I know from friends and neighbors that the winter of 2026 has been brutal! SWFL (Cape Coral) has also had its coldest winter in 15 years. No sympathy needed but for three weeks we had temps ranging from 40 – 60 degrees and it definitely put the fish bite on hold! Well, that ended 10 days back and we are back in the 80’s and the fish are feeding.
I went out with the only guide I fish with here, Captain Mike of Dragonfly Charters for some fishing in the mangroves. The keeper Redfish (Red Drum actually) was a perfect slot at 24″. The Spotted Trout shown was my over at 21″. You are allowed three from 15 – 19 with only one over 19″. My other two fish were 18″. Rounding out the catching was one Sheepshead and one Blowfish!
