Patience Brings Rewards During the August "Dog Days"
Capt. Todd Geroy
August 24, 2015
Naples - Saltwater Fishing Report
Nobody can ever say that this long time guide doesn't tell it like it is! Anyone that tells you that inshore fishing in August is easy is stretching the truth a little. Water temperatures often spike into the upper 80's along area beaches and into the mid-90's in the back waters. Warm waters along with fresh water runoff from the regular summer rains contribute to lowering oxygen levels and lowering oxygen levels. The result on fishing is similar to extreme cold conditions that can be encountered during the winter months.
With all that said, by no means does this mean that anglers can't enjoy some fine action from a variety of species this time of year. One just needs to adapt to the conditions, exercise patience and be ready to hunt around a little more to find the fish.
Capt. Ben Geroy and I have been busy for this time of year and finding some good fish for our clients. Baby tarpon, snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, pompano and some big sharks have all been keeping lines tight.
One of my favorite fish to target during the late summer has always been the baby tarpon. These fish range from 5 pound specimens to some pretty challenging fish pushing 25 lbs. On light spinning tackle or fly rod, these little warriors are great fun providing all of the jumps, runs and bull dogging of their larger relatives. I have been finding them around creek mouths, deep holes in the creeks as well as along adjacent shorelines. Live baits, soft plastics, plugs, jigs and flies all get the bites.
Snook fishing has been spotty. There are plenty of small snook around, with most of them concentrated in the passes. We are past spawning time now and I have not encountered any fish of much size recently. I along with other guides in the area am concerned about the low numbers of snook we have seen this summer in our region along with the huge numbers of dolphins that seem to be in patrol at every spot, aggressively devouring any fish that wanders off the bank or is released by anglers. I continue to support catch and release of these precious fish, even during open season.
Redfish are starting to show with regularity after a few months of hiatus. We are approaching the peak time of year for reds here as our annual "run" usually kicks in during September. Right now we are finding slot sized fish scattered along mangrove shorelines and points. Live sardines and 1/4 ounce jigs take alot of fish.
We have been finding decent numbers of mangrove snapper, pompano and a few flounder for those who with to take some good fish home for dinner. The snapper and flounder have been taken just about anywhere that there is water moving along the shorelines while the pompano have been caught while drifting and casting jigs outside the passes.
-Capt Todd Geroy
Naples Fishing Forecast:
September is right around the corner an is one of my very favorite months to fish. Slightly cooler days can bring all day action again along with the best redfish action of the year!
Target Species:
Baby tarpon, redfish, snook, mangrove snapper, pompano
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