Shrimp Tease Review - Creme Lures
“This beautiful Shrimp contains brilliant holographic coloration molded inside the body camouflaging the weight while attracting Reds and Specs. The protruding eyes and lifelike antennae add to the realness of this lure. The Shrimp Tease duplicates a panicked shrimp when he sees a predator fish. This tail swimming action causes the lure to dart backwards just like live shrimp. The realistic jointed legs vibrate with an authenticity never seen in a plastic shrimp. Approx. 3″ “ From Creme Lures
Our Review: Some excellent colors, a perfect size for catching large numbers of fish and the swimming tail provides some extra action to generate a strike. Anything that eats 3″ shrimp will be tempted to eat this lure.
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Killer Diller Shrimp Review - Creme Lures
“This shrimp is an excellent combination of soft plastic flexibility and durability. The belly is hollow with an opening that contains weight. The embedded single hook allows the lure to dart like a scared shrimp. Everything about the lure is authentic. The Killer Diller is available in 2 sizes (approximately) 4″ with 1/2 oz weight and 3.5″ with 1/4 oz weight.” From Creme Lures
Our Review: Great soft plastic shrimp bait. Good selection of colors and sizes are perfect for most inshore fish that like to eat shrimp.
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Creme Shrimp Soft Plastic Lure Review - Creme Lures
“This soft plastic shrimp possesses a natural looking body with protruding eyes and attention to detail. Available pre-rigged with a treble hook or just bodies giving you the choice of rigging options. Approx. size 3-3/4″.”
Our Review: Natural looking. Good size for most inshore fish that feed on shrimp. Good color selection too.
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Lit’l Lit’l Critter Soft Plastic Lure Review - Creme Lures
Our Review: The Lit’l Lit’l Critter is a good panfish bait for fresh water species such as bluegill, rock bass and other sunfish. In saltwater, fish that feed on shrimp inshore and along the surf can be tempted to eat this bait.
Resources: Shop Creme Lures
Lit’l Critter Soft Plastic Lure Review - Creme Lures
Our Review: The Lit’l Critter is a good fresh water and salt water bait. Panfish and bass will eat this bait in fresh water. A variety of salt water fish that feed on shrimp will also eat this bait. It’s best fished inshore and along the surf for salt water fish.
Resources: Shop Creme Lures
Fort Myers Fishing
Fort Myers has a temperate climate that allows for nice weather year-round. Because of the weather, you can experience some very good fishing throughout the different seasons in Fort Myers. The Ft. Myers, Ft. Myers Beach and Sanibel Island area offer a variety of fishing opportunities from bay and backcountry fishing for snook, redfish, trout, black drum, sheepshead, grouper, pompano, jacks, ladyfish, triple tail and tarpon. Most of these fish caught inshore are around from the spring all the way through the winter, while some species are around in bigger numbers at different times of the year. You can easily find out what’s biting best by talking to the local bait and tackle shops as well as checking out the fishing reports from the area fishing charters.
You can head offshore and catch tarpon, shark, barracuda, permit, cobia, king mackerel, black drum, sheepshead, goliath grouper, snook, bull redfish, little tunny. There are plenty of fishing charters available to take you offshore. Check out the reports to see what the fishing is like before you book your offshore fishing adventure.
Surf fishing can be good on the area beaches as well. Most surf anglers will use live bait such as shrimp, minnows or small bait fish as well as dead baits such as cut bait, fresh and frozen shrimp. Some of the good areas to fish from the shore are Cayo Coastal Island State Preserve, the Yacht Club Community Park, Rotary Park, Causeway Beaches and Fort Myers Beach.
Summer Surf Fishing Strategies
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Traditionally, summer surf fishing has taken a back seat to the cooler months of spring and fall. Those are better seasons to fish from the beach, both in quantity and quality of fish. But there are fish to be caught during the dog days, but success in the summer surf requires a different strategy. I rarely compare fish to people, but sometimes the two are amazingly alike, especially when it comes to feeding habits of both creatures. When the thermometer brushes the ninety-degree mark and the wind has been blowing warm and thick from the southwest for a few days I feel lethargic, lose my appetite and don’t care to spend much time out in the mid-day sun. I think my slippery, scaly cousins are similar.
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Fish may bite during all hours of the day, but many species prefer to feed more actively very early in the morning and again at then end of the day. This is especially true for bluefish and Spanish mackerel. On many a summer morning surf and pier anglers will enjoy some red-hot action for small blues and Spanish macks for about an hour, from first light until the sun is full in the sky. Then, as though a magic switch was thrown, the bite stops, and the fish move further offshore to the cool retreat of deeper water.
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Probably the most important summer strategy you can adopt is to fish early in the morning, and I’m not talking about catching the first hour of the Today Show on TV while sipping coffee, then easing over to the beach. Grab that first cup on the run, and be standing in the surf before first light, rod at the ready.
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As the sun starts to lighten the eastern sky, look for signs of feeding fish: swirls on top of the water, showering baitfish, and fish that are jumping completely out of the water. When the fish are feeding, a small artificial lure such as a 1/2 or 3/4-ounce Hopkins Shorty jig or small Stingsilver, on a light weight 7-foot rod and 10-pound test line will provide some thrills. Avoid heavy wire leaders; use a short piece of 20-pound monofilament, and you will get more bites. If the fish staged an early morning foray, I suggest returning to the same place at sunset to catch the encore.
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Take advantage of the calm summer surf and lighten up on your tackle. Light winds and small waves provide a perfect opportunity to break out the small stuff, like the outfit I just described. If fishing with bait is your forte, scale down your bottom rigs with light wire hooks in the #4 to #6 size range. Even with small hooks, I prefer those with a long shank to make it easier to unhook the fish. Instead of using the typical pyramid surf weight, try a round or flat “pancake” weight, to allow your rig to move slightly with the current and cover more territory.
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Small bits of bloodworm, shrimp, or squid are good summer baits. Use small hooks and fish those baits in the holes and sloughs that can be reached with a short cast.. Be sure to explore the “drop,” right at the edge of the sand where waves break on the beach. Sea mullet, spot, pompano, and flounder frequently prowl this zone, looking for an easy meal.
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During the summer, the night can be just right. The beach is a quieter place without swimmers and several species of fish may come in close to shore to feed, especially if the water is very clear. Bait is probably your best bet and the same selection of rigs and bait that work during the day will produce after the sun sets.
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One final suggestion involves networking with your favorite local tackle shop. If you’re visiting for a short time, pay a visit to that shop when you arrive, and get the latest fishing scoop. These folks know what’s hot, and will point you in the right direction. Fish where they suggest, with the baits or lures they recommend, adopt a few of the above summer surf strategies and your chances for hot weather success will increase.
Article By:
Joe Malat’s Outer Banks Surf Fishing Adventures
