Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
August 12, 2003
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Tarpon are still Hot!

This week I spent most of my time fishing Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. The weather has been somewhat unstable but we have been able to get in most days by dodging the T-storms. Tarpon, snook and redfish are still making days go by quickly. Trout, snapper and a few grouper have also been in the mix.

The best tarpon fishing of the year continues in Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. We are still catching between 2-4 tarpon per trip using 5 inch plastic jerk baits. Most of these fish are well over 100-pounds. Look for rolling fish or tarpon hitting sardines. Birds will give their locations away.

Heavy surf has made snook fishing the outside impossible. We have been finding snook up to 32-inches in the backcountry. Most of the snook have been under the mangroves. Pinfish have been the most consistent producers.

Redfish are in the same spots as the snook. You never know what your going to catch. The reds are big. Most are in the upper slot. Again they have been hitting pinfish.

Snapper have been in the mangroves also. We have been catching them on pinfish. Most are 13-15 inches. I'm sure that if I took shrimp and jigs in there we could increase our catch numbers.

Trout have been productive on the shallow flats on high tide. Fish in 2-3 ft of water. Stay over heavy grass. We have been catching them on plastic jerk baits. Chartruese, pink and pearl have been good colors.

Ladyfish and Cobia are around Charlotte Harbor. The ladys are hitting schools of spanish sardines. Fish around the schools and you might get a cobia. Spanish mackerel are around the same areas also.

Good Luck!

Capt. Scott Hughes

Blackwater Charters

941-575-2389

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