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Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande
Capt. Scott Hughes
May 17, 2004
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
The tarpon are back this year!
Due to a busy schedule and little problem with a computer virus/worm it's been a while since my last report. For the last month ie mostly been fishing Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. Everynow and then I've been sneaking a trip or two out of Marco Island as well. All in all, the fishing in both areas has been excellent with the exception of a day or two where we just couldn't put much togather.
Tarpon: This year the tarpon have moved back into Pine Island and Charlotte Harbor. Last year was one of the worst tarpon seasons in recent memory due to some redtide and other unknown factors. I'm glad to anounce this year that things are back to normal. in fact we have already matched a charter record with a 7'6" 200+ pound tarpon landed in Pine Island sound by Billy Fash with the help of his dad Bill in Pine Island yesterday morning. The tarpon hit a freelined thread herring and took almost 2 1/2 hours to land. The Fash group also released 12 other tarpon over a two day period. A variety of cut bait and live bait has been needed to maintain a good bite. Ihave been stating the day with live bait and moving to cut bait during the middle of the day. Mullet, ladyfish and mackerel have been good for the cut bait.
Redfish: For better than a month big redfish up to 18-pounds have been schooling in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound. We have been beating the bushes at high tide with cut bait and live shiners to score with most of our reds this month. During low tide they have been in potholes.
Snook: As usual the snook fishing this time of year is good. Live shiners and pinfish are my favorite baits. Marco island has been producing the best snook action around at the moment. Big snook are hitting large scaled sardines along the beaches and passes from Cape Romano north of Marco River. In Pine Island there are still losts of snook in the backcountry. Fish the oyster bars and potholes. I like whitebait for the backcountry and pinfish for the passes and beaches.
Trout and bluefish: These two fish are all over the flats of Pine Island Sound. We have been catching them on a variety of plastics and while drifting live shiners. There are still a lot of trout spawning in the passes and out on the beaches. Live pinfish and shiners with catch plenty.
Cobia and sharks: I have been finding a few cobia pods along the beaches and a few have been hitting cut bait while we have been tarpon fishing. Sharks are all over Pine Island Sound and offshore of Ft Myers Beach. We have been catching lemons, blacktips, spinners, sand, tigers, nurse, and small hammerheads with cut bluefish and mullet. Big 12-13 ft hammerheads and bull sharks are hearding the tarpon and we have lost a few quality tarpon to sharks already this year.
The forecast for the next few weeks is excellent. Most of the cold fronts are past us or so i hope. Tarpon, shark, snook and redfish will be good for the rest of the summer especially around the new and full moons.
Good Luck!
Capt. Scott Hughes
Blackwater Charters
941-575-2389
941-628-4247 cell
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 I specialize in light tackle saltwater, and fly fishing from the backcountry of the 10,000 Islands to flats of Pine Island Sound and the bay system of Charlotte Harbor. I have pick-up locations out of Ft Myers, Marco Island, Pine Island, Punta Gorda and Boca Grande. I like to target big fish. During warm months, tarpon, sharks, snook, redfish, cobia, king mackerel and big jacks are the main species sought after. Most of the winter months are devoted to redfish, trout, snook and grouper. Whether
Contact Info:
Blackwater Charters
12571 Burnt Store Rd
Punta Gorda, FL 33955
Phone: 941-575-2389
Alt. Phone: 941-628-4247
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