Captain Eric Shinner’s 2009 Spring Fishing Report for South West Florida
Reporting for Charlotte Harbor, Boca Grand area and Pine Island Sound:

Spring in S.W. Florida it’s hard to beat it. Warmer water and baitfish are here and what comes after that ? Hungry fish…

Snook: are leaving the rivers and canals and coming out to feed on the first arrival of baitfish. You will be able to find them on the points of mangrove Islands and sand holes on the flats. Fish with live finger mullet and white bait and you should get hook-ups.

Jacks: are destroying the finger mullet and whitebait. Look for them down the East and West walls of Charlotte Harbor and any shore line in Pine Island Sound. Find the birds and you will find jacks, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel.

Redfish: are starting to school up in the Sound and around Gasparilla Sound. You will find them with the mullet schools. Top water artificial works well early in the morning. Live bait and cut bait works well also.

Cobia: are running the beaches over the artificial reefs and in Charlotte Harbor along the East and West walls. Find the schools of bat rays and keep your eyes open on the back side of the rays and have an eel on a jig head ready to throw or a pinfish works well also.

Tarpon: are leaving the rivers and canals and heading for the harbor to feed on the whitebait that has arrived. You will find them mixed with the Spanish mackerel in the harbor. Look for the birds.

Off Shore, Kingfish: The Jacaranda trees are a tell tail for the mackerel run. When the trees are blooming with flowers the Kings are here. Go to artificial reefs and hard bottom near shore or Boca Grand pass and you should hook-up. Catch blue runners and cigar minnows for choice bait. Look for birds their will be Bonita or kingfish below them.

Triple tail: Run the stone crab traps and if you are lucky to find one swimming under the float throw a shrimp or a piece of cut bait near him and let it drift to him you should hook-up.

Don’t forget when the Wind is out of the West fishing is the Best
Capt. Eric Shinner