Hot Snook
Capt. Matt Hoover
July 20, 2009
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
It doesn't get any hotter than it has been in the last couple of weeks. I found some water temperatures in the islands as high as 92 degrees. Still, slick calm conditions in the morning can produce some excellent fishing. Live bait, jigs, and top water lures have been catching plenty of attention.
I have been catching plenty of small to medium snook in almost every scenario around Marco and the 10.000 Islands. I have been using mostly live bait with my clients. We have been hooking up with small to medium sized tarpon as well in the early morning hours.
These glassy mornings are perfect for top water enthusiasts. I have been seeing all sorts of fish crashing the surface in the morning. Snook, small schools of jacks, and mackerel have been bashing the small bait schools that have been sizzling on points with current.
Speaking of small bait, I have been netting up micro shiners and using them to get into some killer mangrove snapper action. I like a few just a few for the pan if you know what I mean. I had a dad and his two small boys out two days ago and we shredded the mangs and small snook at almost every fallen tree we went to.
I did head off shore with friend and guide Stacy Mullendore yesterday. We did very well on red grouper by drift fishing cut bait over hard bottom. Many of the wrecks are holding grouper and serious mangrove snapper.
Beat the heat and get out on the water for an early morning half day. The fishing has been great.
Marco Island Fishing Forecast:
balmy summer mornings should continue
Target Species:
snook,redfish,trout,tarpon
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