It was a better week for offshore anglers

For the most part, weather cooperated for offshore anglers over the week American red snapper were boated in depths from 110-160 feet Red grouper, mangrove, vermilion and lane snapper, plus porgies, were also boxed A few boats also hooked into small dolphin (mahi-mahi)

Artificial or man-made reefs within 10 miles of shore held sharks, goliath grouper and barracuda, for anglers looking for a hard fight and good time Permit were reported over many of the reefs as well, along with Spanish mackerel and snapper

On the Water

Catch-and-release snook fishing remained consistent up and down the beaches with fish running 20-36 inches Whiting and pompano were hooked along the beaches near the passes over the incoming tide Snook, redfish and mangrove snapper took live and cut bait around structure inside the passes and barrier islands

Mangrove snapper up to 13 inches were caught around oyster b a r s , m a n g r o v e p o i n t s , c r e e k mouths and structure Most were caught on shrimp, small pinfish and pilchards Good water movement and chumming was key to getting the bite started

At the north end of Matlacha Pass where it meets with Charlotte Harbor, Spanish mackerel and sharks were hooked fishing around bait pods The bait fish were located by watching for dimpling or rain on the surface, diving pelicans and other bird or dolphin activity

Areas in mid and northern Pine Island Sound held a variety of fish including seatrout, ladyfish, jack crevalle, mackerel, bluefish, sharks and, of course, catfish The key to good fishing was to find areas with good water and tide movement Avoid the milky or colored water and fish depths from 4 to 8 feet with decent clarity If the sun is out, you should be able to differentiate the type of bottom from sand to grass with polarized sun-

See BETTER WEEK, page 16 of and his clients had a good day fishing offs h o r e w i t h a b a g o f snapper, groupers and other tasty fish They were fishing out of Jug C r e e k M a r i n a i n Bokeelia