Amateur report from Lovers Key-Fort Myers

[Walkabout]

I've been here in Fort Myers for the past few days and haven't had much luck fishing from the beach at Big Carlos Pass. I've been using shrimp and artificials since I've had no luck digging up sand fleas from that beach. I've caught some bonnetheads and ladyfish, but noting to cook home about.
If anybody can give me some tips, I'd appreciate it. (thanks for the help when I was in Bradenton last week).

[kngfshman]

There are permit on the east side of the Big Carlos Pass.

[Frogfish101]

Ladyfish make great bait. Try some of those.

[DouGR81]

Are you fishing near the bridge at Big Carlos Pass? If you walk all the way to the point of the pass and cast a Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow you may run into some spanish macs, even some pompano. The snook haven't made the run to the beaches yet but you may hook into 1 or 2.

You can try hitting Little Carlos Pass with live shrimp on a high tide. Cast near the center of the bridge, close to the piling. This time of year you can get flounder, redfish, trout, and spanish macs there.

If you have means of transportation you can try hitting the flats of Bunche Beach which is on the way to Sanibel off of John Morris Road. Everything swims by those flats throughout the day.

You don't have to get up super early to catch fish this time of year. Concentrate on hitting the last/first hours of the tide change and you'll have more success.

[one more cast]

macs first thing on the incomming water 1/4 way up the bridge on the south side......walk all the way to the point in the evening/wee hours of am and you can get grovers on the outside of the slope created by the strong tide change there. It is early for snook, but if the greenies are there on the beach you could find some snook too. A good friend says the trout bite has been pretty good in the grass with shrinp under a cork.... good luck. I believe florida record snook was caught at this pass?!?

[Walkabout]

Thanks again for the tips. I've been walking to the point at sunset and daybreak and so far haven't caught a keeper yet. I've been casting out live shrimp into the deeper tide rips at the point but so far have got only undersize black grouper, bonnetheads and a occasional crab. I haven't had any luck pitching lures as yet. I went to BPS today and got some of those lews speed minnows and will try them at daybreak tomorrow. I haven't seen any of my fellow fishermen catching anything other than a few spotted trout at Big Carlos over the past few days.
I'll keep plugging away until something clicks.