TCPalm Fishing Report Dec 1, 2021: Pompano season is here
Pompano are running the beaches and inside the Indian River Lagoon, too.
Ed Killer, Wochit
Outstanding best describes the weather and the bites.
Finally, the winds have backed off, ambient temperatures are up and the Gulf temperature moderating. The great conditions have made runs out to beyond the horizon comfortable, and nearly every backcountry bay and shoreline ideal for wetting a line.
Inshore enthusiasts have been treated to an uptick in the amount of redfish taking the bait while fun and delicious pompano and speckled trout have filled in nicely in select locales. Overall, the shallows have been fruitful and active in areas of cleaner moving water.
More Southwest Florida Fishing Reports:
Redfish
Redfish have truly responded to the cooler Gulf water temperatures. Typical for late fall, schools of redfish are now bunched up and aggressively feeding throughout many middle and back bay systems. The popular game fish are being fooled by well-placed baits to include jigs, live shrimp, live sardines and a variety of baitfish fly imitations.
Pompano and speckled trout
Anglers wishing to hook up to pompano and speckled trout, it is paramount to play the tides and focus on proper bait presentation. Clean moving water is essential when targeting both species with varying preferences of either an incoming or outgoing tide phase.
Baits for pompano should be of small profile and worked slowly along the substrate for the best results. Locally, it is truly hard to beat a brown/pink-colored tube jig or live shrimp rigged on a circle hook and weighted to achieve mid- to lower-water column placement. Speckled trout are now responding to live shrimp presented under a popping cork and a variety of colorful soft plastic jigs.
Kingfish
Out on the offshore grounds, king mackerel or kingfish have finally begun to filter into the region in respectable numbers. Now schooled up and chomping over natural/artificial substrate in water depths ranging from 55 to 90 feet, anglers are recording limits of the silver speedster both early and late in the fishing day.
While this year’s fall king run has arguably been underwhelming, the numbers should increase, and the schools move into the nearshore arena which would be ideal for small boat anglers looking to hook up to the exciting and hard-charging pelagic. For now, anglers employing planer/spoon combinations are locating and scoring catches.
Snapper, gag grouper and cobia
Red grouper remains closed for a few more weeks, making snapper the top, bottom or reef fish target. While bailing snapper, anglers should never rule out the possibility of tangling with gag grouper and cobia during the month of December. Larger live baits dropped to depth will attract the attention of tough-to-turn gag grouper and a freelined jumbo shrimp or pinfish will often fool a cruising, curious cobia.
Remember, the minimum size for gag grouper is 24 inches length overall with two fish per person daily harvest limit, while cobia regulations require a minimum fork length of 33 inches and one fish per harvester or two fish per vessel daily limit, whichever is less. Gag grouper season closes on Dec. 31, and the Gulf cobia fishery remains open all year.
Offshore: “The Gulf conditions could not be nicer for us aboard the A & B,” Capt. Bobby Nagaj said. “Half-day trips have been active while full days have been bountiful.”
Half-day excursions have found Nagaj and first mate Minel Baez treating their A & B angling groups to light tackle bottom fishing in 45 to 55 feet of water depth. Using cut squid and herring, white grunts, mangrove snapper and a steady pick of catch-and-release red grouper were landed.
On their full-day trips, the A & B crew has enjoyed limits of mangrove/yellowtail snapper, jumbo porgies and solid catches of gag grouper. While at anchor, several king mackerel were hooked and landed using free lined live blue runners and chunk herring rigged on 40-pound single strand wire.
Naples/Estero Bay: Aboard my Port O Call Marina-based guide boat the Grand Slam, my anglers have enjoyed another fine week of mixed bag catching. Taking advantage of strong tides, clean water and calm conditions, an array of game fish and seasonal species came over the rail.
Casting tube and soft plastic jigs in and around area passes, along channel edges and within island cuts, we kept the rods bent and the landing net wet. Pompano and bluefish fancied a slow-retrieved tube jig, while whiting, speckled/silver trout and jack crevalle snapped up white and silver fleck soft plastics rigged on a red-colored lead jig head. All our jig presentations were tipped with a small piece of fresh shrimp.
During the rising tide, middle and back bay shorelines and points have also been active for my groups. Presenting live shrimp and scaled sardines close to line-breaking structure yielded snook, redfish and mangrove snapper.
Ten Thousand Islands: “Strong tides and cold water have made for some challenging, yet productive outings here in the upper Ten Thousand Islands,” Goodland-based Capt. Paul Nocifora said. “There are plenty of fish moving around in the shallows and the water quality has been good.”
Nocifora can be found early in the fishing day prospecting shallow back bay coves and mangrove shorelines. Casting a dark-colored Lightbulb pattern, Nocifora’s casters are hooking cool water redfish, speckled trout, jack crevalle and a scattering of snook.
During the afternoon high tide phase, Nocifora has enjoyed success poking around oyster bar areas and select stretches of shoreline possessing oyster shell substrate. Dark- and bright-colored sliders, deceivers and Lightbulb patterns are being snapped up by more redfish, speckled trout and scrappy black drum.
If you have a report to share email captwill@naplessportfishing.com.
Anglers, email your photos to news@naplesnews.com or post them at www.naplesnews.com/participate and we will compile your images into an online gallery that’s featured each Thursday morning at www.naplesnews.com. Do not submit photos of fish caught illegally.
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