Fishing with Capt. George Tunison | Fishing in the morning may be more productive
With a Saturday 5:15 a.m. negative low tide at Pineland topping out around 1 p.m., looking for tailing redfish on the flats early in the morning before rising waters allow them access to shady mangrove hideaways could be a solid inshore game plan to start the weekend. This is also the best time to bag a good sea trout on a top water plug, a swimming plug like a fresh water Rebel or Rapala or on prop bait like a Devils Horse. Long casts using lite lines, leaders and a flexible and forgiving rod tip, keep soft mouthed gator sized flats trout on the hook even at long distances.
Fishing the morning incoming may also be more productive due to outgoing afternoon tides featuring little tidal exchange.
If you are a new boater you’ll do well to stay closely within marked channels early in the day and slow down. Both of these suggestions will help you keep the boat in the water, the crew safely in the boat and also keep from having to use your tow policy. You do have an on the water tow package, right? Never leave the dock without one and if you are part of the unfortunate group called the “towing community” adding inexpensive on- the-road trailer assistance to your policy makes good sense unless you don’t mind changing wheel bearings late at night covered in grease, sweat and no-see-ums.
Predicted breezy conditions may hamper your weekend sight fishing early morning game plan and also keep some offshore crews in port or on nearshore numbers. Red grouper season is open but gag is closed. Red grouper is open year-round in state waters and as of the first of the month open in federal waters seaward of 20 fathoms. Consult the FWC website for more 20 fathom info and maps.
Red snapper remains closed with announced dates for 2026 coming in spring New Lane snapper regulations now allow harvest at 10″ with a 20 fish bag limit while remaining sheepshead, assorted snappers and other bottom dwellers are waiting to play on close to the coast structures if the winds and common sense keep you nearshore.
Spanish macs and kingfish are working bait in Pine Island Sound to 15 miles off the beaches. Let the birds guide you to the action and whatever you do don’t drive over or through the surface action which only kills the action for not only you but for the others already there fishing. Not a good way to make friends or catch fish. Cast to obvious surface action or if they go down troll spoons or anchor and chum them back around for some fast and fun lite tackle action. Chrome Clark spoons for trolling and Got-Cha plugs for casting are both productive choices for razor toothed mackerel.
If you are a snook fan then pick a stretch of the river this weekend and go to work on docks which are snook comfort stations along the annual journey towards the coast. If I have a choice I usually prefer stronger outgoing tides for any snook fishing, day or night.
Some sporadic tarpon action reported in Boca Grande and Captiva Pass while shallow areas around the many keys in Pine Island Sound from Chino Island up to Captiva Shoals host sight fishing tarpon opportunities on bait or fly for quiet presenters in the know.
Fun-fishing dock lights at night for smaller snook and mini-tarpon using ultra-lite gear is a blast and although the snook are willing biters catching juvenile tarpon on lures can be extremely frustrating anytime day or night.
Over the years I’ve learned to use very lite lines, 15-20 lb. fluorocarbon leaders and tiny jigs with still limited success until I recently discovered that mini-tarpon and all snook luv Berkley’s 2″ freshwater PowerBait Pogy Swim Shads. These tiny, pre-rigged 1/8 oz. pearl color mini-swimbaits, get the attention of finicky juvenile tarpon.
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.