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Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
October 23, 2001
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Stubborn Front
A massive front passed over Florida this past week and then stalled. The front lingered into the next week. Despite periodic rain and gusty winds, guides and anglers that went out managed produce some great catches.
Most anglers spent this past week dodging squalls. As the week progressed, the wind died down but the showers stayed with us. There are large schools of bait coming into the islands and the fish are happy and careless. Finding bait is no problem, as the terns and pelicans will show you where it is. There are small to medium snook at every turn. We have been catching a fair number of juvenile redfish as well. Most of the anglers that I have talked to have been catching keeper size fish in the back bays in the Ten thousand Islands. I will have to say that I have been doing very well around the Caxambas side of Marco Island too.
Jigs and soft plastic baits have been doing very well too. This is the time of year when the bait is thick and all of the fish converge to get fat for the winter. They are not shy about hitting plastics. I have been catching large trout while fishing for snook. It is a sure sign that the water has cooled and winter is around the corner. Large schools of mackerel and ladyfish have been in front of the islands. They are willing to hit anything that you throw to them. I like to chase them while I wait for the tide to change.
I have seen medium to large tarpon in the passes early in the morning. There are a lot of small schooling silver mullet right now and the tarpon will make short work of them. If you have the time and patience, you could probably catch a few of them with live bait or even cut bait.
The weather has actually been more comfortable to fish in because it has been overcast. That helps keep anglers cool. It looks as if we will be enjoying the same kind of weather in the next week. I do not think that we will have to worry about the rain though.
This is one of the best times to be on the water. The weather is cool, catching bait is easy and the fish are willing. Say a prayer, turn off the news, get off the couch and wet a line. I’ll see you on the water.
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