When the temperature cools down.. the fishing heats up! Summer can be a tough time to wet a line. This year inshore waters heated up into the 90s. As an angler that meant getting on the water before the sun came up and back at the dock by lunch. Often the best fishing was at night. When the water is that hot it does not hold much oxygen, and the fish can be very lethargic. Heavy rains dirty the water and salinity in the river can be non-existent. How times have changed!
November means the end of the rainy season, cooler temperatures, shorter daylight time, and a shift in our local fishery. Snook move into the backwaters and up the river. Sheepshead become abundant around old dock pilings and rock piles. The big tarpon for the most part are gone, replaced by bull redfish coming in from offshore. The trout definitely move shallower.
There is also a shift in forage. The shrimp are larger and start to become the bait of choice. Water clarity should also improve with the lack of rain. If you fish artificial baits you might want to switch up your bait colors and presentations. Lighter color baits with a little faster retrieve might help if your summer baits are not working as well.
Hopefully there will be a return of Spanish Mackerel with some Kingfish mixed into the schools. Both fish have extremely sharp teeth and are very aggressive. Spanish Mackerel love shrimp!
I would suggest that you use a 30–40-pound bite tippet, four to six inches long to make sure you don’t get bit off. I don’t think a wire leader is needed and you will get more bites with a fluorocarbon or mono leader. If you like to fish the passes and near shore waters, trolling is a great option. Spoons and diving lures can result in great action with Mackerel, Jacks and Bluefish. If the season is open the passes can also hold good numbers of Gag Groupers.
November can be a month of multiple cold fronts with not only cooler temperatures but high winds. This is a great time to fish the spreader and residential canals. Often you will find Snook under the docks along with Mangrove Snappers, black drum and Sheepshead.
For that reason, a bite tippet or heavier leader can make the difference between landing a nice fish or losing it to sharp oysters and dock pilings. You might also come across some juvenile tarpon in the open canal waters.
I want to give a special shout out to the Cape Coral Power Squadron. Not only have we partnered with them for our meetings, but they are a terrific resource for learning about boating in our area. They teach an excellent boating classes that covers safety, rules of the boating road, state and federal boating regulations. They also have a terrific social network.
Monthly meeting ups at on the water restaurants and special events. If you own a boat, you NEED to become a member of the Power Squadron.
If you are looking for great local fishing information from both guides and recreational anglers, please join the Reel Anglers Fishing Club meeting on November 12th at 6 PM at Cape Coral Power Squadron.
In addition to the meetings, we also get together for a monthly dinner, happy hour, breakfast and a lady’s luncheon. This is a family-oriented club so bring your wife, kids, grand kids and neighbors!
Our normal December meeting will be replaced with a holiday party.
Dan Carney
Reel Anglers Fishing Club
www.reelanglersfishingclub.com
