Sanibel fishing in Feb,what,where,how
 

My son invited me to spend a week at Sanibel on the 2nd week of February 2015 with his family,(daughter in law and grandson).They rented a beach house for the week.
I'm assuming it will mostly be a relaxing vacation and I may be watching my 4 year old grandson a few times so that my son and wife they can have a night or two out by themselves.

Now having said that,I'm going to try getting some time to do some fishing from shore,and maybe a 4 or 5 hour inshore charter if possible.As I know very little about the fishing there,or the techniques used,and having never been to Sanibel,I could use some advice as to the tackle needed.

I really don't care what I catch,just want to have some fun as a novice southern saltwater fisherman.What could I expect to catch for species? at that time,and is the fishing good in that area.
I have plenty of good quality spinning reels,and rods as well.and have a good supply of saltwater stick baits,top water poppers,and casting spoons like kastmasters,etc.Not sure which size reels would be needed.
Any tips, regarding what to bring,and where to fish would be a big help.I figure I could stick a few reels and an assortment of the stik baits(yes or no?)and line in one of my check in bags,and for rods,I could either bring some in a case,or buy a few inexpensive ones,at one of the local wally worlds or Cabelas etc when I get down there.I could just leave them for the next renters.
I'm sure there are plenty of tackle shops where i could get terminal tackle.

Any inshore charter boat recommendations would also be appreciated.

The house is located across from Bowmans beach,and abutts the edge of Ding Darling refuge,and is about 1-1/2 miles from a place called Doc Fords Pub for whatever that's worth.

Anyway I thank you in advance for any tips on my long list of questions.

Here's the link to where we are staying.

http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p3505768

from Mass. to Sanabell in feb. ----looks like another future resident

Funny,that thought was rolling around in my head,although I think it may be a bit to pricy for me.I will however check out the real estate there,or some where in that vicinity for the heck of it.
I keep saying that I'm sick of the winters in New England,and the older I get the less I want to man handle that snow blower,or worse,having to buy heating oil at $4.00 a gallon.
Retirement is right around the corner,I just need to make the decision.

Maybe try fishing for Ding Darlings at Doc Ford`s Pub?

I loved me some gold Kastmasters as a squid. Live hand picked shrimp on a poppin`cork
is deadly down here inshore. The beauty of fishin` down here is you never stop learning.
Get a canoe and some shrimp. Hit the mangroves at night. Just a bucket, some shrimp,
and an O tab.

All love playing with snook. So smart.

Cheers,
GFS

Alas, Snook is closed in February on the Gulf side. Catch and release is fun, but frustrating for such a tasty catch.

Doc Ford's
 

Bigeasy1,
Doc Ford is the fictional retired CIA/Special Opps guy in Randy Wayne White's books. He is "laying low" down at Dinken's Bay Marina posing as a Marine Biologist and selling a few species he roller trawls up in Pine Island Sound. The problem is the "agency" is always bringing Doc out of retirement to take care of a "special situation" they heve in Columbia, or Panama, or Nicraguara. Doc has a crazy "GFS" sidekick by the name of Tomlinson who lives on a 31 Morgan in the marina where his his lab is.
If you get the Randy Wayne White book "Hunters Moon" the first 1/3 of the book is about the Sanibel/Captiva/Cayo Costa area. Some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent.
The Florida author Randy Wayne White was a fishing guide for years in that area and deciide to open a couple of resturants to prepare the local seafood with a spalsh of Carribbean and Central American spices. Tack the menu up on the wall and throw a dart at it blindfolded, you wouldn't go wrong.
And here you thought we just knew the difference between Polyester and Vinylester!

Hmm fishing for Ding Darlings at Doc Fords eh?. Is it catch and release there,or do I get to keep one if its a beauty? what's the limit?

Thank you for that very interesting info I'll have to check out those books,I see he has several others as well. So Sanibel sounds like a place I'd like to be right now.Why can't life be one big vacation?
Oh,and never mind polyester and vinylester, I'm still trying to understand Dion, and orthothalic and isothalic

that would be money better well spent in your boats gas tanks , that area is pricey look at charlotte county for much better prices on the water . im not familiar with that area or that good a fisherman here yet do best to ask here too

http://forums.floridasportsman.com/f...p-The-Outdoors

Limit?