Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
October 1, 2001
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Snook and Reds! Reds and Snook?

Today is the first of October and that means its time for the best redfishing of the year. Well, the redfish in Marco Island couldn’t wait until October. Reds were a steady catch last week even after the tropical storm and cold front came through last weekend. Snook weren’t bad either, but after the front passed through the bite slowed down some. I spotted some large tarpon but never put in the time to target them.

I guess that reds will get the top honors this week even though we caught almost as many snook as reds. The redfish were more consistent thoughout the week and fishing was good for the reds even after the strongest cold front this fall. Redfish were stacked up in cuts along mangrove edges where the current was being pushed by the wind. They were also at the mouths of small creeks on falling tides. We did the best by pitching jigs tipped with shrimp. Large scaled sardines produced the bigger reds to 27 inches while we were targeting snook.

Snook fishing was phenomenal before the front passed though. When we found the snook they would race each other for your sardine. We found snook to about 10-pounds in the same places as the redfish. Sardines did best for the snook while the reds preferred shrimp. My suggestion is to have both on hand to get the most out of each hole. These fish aren’t holding in deep water yet. Most of the snook and reds that we caught were in 2-5 feet of water. Good current flow is essential.

Snook and redfish weren’t the only catches around the mangroves. Snapper, sheephead, and small jacks were also hitting the shrimp tipped jigs. The only things that we didn’t catch in the “holes” were trout, which are out on the flats at the moment.

Good Luck!

Capt. Scott Hughes

Blackwater Charters

863-946-9171

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