Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
June 21, 2000
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Summer Heat, Summer Rains
This past year has dealt us some very erratic weather. We had warmth when it was unusual, cold that was unbearable, and winds that would scalp your mane. Summer is upon us and the heat and afternoon rains are predictable. Even though it can be uncomfortable, there is peace in knowing that things are just as they should be. We have a weather pattern that we can count on. That can spell relief especially if you do the fishing thing for a living. Fishing has been good too. All the inshore players are in place and the games are in full swing.
Last week seemed to be the last hurrah for the major bulk of the tarpon. I had a client catch and release a very large tarpon on Thursday and I haven’t been able to scare one up since. Most of the guides that I have talked to have given me the same report. That does not mean that there are not some tarpon around. A certain number of tarpon will call our area home until it is time to hit the trail. It just means that the large schools of the tarpon that we have been playing with have scattered. There will be reports of catches trickling in for sure.
The bait is thicker than fleas everywhere. It is mostly small scaled and Spanish sardines. They are hard to throw but they work. We are catching lots of snook, snapper, and an occasional redfish with them. Larger snook are being caught around the passes of Marco and the Ten Thousand Islands on full grown thread fin herring. I have been using fifteen-pound outfits and have been getting embarrassed by large snook from time to time. Then is when I whip out the twenty five-pound outfits and go to war. Sometimes they aren’t enough either.
Snook, jacks, and mackerel have been shredding the bait along the beaches. This is a great time to get after those fish with a small white fly. You can approach these fish by boat or walk the beach. Polarized glasses are a must. Look carefully along the waterline and you will see pods or singles and pairs of snook cruising along looking to ambush bait. It is like bonefishing only it is a lot easier. Throw your fly well ahead of the fish and wait for it to intersect the path that you will strip the fly. By doing this, you will avoid spooking the fish with an errant cast. It’s a great way to spend a morning and get exercise at the same time.
Most of us like to do a half-day of fishing this time of year. You can catch plenty of fish with every method and beat the heat and the afternoon rain. Hot, lazy days are ahead. You stay cool and catch a boat load of fish. I’ll see you on the water.
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