Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
January 23, 2006
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Gator Trout Action!

Winter trout fishing is usually the best trout fishing of the year and this winter is no different. We usually put up good numbers of trout most of the year but the quality of fish the last few weeks has been better than advertised. About 90% of the seatrout that we are catching are larger than the 15-inch minimum size limit with a number of fish per day over the 20-inch maximum limit. Any trophy size trout over 20 inches is called a "gator".

We have been getting our biggest trout while fishing for a mixed bag of redfish, trout and snook. Today was an exceptional day. We landed over 20 gator trout with a few pushing 5-pounds.We have been throwing soft plastic Exude jerk bait or tubes rigged on a 1/4 oz jighead. The key to trophy trout fishing is to get shallow. If your catching 14-16 inch fishing your fishing to deep. Move into the flats where the snook and redfish hang out and you'll more than likely find the gators.

There has also been decent redfish and snook action on most days. Most of the snook have been comming from the Marco Island area. The redfish and trout have been better in Pine Island Sound. The snook have been hitting best on live sardines but a few are taking the plastics along with the reds and trout. Along with the trout, reds and snook have been a few pompano, snapper, grouper and ladyfish to the rods bent in the meantime.

Good Luck!

Capt. Scott Hughes

941-575-2389

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