Capt. George Tunison

It’s not too late to drop hints to get that Christmas stocking filled with angler items. Remind loved ones that gift certificates are always appreciated and readily available online.

With low and slow inshore tides again predicted for the coming weekend, looks like offshore is the place to be. Cool, overcast, with little chance of rain and a mild breeze is the latest word, so take advantage and put some fish in the cooler.

Red snapper is open to harvest again this weekend while lane snapper remains closed in federal waters till Jan. 1. Get on the hogfish while they are still available for a delicious taste treat along with African pompano, big mangrove snappers and porgies, with most of the action taking place in 100-150 feet of water. Kingfish are still around but not in great numbers with lots of bait heading south.

Near shore tripletail are not only found under crab floats but nearly anything floating in the Gulf. Nearshore reefs reportedly have permit showing up but finding silver dollar-sized crabs will be the issue. Permit will hit real as well as soft plastic shrimp and crabs so keep casting.

If you’re running floats on the way offshore, keep in mind a curious cobia might show up anytime, and a live pinfish or white bait tossed their way usually ends up in a battle with this great fighting and delicious-on-the-grill fish that grows to really large sizes. If your baitwell is empty, think plastic eels or even large black or purple plastic largemouth bass worms. Cobia simply love eels.

Inshore, smaller sheepshead are showing up with better fishing still centered on Boca Grande structures. Take a trip to nearshore numbers to catch larger sheepshead where they are staged. Cooling weather will really get the bite going, bringing in bigger fish as well as turning on the local trout over Pine Island and Matlacha 3 to 5-foot-deep grass flats. Nothing beats a one/two punch to find trout. Pick a grass flat in 3-5 feet and trail live shrimp loaded popping corks behind the boat while casting ultra-lites loaded with soft plastic paddle tails off the front deck as you drift along with the breeze. Trout are noise sensitive so fish quietly as you drift.

Cooling temperatures will also up your chances at connecting with one of Florida’s tastiest fish, the pompano. Traditionally good action occurs around the pass edges and bars but they can show up just about anywhere this time of year. If you “skip” pompano, that is while motoring along and fish jump out of the water as the boat passes, slowly and quietly motor back and fan cast the area with tiny pomp jigs tipped with morsels of shrimp, making sure to maintain bottom contact on your hopping retrieve. Colorful jigs seem to attract more attention with pink and yellow good color choices. Look for “goofy jigs” at your local retailer as they work well.

This weekend expect low water during the middle of the day so think creeks, cuts, ditches and channels. Try Cape canals with a slow trolling plan or soak big dead baits on bottom and wait for a true trophy to inhale this easy catch. Hit the river structures and docks for snook moving to warmer waters. Spend some time fishing the RR trestle and I-75 Bridge for snook, redfish, trout and some of the area’s largest jacks you will ever see in Southwest Florida. The I-75 Bridge is the winter home to 25-pound and bigger jack crevasse not typically seen on local coastal flats, along with by-catch tarpon. The colder it gets the hotter the fishing in this location. Shallow sun-warmed mud flats off the main river can at times offer exciting sight fishing for huge sunbathing snook while close by mangroves often host redfish as well.

Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday. Merry Christmas!

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at 239-579-0461 or via email at captgeorget3@aol.com.