Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
May 10, 2003
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Catch a Slam!

Spring is one of the best times to catch a grand slam in Southwest Florida. The slam consists of catching a tarpon, snook and redfish in one trip. You can throw in a trout for a true inshore backcountry slam. Even though the tarpon are in full swing they are still the toughest part of the slam. Presently, they are all along the beaches, in the passes and up in Charlotte Harbor. The bite has been slow for the most part but some days have produced good numbers of tarpon. Fish thread herring or crabs for beach fish or for harbor tarpon. Use cut bait in Pine Island sound and jigs in Boca Grande Pass.

Redfish and snook have been very good in the upper reaches of Charlotte Harbor. Fish the flats on low tide and move into the creeks on the high tides. We have been fishing scaled sardines for both the reds and the snook. Most of the reds are in the legal slot of 18-27 inches. The snook have been running 20-30 inches. Remember, all snook have to be released until September 1st.

Trout have been willing takers of jigs, topwater lures and flies. Most have been small but numbers make up for size. The larger trout are near the passes for the spawn. Catch them with live pinfish or sardines.

Big jack crevelle are roaming the brackish waters of the Caloosahatchee River and Peace River. Fish large thread herring along the bridges or places where the channel narrows.

The forecast for the fishing is excedllent. Tarpon and snook fishing will continue to be good for most of the summer. Redfish can get harder to catch as the water get fresher and it rises into the high 80's. Trout will be around but the larger ones will be caught early in the morning or late in the evening.

Good luck!

Capt. Scott Hughes

Blackwater Charters

941-575-2389

941-628-4247 cell

More Fishing Reports:

• All Reports by Capt. Scott Hughes
• Fort Myers Fishing Reports
• Southwest Florida (Cape Sable to Boca Grande) Reports
• Florida Fishing Reports
• Browse All Fishing Reports