I'm going Ocean Fishing in Fort Myers Florida anyone have any tips?

Question

What lures/baits and fish I should be fishing for...there are barracuda, redfish, catfish, cobia, red snapper, grouper, Snook (appreciate any tips on snook), and many other game fish. I got 12lb test line and a blue sardine rapala diving lure and a crystal minnow. I would prefer artificial lures but I don't care if I have to use bait live/dead or not. thanks! I am a dumbo ocean fisherman so any tip I will appreciate.

Answer 1

I know you like to use lures, but like JF said, SHRIMP is the thing. When you say Ocean (we call it the Gulf) I guess you're going off shore. You generally have to go out at least 15 miles to be in over 35' of water. Fish the wrecks and artificial reefs, Lee Co. has several of those. And use pin fish (any white bait) live shrimp or possibly squid if you want to catch fish. MAY Reef is not too far out from Big Carlos pass. Snook have been taken off it recently. Most of the water off Lee Co. is sandy bottom, so you need to know where you're going to find structure or live bottom. Snook will bite well on pin fish as will grouper. Alot of snapper, triggers, sharks, hog fish, barracuda and jacks in the mix around live bottom. I'd probably put a 20# floro carbon leader on that 12# test line.  Tight lines, hope you catch a mess.

Answer 2

Listen dude, arracuda, redfish, catfish, cobia, red snapper, grouper, Snook...they all bite on LIVE SHRIMP, works everytime.

Answer 3

One of my personal favorite inshore lures is a chartreuse Chug Bug(a top water popping lure). But I would also recommend live cigar minnows or fiddler crabs.

Answer 4

You may be able to catch permit and/or pompano use pink banana jigs. if you want spanish mackeral use silver spoons, or live threds. sorry i wasn't any help

Answer 5

Both lures u have can work well but add a some of berkley gulp shrimp and crabs,topwater like a popR in silver shad or FTiger,small pomp jigs and a pack of plastic sand fleas,gold spoon and mini king spinner bait gold blade,cobia jig or 10" plastic eel.

I am not sure if you will be getting out on the water or off the bridge or pier nearby.So redsnapper grouper and the cobia may be a lil tough to get yeah some juvies maybe.Cobia may be in casting distance!

Your 12lb line is ok but bring along some leaders in 20 to 30 lb range in fluorcarbon if u can.

For mango's,cobia,reds and snook if u do use live bait shrimp will work good and so will pinfish.Get yourself some 2 to 3 inch pins for the mango's and then some 3 to 5 inchers for the rest.Fiddlers will be good bait also either live or cracked fishem with ashort shank live bait hook and hookem through the pocket of the leg.Shrimp live or fake on a jig,weighted worm hook, short live bait hook and a sinker will work well.

I have fished there and done very good on snook trout reds with a beetle spin and rooster tail lure so dont be shy try different lures.

Fish a live shrimp under a cork too! Drop sand flea live or fake out in the surf in the trough if near or near a sand bar for pomps and trout.Sheepshead will be hanging around pier pilings or bridges and they love crabs n shrimp!

Answer 6

Like has been previously stated, live shrimp will catch them all, HOWEVER, it will catch alot of fish, such as pinfish, and durn near everything out there that you don't want to catch, and your live shrimp supply will decrease to nothing, sometimes without a single target fish and they don't give live shrimp away.  I would get some yozuri swimming plugs, in mullet or mirro-lures (I like the topwaters in mullet also) as the day progresses switch to swimming plugs.  fish around the mangroves, pier pilings, bridge pilings, jetties, etc, anywhere there is structure. You can also fish the flats for barracuda and redfish.  Snook fishing is very similar to largemouth bass fishing, it is all about structure and current.  For snapper, live bait, or knife style jigs fished over deep structure (you will need a boat for that) cobia around bouys, manta rays, whale sharks or see turtles or you can sight fish them, live bait (live eels are best) or special jigs called "cobia jigs" (all tackle shops will have them).  Your tackle is too light for them though, you will need heavier tackle.  Forget the catfish, they are trash fish, and can hurt you rather seriously if you aren't careful, and they are typically not eaten. About all you are going to want to fish for with your named tackle are smaller snook, speckled trout and redfish, maybes small cuda's (need a leader or gonna lose every lure you have targeting them though).  Make sure you wash your tackle down as soon as possible with fresh water.  Another piece of advice, if you have a typical freshwater spinner, a saltwater fish of any size will put a hurting on it, drag systems for freshwater tackle just can't with stand the abuse most saltwater fish can dish out.  If you are serious about fishing down there, invest a lil bit in some decent saltwater tackle, you will enjoy the fishing much more.

Answer 7

Do an online search for fishing forums in Fort Myers,Fl. the locals will let you know what fish are biting and what bait & gear to use so you have a better chance at a successful outing. Good Luck.