Captiva Fishing, Redfish, December 3!

Sanibel Fishing Charters, December 3, 2019: Redfish, Catch & Release!
Current Red Tide & Water Quality Update Here; Getting Clearer (Page Down For Detail On Sampling & Location Table).
Captiva Fishing: Please Click For Rates & To Book A Captiva Fishing Charter Or Call 239-472-8658.
Live Weather Cams Here.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Tuesday, December 13 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Tuesday, December 3, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, December 1, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, December 1, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, November 23, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, November 23, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, November 3, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, November 3, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Thursday, October 24, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, October 19, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, October 19, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, October 13, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, October 13, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, September 14, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, September 14, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Tuesday, June 18, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Tuesday, June 18, 2019.
Snook and red drum will be catch-and-release only in state waters from the northernmost point of Anna Maria Island in Manatee County to Gordon Pass in Collier County due to impacts from red tide on that area. Source: FWC.
Snook and red drum will be catch-and-release only in state waters from the northernmost point of Anna Maria Island in Manatee County to Gordon Pass in Collier County due to impacts from red tide in that area. Source: FWC.

Sanibel Fishing Charters, December 3, 2019: Redfish, Catch & Release!

Please Click To Rent Homes Direct From Captiva Homeowners; No VRBO Booking Fees.
Sanibel Island Fishing, December 3, 2019.
Vote Water! Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island.
Vote Water For Florida’s Future!

Captiva Fishing Guide Report: Tuesday, December 3: Redfish, Catch & Release, Captain Joe’s Charters – the weather is great, little Red Tide presence, and a lot of good fish in the gulf, bay, and passes; Tarpon, Sharks, Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, Snapper, Snook, and Seatrout are currently present.

Redfish & snook are regulated as catch & release at this time.

Already seeing some positive impact.  Some very nice big redfish and snook around, more big redfish than snook.

The Caloosahatchee freshwater releases are also not an issue right now, but still a huge long-term problem.

Extremely frustrating.  We need wholesale changes in the Florida state government.  It is not a Republican or Democrat issue – it is a Big Sugar control everyone issue.  It is stunning how we continue to let the sugar industry and the agriculture north of Lake Okeechobee to damage the water and all of Florida.

Please click here to Book A Charter or call 239-472-8658.

We’re located in Castaways Marina, Santiva, Sanibel Island, just before the Blind Pass bridge to Captiva Island.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Monay, December 24, 2018.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Monday, December 24, 2018.
Redfish, Alex, Catch & Release, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Monday, June 4, 2018.
Redfish, Alex, Catch & Release, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Monday, June 4, 2018.

Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Sanibel Island Fishing Charters: Redfish, September 12, Catch & Release.  Please also visit the SanibelFort MyersFlorida Fishing Report and Cuban Fishing sites.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Monday, September 16, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Monday, September 16, 2019.

Redfish are now catch & release only.

Little Girl, Redfish, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Saturday, march 24, 2018, [File Photo: Sunday, October 15, 2017}.

Little Girl, Redfish, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Saturday, March 24, 2018, [File Photo: Sunday, October 15, 2017}.

“The red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), also known as channel bassredfishspot tail bass, or simply red, is a game fish found in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to Florida and in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to northern Mexico.[1] It is the only species in the genus Sciaenops.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Thursday, October 12, 2018.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Friday, October 12, 2018.

The red drum is related to the black drum (Pogonias cromis), and the two species are often found in close proximity to each other; they can interbreed and form a robust hybrid, and younger fish are often indistinguishable in flavor.[2]

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Friday, October 5, 2018.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Friday, October 5, 2018.

Red drum are a dark red color on the back, which fades into white on the belly. The red drum has a characteristic eyespot near the tail and is somewhat streamlined. Three-year-old red drum typically weigh 6-8 lb. The largest red drum on record weighed just over 94 lb and was caught in 1984 on Hatteras Island. Red drum and black drum both make a croaking or drumming sound when distressed.

Two Happy Fishermen, Two Redfish, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sunday, October 1, 2017 [File Photo: Tuesday, 9-22-15].
Two Happy Fishermen, Two Redfish, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sunday, October 1, 2017 [File Photo: Tuesday, 9-22-15].
The most distinguishing mark on the red drum is one large black spot on the upper part of the tail base. Having multiple spots is not uncommon for this fish, but having no spots is extremely rare. As the fish with multiple spots grow older, they seem to lose their excess spots. Scientists believe that the black spot near their tail helps fool predators into attacking the red drum’s tail instead of its head, allowing the red drum to escape.[3]
Fly Fishing, Redfish, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Tuesday, August 9, 2016.
Fly Fishing, Redfish, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Tuesday, August 9, 2016.

The red drum uses its senses of sight and touch, and its downturned mouth, to locate forage on the bottom through vacuuming or biting. On the top and middle of the water column, it uses changes in the light that might look like food. In the summer and fall, adult red drum feed on crabsshrimp, and mullet; in the spring and winter, adults primarily feed on menhaden, mullet, pinfishsea robinlizardfishspotAtlantic croaker, and mud minnows.

Redfish, Clark, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Thursday, October 4, 2019.
Redfish, Clark, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Friday, October 4, 2019.

Red drum naturally occur along the southern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida. Aquaculture activities involving them occur around the world.[4] Immature red drum prefer grass marsh areas of bays and estuaries when available. Both younger mature red drum (3-6 years of age) and bull red drum prefer rocky outcroppings including jetties and manmade structures, such as oil rigs and bridge posts. Around this type of structure, they are found throughout the water column.”  Please see more information here.

Two Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Wednesday, February 6, 2019.
Two Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Wednesday, February 6, 2019.

Red Drum: Sciaenops ocellatus

Florida Regulations: (Harvest in federal waters prohibited)
Regulations Northeast Zone Northwest Zone South Zone
Minimum Size Limit Not less than 18″ no more than 27″ total length
Daily Bag Limit 2 fish per person per day; 8 fish vessel limit 1 per person per day; 8 fish vessel limit 1 fish per person per day; 8 fish vessel limit
Remarks Bag limits apply in areas adjacent to fishing sites such as docks and parking lots

6 fish per person transport limit applies when traveling in a vehicle on land away from a fishing site.

Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore

Commercial harvest prohibited

 

Two Redfish, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Tuesday, November 6, 2018.
Two Redfish, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Gear requirements:

  • Legal Gear:  hook and line, cast nets
  • Illegal Gear: Spearing (includes spearfishing, gigging and bow fishing) and/or use of multiple hooks in conjunction with live or dead natural bait is prohibited
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, February 24, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, February 24, 2019.

Red Drum Management Zones

  • Northwest: Escambia through Fred Howard Park Causeway near Pasco County
  • South: Fred Howard Park Causeway through Monroe County (west coast) and Miami-Dade through Volusia counties (east coast)
  • Northeast: Flagler through Nassau counties

State Waters Harvest Seasons

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Monday, October 8, 2018.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Monday, October 8, 2018.

Habitat and Fishing Tips: Red drum, also called redfish, channel bass, spot tail, red bass or reds, are one of Florida’s most popular sportfish and the state’s most widespread estuarine fish.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, June 22, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Saturday, June 22, 2019.

Red drum are named after the “drumming” sound they make during spawning and when taken out of the water. The sound is produced by muscles rubbing against the inflated air bladder. Red drum inhabit the nearshore and offshore waters throughout the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Key West. Juvenile red drum inhabit rivers, bays, canals, tidal creeks, and passes in estuaries for up to four years, after which they usually move to nearshore or open ocean waters as adults.

Redfish, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Saturday, November 24, 2018.
Redfish, Catch & Release, Sanibel Fishing & Captiva Fishing, Sanibel Island, Saturday, November 24, 2018.

Red drum in Florida can reach lengths of 45 inches and weigh up to 51 pounds. The world record red drum was caught off North Carolina waters in 1984 and it weighed 94 pounds, 2 ounces.The oldest recorded red drum in Florida was aged at 40 years. Floating a live shrimp under a popping cork is a good way to fish for red drum.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, October 27, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Sunday, October 27, 2019.

They also chase crabs, mullet, pinfish, and killifish (mud minnows). Casting soft-bodied jigs, spoons and even top-water plugs will catch the attention of these powerful estuarine musicians.

Snook, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Wednesday, September 11, 2019.
Snook, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Wednesday, September 11, 2019.

State Record:

52 lb 5 oz, caught near Cocoa (1996)

Florida Rule

Please also visit:

Redfish Catch, Hold and Release Tournament Exemption Permit page

Redfish, Dan, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Sunday, September 30, 2018.
Redfish, Dan, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Sunday, September 30, 2018.

Red Drum Management

Management of red drum in Florida is considered a success story.  In the late 1980s, red drum was overfished, thus several emergency closures were established to reduce fishing pressure. In 1989, the slot limit of 18-27 inches, the bag limit of one fish per person and a closed season from March-May were put in place. Red drum stocks have rebounded and are currently meeting or exceeding the FWC’s management goal of 40% escapement in most parts of Florida. Escapement is the proportion of fish that survive through age four relative to the fish that would have survived if there was no fishery.” Please see FWC for more information.

Big Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Wednesday, October 23, 2019.
Big Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

Please click here to Book A Charter or call 239-472-8658 and here for Live Sanibel Traffic Cams. Sunday, September 30, Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Redfish, Passes & Oyster Bars.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Wednesday, October 10, 2018.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Wednesday, October 10, 2018.

After a fierce storm, Turner Beach, the beach adjoining the Pass, is frequently covered with a bounty of shells from Olives to Fighting Whelks to the more common Conchs. The fishing is also renowned for sharks in the summer, tailing redfish on the bayside flats and snook under and off the Blind Pass bridge. Because Turner Beach faces Westward, the sunsets are spectacular and a popular viewing point for residents and visitors alike.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Tuesday, October 2, 2018.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing Charters & Captiva Island Fishing Charters, Sanibel Island, Tuesday, October 2, 2018.

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Fair winds and following seas,

Captain Joey Burnsed ~ please click calendar or call 239-472-8658 to book a Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Boca Grande or Fort Myers fishing guide trip or shelling charter.

Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Monday, October 7, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Monday, October 7, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Tuesday, January 22, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Tuesday, January 22, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Friday, October 11, 2019.
Redfish, Sanibel Island Fishing, Catch & Release, Captiva Island, Friday, October 11, 2019.