Captains Jarrett, Nate & Whitney have been out and about catching LOTS of fish these past few weeks. Read their Sanibel fishing report for early March down below. Make sure to stop into Whitney's Bait & Tackle to chat with them and get any fishing equipment or bait before you head out to get hooked on Sanibel!
Sheepshead fishing continues to be excellent this week with the recent cold front. The water temperature has dropped into the low 60's. Live and small pieces of frozen shrimp have been working great. When Sheepshead fishing, fish straight down near the pilings, not out away from the pier. Use light leader (15-20lb) with a small hook (#1 or #2) and as little weight as possible. Redfish, Snook, Trout, Black drum, Pompano, and Whiting are also being caught on live and frozen shrimp, cut bait, and Pompano jigs. Spanish Mackerel are still around and being caught casting gold or silver Kastmaster Spoons. Shark fishing at night remains great with many Sandbar Sharks averaging 5-6ft. Best baits include fresh or frozen Mullet and Ladyfish.
The cooler water has lots of Sheepshead, Black Drum, and Redfish around the bridge pilings. They are biting live and frozen shrimp, and fiddler crabs. Snook fishing will pick up as the temperatures climb back up this week. Snook are biting live shrimp, pinfish, and cut ladyfish. Also, paddle-tail swimbaits, bucktail jigs, and DOA shrimp have been working great for Snook and Redfish. Some Pompano and Trout are also being caught on small jigs and live shrimp.
Sheepshead, Black Drum, Snook, Redfish, and Mangrove Snapper have been biting around the culverts in Ding. Best baits include live and frozen shrimp, and fiddler crabs. Snook fishing has been excellent around sunset. Paddle-tail swimbaits, like the Z-Man Diezel Minnowz and DOA CAL have been working great on a ¼ or 3/8oz jig head. Snook have also been hitting suspending plugs like the Rapala Xrap and Mirrorlure Mirrodine. Plenty of Jacks and Ladyfish are biting as well.
Beaches
Whiting and Bonnethead Sharks are biting live and frozen shrimp. Shark fishing at night has been excellent. Lots of Sandbar, Blacktip, and Bull Sharks over 5 feet long are being caught every night. Best baits include Mullet, Ladyfish, and Jacks. Casting your baits out will work, but kayaking your bait out far is best. We rent kayaks and shark fishing gear at the shop!
Water quality has been excellent and so has the fishing! Redfish, Black Drum, Sheepshead, and some Snook are biting live shrimp, pinfish, and whitebait around the docks, oyster bars, and mangroves. The Snook and Redfish bite will pick up as soon as the water temperature gets back to 70 degrees or more. The Sea Trout fishing has been excellent drifting over the grass flats in 3-6ft of water. Soft plastic jigs, spoons, and live shrimp under a popping cork have been working best. We have also been catching Pompano, Mackerel, Bluefish, and Ladyfish on the grass flats. Mangrove Snapper and Sheepshead are thick on the nearshore wrecks and are biting on live shrimp on a knocker rig. King Mackerel should start showing up soon as the water temperature gets back in to the 70's. Some Tarpon were caught over the last couple of weeks when the water temperature was in the 70's and it wont be long until were seeing a few more show up. Tarpon charters are booking up fast for April, May, and June. Book now to reserve your spot to catch the mighty Silver King! Spring fishing will be heating up later this month, just need some more warm weather! Book now to experience the amazing Spring fishing Sanibel has to offer!
