Early Birds Get The Fish in Naples Backwaters
Capt. Todd Geroy
July 12, 2011
Naples - Saltwater Fishing Report
With mid-July approaching, we have been trying to "beat the heat" by scheduling fishing trips early in the morning and late in the evening. The afternoon showers have been getting in the way of some of the evening trips however.
Snook remain to be the primary targets. Sunrise brings a short flurry of 20 to 25 inch fish feeding heavily in the passes. We have great success with small lipped plugs as well as flies that resemble the tiny bait fish that the snook are focused on. Once the sun is up, soft plastic jerk baits and 1/4 oz. Gulp jigs are taking a few fish on well placed casts along the mangroves.
I have also been having success lately on larger snook in the 15 lb. range using live baits such as thread herring and white baits. Moving water is the key and most are being caught along shallow edges adjacent to deeper channels in the backwater areas.
Redfish have made a good showing the last couple weeks with several trips scoring on numerous fish running just in the keeper slot size. We have taken almost all of the reds on live or cut bait at high tide along south facing mangrove shorelines that have plenty of oyster bottom. A well placed cast right on the edge or deep in a pocket is critical for success right now.
Here are a couple shots of clients with some nice snook caught in the last week or so. Jim Cober caught and released this 13 lber. last week...
Felice Domingo boated this 14 lber. on 10 lb. test line this morning...
I am still having great success with the inshore sharks when we want some big action. They are mostly bull and lemon sharks running from 75 to 250 lbs. All are caught in the shallow bays minutes from the dock! Great fun for teenage kids or anyone who wants to get a workout on some hard pulling fast running fish!
I am running special shark only 4 hour trips from now until the end of August at a great discount! Please give me a call or email me for more information and hours available.
-Capt. Todd Geroy
Target Species:
snook, redfish, sharks
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