Fishing Report and Request for Advice

[jshank]

I'll let this serve as a fishing report and request for advice on what we're doing wrong. I took my daughters camping/fishing trip this weekend. We camped on Morman Key Friday night and Sweetwater Saturday night. We had a great time but only caught two barely legal trout and released two undersized trout and really want to figure out what to do differently. We used the following items all with and without D.O.A. popping corks: live shrimp (tail removed and put on a yellow or white jig), plastics put on a yellow or white jig, live shrimp (hooked through the horn), D.O.A shrimp.

We started fishing the flats to the north and northwest of Morman Key from 3:30 - 4:30 Friday (high tide was 2:45 at the Chatham River entrance) and didn't get anything. We then fished on the south side of Morman Key from about 6:00 - 6:30 and got our two keepers on the live shrimp hooked through the horn. On Saturday, we fished the flats to the south and east of Pavillion Key from 11:30 to 12:30, Chatham River from about 1:30 to 2:00, and drifted east to west accros most of Chevelier Bay from 4:00 to 5:00, and then casted from the chickee at our camp at Sweetwater. Plenty of ladyfish all day but nothing else. (low tide was 9:43 am and high tide was 3:29 pm at Chatham River entance) On Sunday, we drifted east to west accross the south side of Huston Bay from 9:00 to 10:00 and caught two undersize trout on D.O.A shrimp (deadly combo) and then fished along Lopez River from 10:30 to 11:00 with no luck. (low tide at Chokoloskee was 11:41 am).

Kids had a blast and so did I but sure would like to come home with some more trout. Any critique would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[dtobias]

Don't think you did anything wrong per se. Sometimes they just aren't hungry. When chasing the trout, I always say use any color you want...as long as it's chartreuse. Main thing is you had a great time with your kids. How was the wind down there? I was out in Estero bay yesterday and it was honking up this way. Catch 'em up.

[nightfly]

One thing I would do differently is watch the moon phases. You were fishing during the day with full moons at night. When we have full moons I usually fish at night and rarely go in the days not to say you won't catch anything in the days but your chances would be better at night. All that matters is that you had fun.

[jshank]

Thanks for replies. Yes, there was a pretty good wind out of the east and had the water churned up a bit. I'll add some chartreuse to our gear and great advice about fishing the full moon. That makes sense since our two keepers were right near dusk. Looking forward to getting out there again soon.

[lemaymiami]

Here's one other tip that might improve a slow day..... Once you see that what you're doing isn't working, look for places nearby with islands next to deeper water - particularly where there's some current movement up against a deeper bank and it's out of the wind.... You'll have to check out a few spots before you begin to score - but a bucktail tipped with a tiny piece of shrimp or a jighead with a Gulp tail... worked along the bottom the same direction the water is flowing can get you bit - over and over again in the right spot.

[JSTickum]

Here's one other tip that might improve a slow day..... Once you see that what you're doing isn't working, look for places nearby with islands next to deeper water - particularly where there's some current movement up against a deeper bank and it's out of the wind.... You'll have to check out a few spots before you begin to score - but a bucktail tipped with a tiny piece of shrimp or a jighead with a Gulp tail... worked along the bottom the same direction the water is flowing can get you bit - over and over again in the right spot.

Agreed , I catch more fish down there on bucktails tiped with shrimp slow fished down a bank moving with the current during the cold months , the Drums will feed slower giveing you pleanty of time , that and the bycatch can be alot of fun aswell , you never know what will hit a shrimp tipped jig ( try a brown flat head bucktail one of my favs )

[chadperrow]

Moon phase is critical. Also try a longer leader, and a lighter leader. Especially when using braided line. I suggest a minimum of 3 feet, all the way up to 6 feet if your knots will clear the guides. 30 lb flourocarbon is a good start for leader, but you can scale down to 20 if the bite is really slow. And finally, try varying your baits action and speed, from painfully slow, to fast. I hope this helps, but sometimes they just arent hungry...