Written by: Phil Monahan - The Orvis Company
Photo Via Orvis.com

This week, we visit with Capt. Dave Pecci about early spring fishing in the Charlotte Harbor area of Florida. We also talk about the current water-quality issue in Florida. You may all be sick of hearing about it, but other than climate change, the Everglades issue is one of the most serious and immediate threats to both our freshwater and saltwater ecosystems. But don’t worry, we also talk about catching redfish, speckled trout, and snook.

In The Fly Box, we cover a broad range of topics, from the Eastern green drake hatch, to small-stream steelhead tactics, to the advantages of fiberglass rods.

If you don’t see the “Play” button above, click here to listen.

Last Week - Excellent fishing! We had tons of fly and light tackle fishing action last week. And, this coming week will be just as good! I posted some killer video from last week's action, you can check them out on my blog's Florida Fishing Video section. There's over 30 videos posted.

This week's Forecast

Conditions: Excellent all this coming week - Mid day high tides will provide moving water. Morning low tides will congregate the fish along the oyster beds and grass banks.

Species to fish for this coming week: Snook, Redfish, Spotted Seatrout, Jack Crevalle, Tarpon, Ladyfish, Spanish Mackerel, Cobia.

Bait the fish are feeding on: shrimp, crabs, pinfish, ladyfish, Scaled Sardines, Threadfin Herring

Fishing Tactics: Start early and fish the edges of oysters and grass for trout, snook and reds. As the tide comes in move onto the flats fishing the sand holes for trout and reds.

My fly fishing tip of the week: Lots of white bait (sardines and herring) around so olive and white deceivers are the choice.

My spin fishing tip of the week: MirroLure suspending twitch baits are the lure of choice. 2nd choice would be a bubble gum or new penny soft bait on a ¼ once jig head.

7 day outlook: Fantastic weather with light winds from the E and NE will provide excellent fishing. The snook, redfish and jack crevalle action will be very good this week.

 

Stephan caught mangrove snapper, snook, spotted sea trout, and jack crevalle while fly fishing in Matlacha Pass today. Great footage of a school of jacks busting bait against the mangroves. Also check out the run his 6 pound jack made at the end of the video. Stefan cranked the drag down three time and still went 75 yards into his backing before turning the fish. Love that 8wt. Hellios 2 rod paired with a Mirage reel. 

 

Stefan Piccone had a great couple days of back country fly fishing with me in Matlacha Pass this week. 

Stefan is a true magician when it comes to wiggling the fly out mangroves branches and is very good at reading the waters of Charlotte Harbor. Even with a southwest of wind and cloudy water we had two very productive and fun days together. by the way, catching 6-8 pound jack cravalle in 2' of water on a Helios 2 8wt. fly rod is FUN!

Safe travels home Stefan, I hope to see you again the next time you are in SW Florida. 

Stefan Piccone fished Matlacha Pass with me today. He caught snook, mangrove snapper,sea trout and jack crevalle all on his 8wt Orvis Helios 2 fly rod. Great job Stefan!