Lure color, jig head weight are important

December 29, 2017

Lure color choices are often a hotly debated topic among anglers. Everyone has their favorite that's served them well in the past. Retail sales show that the standard two-color lure, a white body with a red head, is still the number one best-selling lure color in the USA.Some believe the color is less important than action and if the fish are in an aggressive eating mood I would tend to agree. Unfortu-nately for most anglers, fish are not always eating and chasing bait on your work or personal schedule and are often found in a neutral mood due to tidal or weather conditions or have ...

Christmas time in Southwest Florida

December 22, 2017

A Christmas tree weighed down with over 70 fishing lures, blinking lights and tinsel, bright sun, blue skies, light winds - welcome to Christmas time in Southwest Florida!This morning I opened the blinds just in time to see a massive jack attack occurring behind my home. This happens often so I keep a rod rigged by the door for such emergencies.When this does happen, something clicks inside and I'm suddenly 15 again running through the house, grabbing the emergency rod and out the door jogging to the seawall in boxers for a cast at the boiling water before the attack ceases.When big ...

A few tips on learning how to fish local waters

December 8, 2017

When is the best time to go fishing? That question is often asked by new to the area saltwater anglers and the answer of course is, go as often as you can and make each trip a learning experience.Putting in time and paying your dues is the key. Ask questions, make fishing friends or hire a guide.Join local clubs. Cape Coral offers clubs for freshwater as well as salty anglers. Big bass swim in the hundreds of miles of canals here with very little fishing pressure.If you came here to fish for tarpon you are in luck as we have the world's greatest tarpon club, The Cape Coral Tarpon ...

Sea trout are fired up and looking to eat

December 1, 2017

Sea trout anglers are happy with cooling weather as it gets the trout fired up and looking to eat.On days when the wind cancels your offshore bottom fishing plans, grab some kids or a friend and take advantage of Southwet Florida's great seatrout fishing.What's easier than breeze drifting a large flat with corks and shrimp on an 80 degree winter day?When all corks are disappearing, anchor and cast plastic grubs, twitch baits, flies or top waters for fast action.Our spotted sea trout aren't as large as you'll find in north Florida or in Texas, but we make up for it in sheer numbers. Any ...

Winter means adapting to the conditions

November 22, 2017

Winter brings clear water, lower tides and greatly increased fishing pressure.You could find your favorite honey hole crowded with a northern species called "The Great Migrating Snowbird" while wise old fish know to get extra cautious this time of year.To combat all of these conditions, the casting angler must adapt to remain successful.Stealth! In clear water, the fish can see you. In shallow water, the fish can hear your loud talk, can feel your presence with their lateral lines as you walk, rocking the hull, sending out pressure waves across the flat.Sound a bit obsessive? To someone ...

It’s time to adjust equipment, presentations

November 17, 2017

With cooling weather and dropping water temperatures, anglers especially inshore anglers, need to adjust their equipment and presentations.Start by slowing down and using lighter lines in clearer, colder, winter waters.As the temps drop so should your retrieve speeds. Reel slowly. Changing from fast-er straight retrieve lures such as spoons to suspending twitch bait style lures like the MirrOlure MirrOdine that can be fished tantalizingly slow and kept in the strike zone for long periods, will pay off.Switching to a lower gear ratio reel can help you slow the pace if you find yourself ...