Fresh North Captiva Island Fishing Reports

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Fresh Fishing Reports from North Captiva Island

Winter time Sheep Herding
Winter time Sheep Herding
December 17, 2024
The winter feels are here in Southwest Florida. We may not be in full blown cold season but it feels like it some days. Early cold fronts that have not been common the past several years, extreme low winter type tides and of course our northern visitors have made their appearance. The other, more notable signs of winter fishing is the invasion of big sheepshead in to our inshore waters. When the temps drop these delicious fish make their way inshore to engage their annual spawning. Sheepshead are big, hardy, tasty and strong fighting fish that feed exclusively on crustaceans like barnacles, shrimp, crabs and even sand fleas. Our sheepshead are a structure oriented species, meaning they like cover such as docks, rock piles, mangrove branches and you can sometimes find them along oyster beds where a lot of their food can be found. They have big strong jaws, lined with rows of rounded teeth resembling human teeth. They are quite the sight to see, but despite their strange appearance they taste much like the food they consume. Some people would compare their meat to crab. I typically target these fish using a sharp 1/4 ounce jig head tipped with a small shrimp or if need be a piece of a larger shrimp. The key is to cover the hook without giving them enough hanging off the hook where they can pull it off. Covering the hook makes them have no choice but to eat the whole bait. Their mouth is so full of teeth sometimes it is difficult to get a hook in them, needless to say it is not uncommon to miss them. Shrimp is an easy bait but if you can get your hands on fiddler crabs or sand fleas you’ll guarantee to deter the smaller fish like pinfish from picking your bait apart. They are the primary target this time of year, however, the redfish and trout bite has been phenomenal, reds have been a little smaller but the trout are getting jumbo. Everything has been eating shrimp, when targeting reds and trout I tend to use a jig head under a popping cork.
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Crazy Pre Front Fishing
Crazy Pre Front Fishing
November 21, 2024
Fishing ahead of a cold front is one of my absolute favorites. The barometric pressure gets to a perfect point before fronts come through and these fish feel it and get extremely active. Cold fronts can cause fish to go into a lethargic state where they have no energy or motivation to chase or eat baits. Imagine for a second you wake up and you feel bloated, nauseous even, your initial reaction is not to get out of bed and eat a big breakfast, instead you lay around for as long as it takes to feel well again. This feeling in that scenario is very similar to what fish feel after a low pressure system blows through, they have to work to keep a balance and have no problem sitting around until the pressure builds back and they feel comfortable again. They tend to eat like they’re going into hibernation for a few days because essentially that is the case. As for the day we had before our most recent front, the fish had no quit in them, it seemed like every bait for 3-5 hours was getting bit. We caught tons of redfish, snook and trout in just a matter of a few hours. The trout were huge, most over 20 inches, redfish ranged in size but many between 19 and 25 inches. We caught a lot of snook too, most in the mid 20’s and a couple over 30. I had my brother out and we were on a mission to get meat for a family fish fry. We did our job, we limited out on all three species and the family will have a fine fish fry in the coming days. Bait was phenomenal, they tend to be great before a cold front as well but post front conditions for catching bait can be a huge struggle, it is likely we will switch to shrimp before too long. I did come prepared with shrimp and the reds and trout were perfectly content eating those as well as greenbacks and pinfish. The conditions might turn sour for a few days but once the front passes the fishing will be right back in the position to catch a lot.
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Winds Cranking, Fish Yanking
Winds Cranking, Fish Yanking
November 8, 2024
Late fall is an epic time to fish our waters, the snook are fully back in the inshore waters and hungry after all the work they put in during their spawning season. You will frequently find long, skinny female snook looking to get their figure back after giving birth to the next generation of snook. We have been catching our bigger snook on large greenbacks we refer to as turbos, these bigger baits are irresistible to those bigger slot and overslot snook. Beef up your leader because you will need it with some of these monsters, I typically step it up to 40 lb Fluorocarbon which is less susceptible to abrasion when those fish shoot under structure. Redfish are still schooling up towards the tail end of their spawn, mostly the mid to upper slot fish are what we have found around the mangrove islands, oyster beds and docks. Pinfish are hard to pass up but they will certainly eat greenbacks as well. Trout over grass flats and edges of bars and channels have been pretty good, just lacking in size at times. We have been targeting those trout with gulp shrimp under a popping cork. They absolutely love those baits but just about anything will work. At times when the wind is blowing it is best to use a bait you can slow retrieve like a shrimp immitation bait. We are starting to head into a change in season, cold fronts are pushing through and soon we will see a change in bait, tide heights and target species. As we begin seeing lower winter tides we will switch to shrimp and focus more on sheepshead as they make their way into our inshore waters to spawn. The fishing as always is great and will remain that way as we switch into a new routine.
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North Captiva Island Fishing Calendar

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What anglers said about fishing in North Captiva Island

Definitely a great experience for someone just starting with fishing. Justin makes it fun
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Definitely a great experience for someone just starting with fishing. Justin makes it fun
Maxed Out Charters 2
Maxed Out Charters 2
Don’t forget waste your time trying to sob from the beach. Go with a pro and they’ll take you to the best spots to reel in lots of fish.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Don’t forget waste your time trying to sob from the beach. Go with a pro and they’ll take you to the best spots to reel in lots of fish.
Capt Charlies Fishing Charters
Capt Charlies Fishing Charters
Number of species to target. Getting towards the hot part of year but great trip.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Number of species to target. Getting towards the hot part of year but great trip.
Fish On Adventure – Captiva Island
Fish On Adventure – Captiva Island
Tarpon fishing is fun but I like being able to eat what I catch. Lane snapper and Redfish are some of the best eating you'll ever experience. Be willing to adjust on the fly when chartering....people are people and sometimes things happen.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Tarpon fishing is fun but I like being able to eat what I catch. Lane snapper and Redfish are some of the best eating you'll ever experience. Be willing to adjust on the fly when chartering....people are people and sometimes things happen.
Floridaze Fishing Charters- Captiva
Floridaze Fishing Charters- Captiva
Talk to your captain and tell them what you would like to catch and don’t be bashful on your experience level they will work with you and make it worth your wile and catch fish and have a great trip!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Talk to your captain and tell them what you would like to catch and don’t be bashful on your experience level they will work with you and make it worth your wile and catch fish and have a great trip!
Floridaze Fishing Charters- Captiva
Floridaze Fishing Charters- Captiva
Try a Tarpon trip. We didn’t fish for them, but they were on the depth finder.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Try a Tarpon trip. We didn’t fish for them, but they were on the depth finder.
Make A Wake – Captiva Island
Make A Wake – Captiva Island
Bring your snacks and enjoy a great day of fishing. Dayron in no BS...he will put you the fish. Tap into his knowledge of the environment and the fish you are trying to catch.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Bring your snacks and enjoy a great day of fishing. Dayron in no BS...he will put you the fish. Tap into his knowledge of the environment and the fish you are trying to catch.
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Cool or colder weather not for most beginners. But Captain Gregg will put you on the Bite. He will instruct and guide you. You will see a lot of action. This type of fishing good for all ages. If you can do cold water fishing.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Cool or colder weather not for most beginners. But Captain Gregg will put you on the Bite. He will instruct and guide you. You will see a lot of action. This type of fishing good for all ages. If you can do cold water fishing.
Fish On Adventure – Captiva Island
Fish On Adventure – Captiva Island
It's not the best time of the year for fishing in the area because it is winter. We know that, but it's when we come to Florida. We caught more fish with Capt Scott this year than we have with other Capt's in several years. We would definitely recommend him in February or any other month of the year.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
It's not the best time of the year for fishing in the area because it is winter. We know that, but it's when we come to Florida. We caught more fish with Capt Scott this year than we have with other Capt's in several years. We would definitely recommend him in February or any other month of the year.
Thrill Of It All – Captiva
Thrill Of It All – Captiva
Heat can affect your catch .. best if you you are aware of the moon ? cycle best around full moon
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Heat can affect your catch .. best if you you are aware of the moon ? cycle best around full moon
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters Dallas, TX
When the water starts warming up in mid-February, our Captain says more species of fish are active.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
When the water starts warming up in mid-February, our Captain says more species of fish are active.
Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva
Capt Matt's Island Charters – Captiva Madison, CT
It’s HOT. Helps if you have some kind of shade. Fishing in Captiva is great year round, but better in the cooler months!
Excellent
5.0 / 5
It’s HOT. Helps if you have some kind of shade. Fishing in Captiva is great year round, but better in the cooler months!
Thrill Of It All – Captiva
Thrill Of It All – Captiva Miami, FL
Take a fishing charter captain, they know where the fish are and what bait to use.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Take a fishing charter captain, they know where the fish are and what bait to use.
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters Jeannette, PA
Great fishing unfortunatly snook is out of season but I always live the catch
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Great fishing unfortunatly snook is out of season but I always live the catch
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters Valrico, FL
Caught a 150+lb tarpon, jack cravelles, lady fish, snook, redfish, spanish mackerel, trout, bluefish, mangrove snapper.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Caught a 150+lb tarpon, jack cravelles, lady fish, snook, redfish, spanish mackerel, trout, bluefish, mangrove snapper.
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters Arlington, Texas
Come wiht an open mind, don't set your goals too high, otherwise you could dissapoint yourself on a slow day. We were having a good time catching baitfish, then got blown away when we went out to catch sharks!
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Come wiht an open mind, don't set your goals too high, otherwise you could dissapoint yourself on a slow day. We were having a good time catching baitfish, then got blown away when we went out to catch sharks!
Spangler Adventures – Captiva
Spangler Adventures – Captiva Fort Myers, FL
Sanibel is a great place to fish. Of course, like anywhere, it's important to learn what's biting that month and the best way to catch your targeted species. When in Rome...
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Sanibel is a great place to fish. Of course, like anywhere, it's important to learn what's biting that month and the best way to catch your targeted species. When in Rome...
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters New York, New York
From previous experience fishing in January can be very good, but we had a very windy day with a lot of rough chop and a south-easterly wind.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
From previous experience fishing in January can be very good, but we had a very windy day with a lot of rough chop and a south-easterly wind.
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters Penfield, NY
Highly recommend it. The water was crystal clear. Friendly locals and great food. What more is there to ask for. Cant wait to come back.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Highly recommend it. The water was crystal clear. Friendly locals and great food. What more is there to ask for. Cant wait to come back.
Top Slot Fishing Charters
Top Slot Fishing Charters Cape Coral, Florida
Captiva is a great location for kids to go fishing. Lots of options and plenty of good fish.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Captiva is a great location for kids to go fishing. Lots of options and plenty of good fish.
Spangler Adventures – Captiva
Spangler Adventures – Captiva Fort Myers, FL