Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
May 13, 2000
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Snook and Trout are hot.......Tarpon get lockjaw.

The past few weeks since my last report have been filled with action from a number of different species. There are plenty of tarpon from Marco Island to Boca Grande Pass and sharks are everywhere. The snook run has finally come in strong and some of the best trout fishing of the year is going on in the 10,000 Islands. Most of my charters have been in search of tarpon but I have been able to get a little snook fishing in on my own and have scored some nice catches.

Tarpon are in about as thick as they are going to get in the Ft Myers area north to Boca Grande Pass. We have been locating 3-10 schools of 100+ pound fish on just about every trip in that area. The catching has not been as successful as the locating of the schools. Heavy pressure from boat traffic and guides has made the beach tarpon a little bait shy. However, if you want to give it a shot use crabs, sardines or mullet to pitch on the fish as they slowly cruise north. Large tarpon are still on the outside of the 10,000 islands but they are much more scattered that they were 3 weeks ago. Small tarpon have been seen around lighted docks in and around Marco Island.

Snook fishing is really good south of Marco Island. Live sardines are the bait of choice, but thread herring will do as good when they are fresh and lively. Pitch them around the passes and off the beach for the larger medium sized snook and float them around the outer island of the upper 10,000 Islands for the bruisers in the 33-42 inch class. We have been connecting with at least 1 ten-pound fish on our way back to the boat ramp from tarpon fishing. I just can’t pass up a good edge with clean water when we have quality sardines.

Trout fishing is the hottest I have seen in some time. All of our guides are bring in limits of trout on nearly every trip. Most of the fish have been caught on live thread herring but plugs have taken up the slack when the bait is all gone. It’s been so good that sometimes it’s been hard to find 5 trout under the 20-inch limit. The sandbars from Cape Romano to Coon Key have been consistent holding spots but many of the big fish have been running with the snook.

Shark fishing has been good. Extremely large hammerhead and bull sharks are following the tarpon in Captiva Pass and Boca Grande Pass. These fish are nothing to play around with. All of these sharks are ranging between 400-500 pounds. Smaller blacktips are all over the flats south of Marco Island and in the mudhole off Whitehorse Key. Most of these fish are less than 50 pounds and have been taking live mullet. They aren’t a bad substitute for tarpon when they are hooked on 20-pound test.

Mackerel and bluefish are scattered around the area. Most are good size with 20 inchers common if you can locate schools. I haven’t been fishing for them but we have been catching and seeing some while we are tarpon fishing. Also jacks are all around the passes. Most of the fish are less than 12 pounds but larger fish are offshore a few miles. Throw anything in front of them and hang on.

All in all, there is plenty to fish for. If you choose to be patient you’ll be rewarded with a large tarpon or shark or if you aren’t so patient you can pitch sardines for snook, trout and jacks. Either way it’s almost impossible to not get hooked up with something.

Good Luck!

Capt. Scott Hughes

Blackwater Fishing Charters

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