch. Keep a finger or two in contact with the line feeling for twitches. Shrimp bits, clam, crabs, barnacles, sand fleas, Fish Bites and, of course, fiddler crabs will work. As of this past Wednesday afternoon, D&D Tackle in Matlacha had fiddlers for sale but always call for availability before your trip.
Sheepshead are open year-round with a 12-inch total length in both state and federal waters with up to eight allowed per angler with a 50 fish per boat limit. There’s plenty of online cleaning instructions for this tough skinned, but delicious tasting fish. Wear gloves.
Tired of the crowds, the windy, open flats and the chill? Then head east for some warmth and sometimes great winter river fishing. The Caloosahatchee and its tributaries offer a huge variety of fresh and saltwater fish, as well as sun-warmed afternoons. Try a lazy afternoon on the Orange River fishing for snook, largemouth and peacock bass. The biggest jacks I’ve ever seen in my 25 years of fishing here swim around the RR trestle. Even larger 20-pound class and up brutes call the area from the I-75 bridge up to the first trailer park home. Bring your lite tarpon gear and anchor up with a lively mullet out under a float trying to avoid trouble. Have some patience then hold on tightly as it’s hard to stop a train. Your by-catch might be a jumbo snook or a high-flying tarpon that also call this same warmer area home.
Snook are present all the way out to Lake Okeechobee, in Lake O as well as in the St. Lucie. A DOA Shrimp and a MirrOdine are up-river big medicine this time of year. Fish the DOA slowly into and around cover, pitch and skip casting into all the fishy looking spots. Keep moving, become an expert line watcher, keep probing and most importantly, have confidence in your game.
For the traveling angler, it’s east coast sailfish and monster kingfish time from Stewart down to Key West.
Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at (239) 579-0461 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.