Redfish Galore in Naples Backwaters!
Capt. Todd Geroy
September 8, 2011
Naples - Saltwater Fishing Report
September has arrived, and with it we have seen some of the heaviest rainfall of the season along with some very windy days. Several days in the last week were a wash out with bad weather, but that has cooled the water at least 10 degrees. This is good! When I have gotten out, the redfish have been very cooperative. This is even better!
In the Naples-Marco backwaters we are enjoying some great fishing for redfish right now. They are running in size from schooling fish in the 18 to 21 inch range to some 30 inch bruisers. We are catching them on everything from flies and jigs to natural baits such as shrimp and shiners. High tide is bringing the most action as the fish move up towards the mangrove edges to feed as the water floods. Accurate casts along or under the bushes will produce quick results if the fish are in the area. On the lower tide stages, they move out to the channel edges where there are some good opportunities for sight fishing as they cruise in the shallows, waking and sometimes tailing.
On Sunday Sept. 4, I fished with my long time angler/friend Doug Poe. We worked shorelines in the Rookery Bay and Johnson Bay area with 1/4 ounce jigs and really wore out the schooling reds. We also released several snook.
This morning, I fished with George and Vicky Shuert of St. Louis. The couple also caught plenty of reds from 16 inchers to the 30 inch range. We used a variety of baits from shrimp and shiners as well as jigs. Here is a picture of the happy couple with a nice red from their trip…
We are just entering the prime time for redfish in Southwest Florida. The action should only get better in the next month and continue through November. Get out and get ‘em while their hot!
-Capt. Todd Geroy
Naples Fishing Forecast:
Catch and release fishing for snook should be on fire the next few months. We are due for our fall run of tarpon in the area as well. They will be feeding heavily on schools of migrating bait fish in the passes and along the beaches as the waters to the north gradually cool. All we need now is for some settled weather.
Target Species:
Redfish
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