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Fishing St. George Island
Marsh Island
You can get close to Marsh Island by land through the state park and it requires a four-wheel-drive. This is a great place to wade fish, to fish from Kayaks or from powerboats. Marsh Island, as the map shows, is the highest part of a large sand reef that runs hundreds of yards out into the bay, dropping off sharply at its edges. Out about a hundred yards from the shore, or less, start the grass beds that are the basis for the ecology of this productive formation.
This area is most productive from May through September when the grass is high enough to shelter bait fish, shrimp, crabs and other food for the redfish, speckled trout, spanish mackerel, bluefish, ladyfish, cobia, jack crevalle, and tarpon that feed here.
Trout are the easiest game fish to target on these grass flats. Usually the trout are drawn up onto the grass flats in one to three feet of water with an incoming tide and will feed aggressively. Use 1/4 ounce lead heads with green or black-and gold grub tails, sinking MirrOlures or gold spoons. Live shrimp fished under a popping cork will draw consistent action.
Always keep a heavy rod close at hand and rigged with hundred-pound-test leader and a large spoon or plug. Monster cobia, jack crevalle and tarpon are targets of opportunity on these flats.
As the weather gets hot, the best action on these flats will be early or late rising tides. During the day look for the trout in the deeper water at sharp drop-offs. Fish grubs or bass worms on the bottom very slowly.
Goose Island
Geologically, Goose island was one of the beginning points of St. George although it is now separated by a narrow, but deep channel. The vast oyster bars that surround the island create a habitat that is home to redfish, trout and flounder in all but the coldest months. Spring and summer visitors include jack crevalIe, cobia, sharks and traveling tarpon.
On the cast side of the island is a vast semicircle of oyster bars which is shallow in the center and falls off sharply toward the St. George Island side. During falling tides, small crabs and fish are washed from the shallow center into the deep channels. There they are, of course, eaten.
On a falling tide fish the breaks in these bars where the water is flowing swiftest with green grubs or free-lined live mullet. As the tide is failing, redfish often enter the semicircle from the north sand flats. Fish for them with gold spoons at the points of the bars. As the tide reaches low, watch for tailing fish. Sometimes, grubs or plastic crabs work best on the shallow tailing fish.
On the west side of Goose Island are oyster bars that border a channel that leads out into the bay to "Thirty-Foot Hole" which is one of the deepest spots in the bay and shows twenty-eight feet on the wall map. Big redfish, cobia, sharks and tarpon lounge at these fathoms and then come along the depth line toward the island to feed usually with rising tides. Fish live bait, gold spoons or large grubs along the deeper side of the oyster bars and into the channel.
On die immediate north side of the island are shallow oyster bars that are good hunting place for redfish during falling tides. Stealth is required and wading is best. Choose a falling tide in the middle of the day during spring and fall, or an early or late tide in the summer. These fish are generally found in a foot or so of water. Polarized sunglasses are a must.
East End/SGI State Park
You must have a four wheel drive vehicle to access the East End through St. George Island State Park. Even if you get there by boat, it is often best to disembark and fish from shore.
This is a well-known spot for pompano with a Nylure pompano jig (sold in our local stores) which is tipped with a sand flea. Fish on the bayside of the tip of the island whenever there is good water movement although out-going tides are usually best. Use a dead-slow retrieve and watch your line for movement.
Spanish Mackerel show up shortly after pompano and will attack almost any shiny bait retrieved erratically. Generally best on an incoming tide here at the pass.
As the water warms past eighty degrees, redfish become the star of the show. Use live bait or large jigs tipped with shrimp or cut bait. Whatever you use, it needs to be heavy. Fish the strongest outside tide of the day, especially if it's evening. Fish on the bayside up-current of the submerging tip of the island letting the current carry the bait until it hits a rise. That's where the redfish will be.
Surf (First Beach Pull Off)
This is an easy hole to find on the beach and will be typical of the surf fishing for the year. It is just left of the first beach pull-off in the state park and is marked by an old metal pipe at lower tides.
The surf starts to fish good when the water temperature hits sixty-eight degrees which may be early March or late April. Pompano will be an early arrival. Early in the season fish the strongest incoming tide during the day when the water is warmest Later in the season, from around May through July, fishing at sunrise is best, especially with an incoming tide.
Fish for pompano with a silver headed Nylure jig with a red-and-yellow bucktail and tip it with a sand flea. Fresh shrimp fished on the bottom also produces well, use a light leader for pompano.
Spanish mackerel usually aren't far behind the pompano. The earliest Spanish in March and April are usually the biggest of the year. They will hit silver spoons and MirrOlures, jigs, cut bait and live bait The mackerel will feed closest to shore during incoming tides.
Redfish roam the surf from May through November feeding on sand fleas, crabs, shrimp, white bait and small fish. Most are caught close to where the waves are breaking. Sometimes rough surf is best for redfish and they may be in very colored water.
Whiting are one of the summer staples in the surf and prized for their white, firm meat. Use small hooks and light weight on an incoming tide. Like the redfish, they are usually found just past where the waves are breaking.
Bridges and Causeway
In the early spring this bridge is not the most productive part of the bay. As the water warms, however, it becomes a fish magnet. Shore anglers will do best at the north end of the causeway. There is a deep water directly under the bridges and flats on either side of the bulkhead.
Trout roam the flats during April and May in schools. As the water warms there will still be large trout around the seawalls. Use sinking MirrOlures.
In early spring and lasting through the summer there will be redfish along the drop-off from hole to flats. Shrimp, finger mullet and live crabs work best.
In the fall the trout fishing picks up again with October and November usually seeing the best action.
Boating anglers can reach the pilings and channel of the bridge. Drop grubs or live bait close to the pilings. Many of the pilings have depressions at their base and act as food traps for reds, trout, flounder, black drum and cobia. The closer you fish to structure, the better your luck.
In the fall and winter, these bridge pilings will be home to large sheepshead. Use fresh shrimp, fiddler crabs or clam strips fished next to the pilings on a small, tough hook. Set the hook at the slightest touch.
Bob Sikes Cut
If you are staying inside St. George Plantation, you can access the Cut by land, otherwise it's a boat ride. Either way, you're in for some fine fishing.
in the spring, the Cut is perhaps the hottest spot for pompano, Use a Nylure pompano jig tipped with a sand flea and fish on the beach side of the east jetty. The closer you throw to the rocks, the more fish you will catch.
Starting in mid-spring and lasting into fall, there will be Spanish mackerel at the Cut. The best time to catch them is on a strong out-going tide. Fish for them at the Gulf end of the jetties with free-lined live bait or sinking MirrOlures. Troll spoons and mackerel trees across the mouth of the cut. This will also pick up bluefish.
The Cut is famous for producing big redfish. The first run of bull reds over thirty-six inches is usually March and they may stay until May then are caught less frequently until another peak in October and November.
Use large pieces of cut-bait or large pinfish for the biggest reds. Remember to take a picture quickly and release these giants gently. They are the future of our outstanding fishery.
Trout are found at the Cut from May through October as a general rule. Use large live menhaden for the biggest trout. Trout are late on a tide change. They will also be active during slack tide.
Saltwater Gamefish
Because of the influence of the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulfstream, the temperature of the nearshore waters of Southwest Florida generally range from the high 80's (F) in the summer to the low 60's in the winter. This temperature range is just right for the literally hundreds of fish species which inhabit the area. Another resource which promotes fish species diversity is our shoreline. A rich mixure of sandy beaches, barrier islands, intercoastal waterways, seagrass beds, mangrove-studded bays, oyster bars, salt marshes, estuaries and creeks provide the perfect habitat for fish and fly fishing. Many species like grouper and most snapper are primarily offshore in deeper water and so they are not usually considered fly fishing targets. Some inshore species such as catfish and mullet seldom respond to flies. Even so, eliminating these other species still leaves us with many availiable and formidable species which are regular fly fishing targets here in Southwest Florida. In the following paragraphs I'll briefly describe what I believe to be the "top eight" species for our fly fishers. I have listed them with the most popular species first, but keep in mind that this is strictly a subjective rating. Please click over to Species and Seasons to get more information on sizes, best months, etc.
Snook (Centropomus undecimales) The snook is a great fish to go after with a fly rod because they almost never strike softly and they are guaranteed to put up a good fight before landing. In
clear water they can often be quite selective, but sometimes they'll attack anything you throw at them. Through a significant part of the year they are in and around the mangroves and the fishing is quite like fly fishing for bass and pickerel along the edges of ponds; i.e. the further you can cast into the cover without getting hung up, the more often you will be successful. Snook cannot survive water temperatures much below 60 F, and so during extreme cold snaps they will either head out into deeper holes or passes or will go way up into the creeks and mangroves where the warmer freshwater dominates and where they can soak up the sun in shallow bays. Snook are relatively easy to handle during landing; you just have to make sure to avoid their super-sharp gill covers.
Snook love good cover and they will therefore often be found adjacent to pilings, rock piles, bridge abutments and seawalls. A very popular local sport involves fly fishing for snook at night in our canals where baitfish are attracted to dock lights. Although the typical snook caught will be in the 5-10 pound range, 20 pounders are not uncommon and 40-50 pounders are sometimes seen. The world's fly-caught snook record of 30 pounds, 4 ounces (20 lb. Tippet) was caught in the 10,000 Islands in1993. Snook spawn off the beach in the spring and early summer; this is an ideal time to walk the beach or the sand bars in pusuit of this worthy adversary.
Redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus) More correctly called the Red Drum, the Redfish or "Red" is one
of our most popular gamefish for fly fishing. Their propensity for seeking crabs, shrimp and baitfish on shallow flats makes them very available to the fly fisher. Although they don't jump when hooked like snook or tarpon, they can be a very dogged adversary when they are in their usual 5-10 pound range. They have an annoying tendency to hunker down under the boat when hooked, which can often jeopardize the structural integrity of your fly rod if you're not careful. Redfish spawn offshore and they usually remain offshore after they're up in the 10-30 pound range.
As a result of the popularity of Chef Paul Prudhomme's "Blackened Redfish", the gulf population of redfish was nearly decimated by commercial netting in the early 1980's. In 1988, however, the commercial catching of redfish was outlawed, and this species is now making a magnificent comeback. From the flats of Pine Island Sound to the bays and lagoons of the 10,000 Islands the redfish is now a readily available gamefish.
Redfish often travel in schools and they (or their wakes) can be sight-fished by the observant angler. They are most vulnerable when they are actively rooting in shallow water for crabs and clams. Then, like bonefish, their tails can be out of the water, making them quite visible even when the water is cloudy. Although redfish will sometimes lay up near structure, they are usually caught while near oyster bars or on shallow flats. Although redfish are more tolerant of cold water than snook, they will often go deep in the passes or holes when water temperature drops.
Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) Also called the "Silver King", "Poon" and many other less
friendly names, fly fishing for tarpon is considered by many to be the ultimate experience. You shouldn't embark on a tarpon adventure however unless you have a good guide, heavy-duty equipment and are generally ready for a physical challenge. The adult tarpon is migratory and during the spring and summer they move from South Florida and the Keys up the western Florida Coast. Starting around April they begin showing up in the 10,000 Islands area, pausing along their migration route to rest and feed in the warmer waters of the shallow bays and creeks. These adults range from 40 to 150 pounds in weight and when they are hooked, they will often jump three or more times in their usually successful attempts at getting rid of the hook. If the hook seats well in their hard mouth, get ready to be towed!
Adult tarpon spawn offshore between May and September and their eel-like larvae are moved by the tidal currents into the backwaters and estuaries. These larvae eventually grow into "baby tarpon", which stay in the backwater for many years before they become migratory. These baby tarpon will grow to 20 pounds or more before joining their larger relatives offshore. In the meantime, they can be great sport for the fly fisherman. Like snook, baby tarpon are very happy in near-100% fresh water and they will often move way up into the back country. Like the adult, the baby tarpon supplement their supply of oxygen by periodically porpoising and taking in gulps of air, a habit which does not usually go unnoticed by the experienced fly fisher. Tarpon have essentially no food value and thus their status as a plentiful gamefish seems secure.
Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosis) The Spotted Seatrout, a relative of the northern
Weakfish, is a species now in transition. For many years, they were plentiful and their 1-4 pound weight range is perfect for light tackle saltwater fly fishing. Over the past 20 years however, the combination of commercial netting and harvesting by sportsmen has brought their population down to relatively low levels. The July 1995 ban on all inshore netting, plus some significant reductions in allowable recreational kills, seems to be reversing this declining trend. Even now, there are sufficient numbers of spotted seatrout to warrant fly fishing excursions for this species.
Spotted seatrout seem to prefer the grassier flats for feeding, although they are also often found on mud flats, adjacent to oyster bars, and along the edges of tidal currents. Like redfish, they will move into deeper holes during extreme cold spells. They spawn inshore, usually in seagrass beds, between March and November. They are relatively easy to handle during landing, except you must be careful of their few sharp teeth and dorsal spines.
Jack Crevalle (Caranx hippos) The jack crevalle is perhaps the salvation of the fly fisher on
those days when the snook are sullen, the redfish are resting and the tarpon are travelling. This species has already bounced back considerably after the July 1995 commercial net ban. They run in schools of a dozen to hundreds, usually all about the same size within any one school. The typical size caught runs from 3 to about 15 pounds, although they can get much larger after they move offshore. Pound-for-pound, the jack crevalle or "jack" is one of the strongest fighting fish in salt water. They don't jump around like snook, but a 10 pound jack will keep your muscles straining for 15 minutes or more before landing. They are not too difficult to handle, but they do have a few sharp edges top and bottom.
This relative of the pompano and permit feed primarily on baitfish and shrimp. A school of jacks will typically follow the tide up into the estuaries and canals, trapping schools of baitfish against mangroves, banks or seawalls and gorging themselves on their hapless prey. I have many times witnessed this scene in the canal in back of my house, especially in the spring and fall. Hundreds of jacks will herd perhaps thousands of glass minnows against a seawall and the resulting commotion will bring dozens of pelicans and terns to pick up the remnants. The jack crevalle can sometimes be selective, but usually he'll try to eat anything that moves. Jacks are usually caught throughout the backwaters, but sometimes off the beach as well.
Ladyfish (Elops saurus) This diminutive cousin of the tarpon usually weighs in at 1 to 3 pounds
and, like the tarpon, ladyfish like to jump when hooked. They spawn offshore, but spend most of their lives in the inshore bays and estuaries. They will gather as small groups in narrow coves, but they tend to run in quite large schools in the larger bays. Once a school is spotted, they can often be fished at the same location for several days in a row. Their primary food is small baitfish and shrimp, and when a large school of ladyfish chase a school of baitfish to the surface, the resulting commotion is evident to anyone within 100 yards.
Like the tarpon and the jack crevalle, the ladyfish has little food value but is a lot of fun to catch and release. For some reason, the ladyfish has a very slimy exterior and requires gloves or a careful grip to extract the fly. Like with many other species, I find that by grasping and manipulating the fly with forceps while the fish is still in the water, I can remove the hook without actually handling the fish.
Mangrove Snapper (Lutjanus griseus) The mangrove or gray snapper is quite prevalent in the
backwater as well as offshore. Inshore, their weight is usually in the range of 1-3 pounds, but their offshore relatives run 8-10 pounds or more.. They are a very agressive fish and will readily take a properly presented fly. As their name implies, they are often found adjacent to and up in the mangroves. They tend to cluster in small groups and their main food is small baitfish and shrimp. Watch out for these little guys when you take them off the hook; they have pretty sharp teeth and they won't hesitate to try to grab onto a finger that's in range. They aren't called "snappers" for nothing!
Spanish Mackerel (Scomberomorous maculatus) Spanish mackerel usually travel in rather
large schools, following the schools of baitfish upon which they feed. They are usually available to the fly fisherman when they are near the beach or in the passes, although they sometimes will come into the bays and canals when chasing their prey. Although only 1-2 pounds in size, they can be a lot of fun on a flyrod; especially if you happen upon a large school in a feeding frenzy. Wire leaders or at least very heavy shock tippets are required because of their sharp teeth.. They are most prevalent in southwest Florida in the winter, when water temperatures are in the 70 degree range.
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