Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
January 7, 2004
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Tarpon and Permit? Yes, that's Correct.

Believe it. We have been catching tarpon and permit in January this year. The two weeks of 80 degree weather moved the tarpon inshore and the permit weren't far behind. We hooked tarpon over 100 pounds on every trip that I fished out of Marco Island over Christmas break and found the permit 22 to 25 pounds a couple of times. The tarpon took soft plastics and the permit hit live shrimp.

Large jack crevelle were also roaming the outside of the major passes during this warm spell. We call jacks as big as these tackle busters because they were busting the drag clickers and bending and breaing hooks off of the lures we were trolling. The jacks were running from 10-16 pounds. We caught most of them on trolled bomber long A's and other large shallow diving plugs.

Snook were active also. We have been avaraging around 6-8 snook per day. Most of the fish have small. Well below the 26-34 inch slot. Again, jigs have been catching most of them.

Sheephead are active in and around the passes. Shrimp on a jighead are the most effective baits this time of year. They will be most active around the full and new moons for the next three months.

The forecast for the next few weeks will be a return to normal winter fishing. We are getting another cold front today and that means an end to the tarpon, permit and big jacks. Trout, sheephead and pompano shouldn't be effected. The duck hunting should get better with each cold front. The season is open until the 26th of January so it's not to late to get in another hunt or two. Call about our affordable guided duck hunting rates.

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