APRIL ON THE WATER
April may be our top month fishing in the coastal waters of southwest Florida. As we transition into spring, our waters are warming, baitfish have moved in, and fish are hungry. The weather is stable for the month with light winds and mild sunny days, plus not much threat of daily thunderstorms. Also, until the summer rains begin, inshore waters are the clearest we see all year.
This month brings our largest sea trout of the year with many measuring over twenty inches, and some much larger. Trout prefer clear water and areas with sea grass. Their diet consists of crustaceans and fish. Hungry trout will pounce on shrimp and small baitfish, plus a wide variety of artificial baits.
Spanish mackerel are running large and often schooled up across our inshore waters, around gulf passes, and a short distance offshore. Bluefish, ladyfish, jack crevalle, and sharks often are mixed with mackerel. You get into this mix of fish and it’s a blast as all are fast drag screamers. Spanish mackerel are also very tasty when prepared and eaten fresh.
In gulf waters, king mackerel, often large, follow the Spanish mackerel. If you want to tug on something larger, toss a larger bait out for a big cobia, shark, or king mackerel when you get Spanish or other fish biting.
Anglers fishing deeper in gulf waters will find red grouper, mixed with a variety of snappers and other tasty fish. Live and cut bait fished in depths from seventy to one hundred twenty feet over hard live bottom and ledges will produce fish. April should bring many days with light winds to comfortably make the run into gulf waters. It’s possible to hook into blue water fish such as mahi, tuna, wahoo, and sailfish as well.
Sharks of all sizes are making their way into our waters. A lot of sharks showed up last month and more will continue. Tarpon fishing kicks off this month throughout southwest Florida. It’s possible to hook into a big silver king if you are fishing for them or not. They are just as likely to gulp down a live shrimp or small lure as anything. On calm days, look for schools of fish a short distance off the beach, early morning is the best time to toss a small live crab or Atlantic thread herring ahead of the school. Tarpon numbers will increase inshore, in the passes, and off the beaches as the month progresses.
After months of winter lows, we get high (spring) tides during the day. This is the time to target redfish under the bushes or mangrove shorelines as they use the higher water to get under the tree overhangs to root out their next meal. Redfish are a scent feeder, while live bait and lures catch fish; many believe fishing cut shrimp, cut baitfish, and crabs is the best option. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the month will hold mornings with ultra-low tides, just the ticket for sight fishing reds over the shallow flats and around oyster bars. Hit the flats at first light for the best results.
Snook fishing heats up this month as the warmer water gets them active and hungry. Snook are ambush feeders; they like to sit stationary with their nose into the current. And they like structure. Fish shorelines, oyster bars, pilings, etc., with a good tide flow for best results. Snook aren’t like many other fish that allow you to pull them for structure. A snook once hooked will do its best to get to the safety of any type of structure and break off. And they are good at it, especially the bigger ones. Redfish and larger sea trout are often caught from many of the same locations as snook. Snook season is open through the end of April.
You can go a different direction fishing each day from inshore to offshore and not cover all the possibilities. If there is one month that just doesn’t have enough days to take advantage of all the great fishing opportunities, April is it.
Stay up to date with fishing regulations by visiting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission at: http://www.myfwc.com. Also, upload the Fish Rules app. It has current regulations with pictures to help identify fish. If you enable your GPS, the Fish Rules app updates regulations to your location each time you open the app. In my opinion, it is more accurate and up to date than FWC’s website.
For charter information, please contact us at Gulf Coast Guide Service and “Catch the Action” with Capt. Bill Russell, call or text (239) 410-8576, website: http://www.fishpineisland.com, email: [email protected].
Capt. Bill Russell is a native and lifelong resident of Pine Island who has spent his entire life fishing the waters surrounding Pine Island and Southwest Florida. For the past 30 years, Bill has been a professional fishing guide who takes pride in customizing each trip to ensure everyone on board has a great time and will return again. Come join us and “Catch the Action.”
