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Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
October 10, 2001
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Jacks And Macks
Strong tides and mild weather made the last week of fishing very pleasant. There is still a strong influx of fresh water moving into the islands and surrounding areas. That can make fishing in the backcountry difficult Fishing remained steady this past week if you are not picky about the species you catch.
There were large pods of various kinds of bait everywhere and the jacks and mackerel were having a feast. The fish were just off the beaches of Marco and the Ten Thousand islands. You could catch these fish with a bare jig. Hooking a fish with a fly was no problem either.
There are plenty of shiners around. Just let the birds show you where they are. Guides and friends have had to hunt and poke for snook and redfish this past week. The fishing was steady but not exactly on fire. There are plenty of small to medium sized snook but they are not hanging out at every corner as they have been in the past. There are some larger fish but they are not in vast numbers. Anglers do not seem to be catching as many reds as they have in the past weeks. I think that part of it has to do with the fact that there were negative tides this week. Small bays can come completely out of the water. That forces fish to move out. Normally, fish would stay in those spots throughout both phases of the tide. Between the jacks, mackerel, ladyfish and an occasional tarpon, you can have a well-rounded day of fishing.
A small cool front passed through at the beginning of the week and brought stiffer winds out of the north. Fishing slowed down a bit but it was not a serious weather system. It looks as if the weekend will have fair weather. That may be true for the first part of the week as well. There is a front coming from the West Coast. It looks large but it is too far down the road to predict. Fishing will remain good to excellent until the first serious cold fronts of winter. We could do without the fresh water influx for awhile too. Nothing is perfect and that is what makes fishing so much fun. There are no rules. I’ll see you on the water.
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