What a difference in conditions over the past two weeks: we've finally transitioned into the 'rainy' season with rain falling both in the mornings and in the afternoons. Of course, 'for every action there is a reaction,' and all this fresh water will force a change in one's fishing strategies and techniques.

Prior to all the rain, I was able to get a few trips in during a 'flat' tide week. With a bit of a change in strategy, my customers were able to boat a decent number of snook and reds. With respect to tides and 'flat' tides: as we head into the first quarter and third quarter of our moon phases (or, conversely, coming off the full moon and new moon phases) we experience a tide anomaly for three or four days as compared to our typically semi-diurnal tides (two highs and two lows per day), with one long incoming tide typically starting in the mornings during the summer months. Several tides may last up to 15 hours, with c.1.5 ft. of linear movement, slowing any water movement to a crawl. I don't personally mind whether it's high tide or low tide, as long as there is water movement (current). Water movement stirs up the baitfish, and the baitfish stir up the gamefish. Before the rain, baitfish were readily available on the flats around Punta Rassa. Fishing in the river was very productive for snook; one had to be careful heading into the creeks and the deep backcountry toward the end of the high tide. Cold water holds more oxygen than warm water, and with temperatures at their summer peak, there is very little oxygen in the water. If one gets deep into a creek or backcountry area at the end of a long incoming warmwater tide, the water there heats up and comes out red hot on the outgoing tide - potentially killing all the bait in your livewell and generally shutting down any fish bite. By concentrating on the river, the passes, and some of the mangroves just off the intracoastal areas, I was able to find 'cooler' water with a relatively higher oxygen content holding more productive fish.

Voluminous amounts of fresh water coming down the Caloosahatchee River, held back somewhat by the Sanibel causeway islands, mixed with overall 90F water temperatures is going to force a change in castnetting and fishing strategies over the next week or so. The baitfish are typically dispersed around the southwestern corner of Pine Island on the back side of Chino Island, where the fresh water/salt water ratio is much lower. The causeway islands tend to back up fresh water flowing from the Caloosahatchee, impeding its flow to the Gulf. The result is a short-term imbalance in the ecosystem. Baitfish are chased out by the fresh water, and with them go the gamefish. 'Coffee water', or water stained a dark purplish color by all the tannic acid in the mangrove roots is a dead giveaway as to when one should move one's fishing and castnetting to the outer beaches, passes, and away from the Punta Rassa area.

Summer is beginning to wane, and with it comes a change in tidal fishing. Whereas our early to midsummer water is marked by incoming morning tides, this week will provide for some awesome falling tides starting c.5:00 AM. This current will allow for some decent chum drifts during the castnetting stage of the day and hold through midmorning to early afternoon later in the week. Drier weather is forecast to be building in starting this afternoon, so it should be an awesome week for putting 'the hurt' on some fish! This will also allow for the Punta Rassa area to become productive again over the next several days. If you go out, keep one eye to the sky at all times! Remember: don't jerk it 'til you feel the tug, (and be prepared to yank and crank!).