Fort Myers Fishing Report 6-23-14

This past week was another productive week fishing in Fort Myers, Estero, Sanibel, and Bonita Springs. There has still been a variety of fish being caught including Snook, Redfish Trout and even the occasional Tarpon still. What you are going to focus on catching will determine what bait to use. If threadfin is what you are after for bait than it’s Tarpon and Snook that will be eating them. If its pinfish for bait, you will be mainly catching Redfish in Estero Bay, however in Matlacha and Fort Myers area the Snook have been hungry for a pinfish too! I always try to keep my set up as simple as possible, main line (braid usually 15lb) tied directly to my Fluorocarbon leader (30lb) with no swivels weights or anything else but a hook (2/0 owner mutu light). However when fishing with pin fish i love to use a popping cork set up with a short leader underneath. This keeps the bait off the bottom and suspends them so the snook who typically eat in the middle half to top of the water column can locate and attack them easily. Be sure when you are using a cork not to actually pop it to attract them, most of the time it just scares them off and kills the bite. Wait for the high afternoon tides which are typical for our summertime pattern now and you should have the best luck. Another tip that might help you catch more fish in the summer time is to stay close to passes. The cooler cleaner gulf water tends to be more desirable. Independence day is just around the corner and that means there will be a lot of people out on the water so be careful and always remember fishing etiquette, which is stay far away from anyone else fishing and DO NOT run close to shorelines or any structure that might hold fish, just to name a few.

Captain Mark Yimin

Calusa Fishing Adventures

Fort Myers Fishing Report 6-15-14

Fishing remains good in our area this week, we have had some great high afternoon tides with the full moon this week. Fishing those incoming afternoon tides has been best, focusing on oysters and mangrove edges. Redfish and Snook have been plentiful and the go to bait has been Pinfish on 2/0 circle hooks with 30lb leader. There is still very small bait around and it hasn’t quite grown up enough to be used effectively. You can find the pinfish by chumming the grass flat edges early in the morning. Anchor up and chum off the bow of the boat for the best results. It shouldn’t take long as long as you pick the right grass flat. Remember not to chum to much, but rather just enough to keep them there long enough to throw a net on them. If you are not getting strikes on the pinfish put them under a popping cork with a short 18″ leader, just enough to hang them in the water column and keep them off the bottom. The weather is starting to be more and more like summer so that means were out on the water early and back before the storms build. Happy fathers day to all you Dad’s out there, and remember kids love fishing and there is no better way to spend time with your kids than fishing so get out and make some memories!

Captain Mark Yimin

Calusa Fishing Adventures

Line-X Torsion Axle

Thanks to one of our great sponsors Line-X SWFL we are a lot more protected from saltwater on our trailer! For anyone thinking of a way to make your galvanized torsion axle or any part on your aluminum trailer even more protected from the harsh saltwater environment in Southwest Florida this is a must. These axles can get expensive and this is a great way to protect your investment. Mine i had sprayed with black line-x premium and not only does it protect the axle from the elements but it looks really good too! The line-x eliminates the need for having a galvanic barrier to protect the aluminum from electrolysis from different metals touching together, so it protects your trailer more than just the axle. For anyone looking to get in touch with Line-x SWFL give them a call at 239-261-6695 and “BE OVER PROTECTIVE”

Captain Mark Yimin

calusafishing.com

Rain On A Fishing Charter Is Not Always Bad

True fisherman that are willing to go to any extent to have a chance to catch Snook, Redfish, or Tarpon know that rain is not always a bad thing. There are a few good things that happen for the brave that are willing to trust the advice of their captain when he says that the fishing is good despite the rain. After all the fish are already wet so they don’t mind! One of the benefits of fishing in the rain is you usually have the entire area to yourself! Most people hear the mere mention of a little rain and they run for the hills and cancel all their trips. As long as there is no lightning this Captain is going fishing! Another benefit is that if it has been raining for any period of time, like what we have been seeing recently in Fort Myers, the fish have not seen any pressure from fisherman in a few days. It’s important to remember that the tides still do the same thing and the fish still react the same as they would when it’s not raining. In some cases like tarpon fishing the fish tend to feed longer since they like the low light conditions for feeding. Also the approach is hidden a little better since the fish might not hear you when you are sneaking in on them.  A good Captain will provide rain gear for his clients in situations like this, so get out and fish even when a little rain is in the forecast!

Captain Mark Yimin

www.calusafishing.com/fort-myers-fishing-charters/

facebook.com/fishingguideswfl

Fort Myers Fishing Report 5-30-14

Fishing In Estero Bay and Fort Myers remains strong this week with a plethora of species you can target. If its Tarpon Sharks, and Mackerel you’re after than the near shore waters are best, start in about 10ft of water off the beaches and work out from there.  Locate the schools of Thread fin herring that are out there and usually you will locate the fish. While you are out there use a Sabiki rig and get yourself a few baits for everything that’s out there. If its Redfish and Snook you are after than the inshore waters are where its at. They can be targeted best around the higher stages of the tides around mangroves and oysters. Use pin fish or Thread fin herring cut or alive for best results. There is a MASSIVE amount of TINY white bait or pilchards around, so small that you can’t use them for bait or net them. That being said if you’re using soft plastics and hard baits for lures go SMALL. This is often referred to as “Matching the hatch”  where you use baits similar to what the fish are feeding on, simple idea but it will work wonders for you when trying to find fish. The fishing should remain goo through the rest of the week and in to next week so get out on the water and find some fish.

Captain Mark Yimin

www.calusafishing.com

Check out our Facebook Page for updates and photos

Choosing the right sunglasses for Fishing in Southwest Florida

Sunglasses are an essential part of a day of fishing, and my personal favorite are Costa Del Mar. They’re so important that if i leave the house with out other accessories for a day of fishing, i don’t turn around to get them but my glasses are an absolute must! A great pair of sunglasses can do multiple things to improve your success on the water as well as make your day a lot more comfortable. I would love to share what makes a pair of sunglasses great in my opinion and what I look for when buying a new pair.

First thing i look for is the lenses, lens material and color can vary and choosing the right one is vital. Lets talk about material first, i prefer glass lenses due to their scratch resistance and superior clarity. The down side to glass lenses are the added weight, but this can be offset by the frame type. (which we will cover later) Next you want to choose the right color, that depends on where you fish. I like an amber shade with a green mirror finish on the outside like the Costa Del Mar 580g green mirror, the mirror blocks more light and the amber color helps with seeing in the water when you’re fishing inshore where the water is usually brown or a light green. When you fish offshore in clear blue water a black lens with blue mirror is best like the 580g blue mirror.

Next is the frame style, this is almost as important as the lens type. The most important features i look for is the weight and design. The lighter the better with out suffering in durability. The design is essential also and the best bet is to look for a frame style with a design that blocks any light from entering through the side. These are sometimes referred to as “wraparounds” and if you are a fisherman you know the importance of a frame that blocks light from the sides. I like the “hammerhead” and the “black fin” styles for this very reason.

I hope this helps you when choosing the right sunglasses for fishing in southwest Florida, be sure to check out our blog for other useful tips and tactics from the pros!

facebook.com/fishingguideswfl