As we make our way through February, it’s worked out to be the typical pattern of getting out between fronts. By contrast, this year has been cooler, wetter and more cloudy than most. Similar to past years, the bite has been best around the moons and best tides. The spotted sea trout bite has been the most consistent anywhere in two to four feet over seagrass. There have been some redfish around and I’ve seen the best numbers farther back in the back country trying to warm up over the sand. On the lower tides access can be tricky and the reds seem to be laid up out in the open if they haven’t been pushed around by boat pressure. Fortunately, not that many boats can get back that far and I’ve been using my push pole to get into the areas i’ve been seeing the best numbers. Moreover, even a trolling motor will move them out. For the most part, snook are back in the same areas only they tend to hang around spots that are adjacent to deeper creeks and cuts between shorelines. Because their main forage species, pilchards or “whitebait, are not very abundant right now, they’re preying on smaller local baitfish so I’m throwing small fly patterns. I also like weedless patterns as this is mangrove country.
Charlotte Harbor fishing report
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