Lee County Beaches Tarpon Fishing Report

Fort Myers area fishing report 5/5/12

Monday– Maxx, Alex, and I drove to Pineland early, arriving at Tarpon Lodge a little after eight. After checking in we got the boat launched and headed out to the Gulf through Captiva Pass.

Pine Island Sound was UGLY. Grey skies and east winds at 20 to 25 with strong gusts had the water all churned up.

We pulled into protected water along the beach and rigged tackle. Just as I finished the first fly rod, a hundred pounder rolled about 30 feet away. It was the first of many we saw.

We anchored off the beach in a few different spots and finally found one the fish were passing pretty regularly. We threw to tarpon all afternoon with a variety of flies, and a big Fin-S on a spin rod. We had one look on the Fin-S and no interest whatsoever on the fly- no eaters.

The fish were almost all down on the bottom, perhaps because of the wind?

There were lots of clouds that made them hard to see. When the sun was out it was easy but when the clouds were overhead the wind and chop camouflaged the fish like a smoke screen.

About five o’clock the clouds got solid and we couldn’t see at all any more so we headed back. Going back across the sound was nasty.

Tuesday– came through Captiva Pass. There was a big school of tarpon right there. We were not very ready and hardly got a cast off.

There were lots more fish for an hour or so, and we had many shots. We did not get a bite, nor did anyone else.

We went up the beach, anchoring first off Piney Point. We saw maybe a half dozen fish, no shots, in a couple hours.

Went farther north, off Murdock Point, or what’s left of it. Reasonable numbers of tarpon came by and we had shots, but no looks, much less takes. We saw another boat jump one.

A big raincloud appeared in the distance. We watched it get closer and closer. I wasn’t anticipating the increase in wind speed when it got to us. Rain poured, wind howled, waves crashed over the bow and into the skiff.

Here it comes!

I thought after the storm passed the sun would come out again. I was wrong. The wind did not diminish either. Since it was obvious we would not see any more fish, and since it was after five o’clock, we went back to Tarpon Lodge.

Wednesday– Came through Captiva Pass anticipating a repeat of the previous morning’s fishing. Ha! I should know better. We hung around the pass for an hour or so and saw maybe a half dozen rollers, no shots. The water got very dirty overnight.

Idled all the way up the beach to Murdock, where we anchored. Couldn’t see the bottom anymore, water was dirty. Sat there about three hours, saw maybe three fish. Finally decided to go looking.

Went and checked Johnson Shoal- nothing. Crossed Boca Grande and looked along Gasparilla Island, all the way to Gasparilla Pass- nothing. Came back to Boca Grande on the inside.

There were a lot of fish rolling in Boca Grande and relatively few boats (for there) We saw several boats with fish on and one fish get eaten by a shark.

Another crowded day fishing at Boca Grande.

Went back to the now very rough water off Murdock and sat, looking, for a couple hours. Did not see a fish. Many waves joined us in the boat. At 4:15 we decided to go to Café Brazil. We returned to Tarpon Lodge, then headed to Fort Myers.

At Café Brazil we all had the muqueca. Gostoso muito! The boys each had a caipirinha. I had to drive, wasn’t going there! I tasted Maxx’s. It was delicious. So was the muqueca. I love going to Café Brazil. My only regret was I had no room for pudim. Tudo bem, rapaiz!

Thursday- I hope we hook a couple of fish today. Fishing so far has been disappointing.

When the weather has been nice, and it has been, it has been gorgeous off the beach. The state park is lovely in one direction, and the Gulf is imposing in the other. Puffy white clouds scud across the sky. There are little birds that fly just above the waves. They look like goldfinches. I can’t imagine why they are out dodging waves but we’ve watched them every day.

Of course we see the usual suspects when it comes to birds- brown pelicans, ospreys, terns, gulls, frigatebirds. On the beach are ibis and sanderlings. They are all fun to watch.

The birds take as much interest in us as we in them.

What we have not seen are many signs of fish. The threadfin herring are missing, as are the cow-nosed rays. We have seen only a few Spanish mackerel and no crevalle. We haven’t seen any whitebait. Sharks are conspicuous in their absence.

Where are all the fish?? Maybe we will find some hungry tarpon today.

We head out at about 7 am, turn the corner at Captiva Pass and head north. Tarpon are rolling everywhere. We watch and figure the path most fish were taking and get on it. I have a bite on a black and purple streamer. The fish just gets to the backing when the line goes slack. Never even saw it, no jumps, nothing. The hook had broken. AAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!

Here is the heartbreaker. Never saw one break where this one did.

Four days to get a bite and something stupid like that happens. Aggravating.

We spent the rest of the day trying to get another bite. Fish moved reasonably well until the tide turns. We only see one after that in about three hours. Do not get that other bite.

In my next life I'm gonna have a nice sailboat.

Friday– Check out day. We have to be checked out by 11 AM. That gives us enough time to run out to Captiva Pass and see if anything is shakin.

It is by far the calmest day since we’ve been here, and despite the overcast I am guardedly optimistic as Maxx pilots the Mitzi toward the pass. We turn the corner, head north, and throttle down. The Gulf stretches out to infinity, grey, unbroken. There are no fish.

We idle up to Piney Point and back. We see four tarpon roll in two hours, do not come close to a shot. Time is up. Alex pilots us back to Tarpon Lodge. We pack our belongings into the chariot, load the boat onto the trailer, and hit the road.

Fishing was not good. I got to spend most or part of five straight days in a boat with my now-adult sons. Wonderful. Who knows when that might happen again? If I had to do it again (which of course I cannot) I would do it in a heartbeat. It was a fantastic trip.

The Brothers Kumiski

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com