Reds Rule the Backwaters!
Capt. Todd Geroy
September 23, 2011
Naples - Saltwater Fishing Report
Redfish continued to get most of our attention in the last week. They are still abundant throughout the backwaters of Naples and Marco. We are having success with them on both high and low tides and with both live baits and jigs.
The redfish are ranging from 18 to 30 inches with most half day outings boating 20 to 30 per trip. We are also finding some snook in the mix, although the majority of snook remain towards the outside passes right now. They should start moving into the back in a few weeks as the waters gradually cool more.
There is a large abundance of bait just off the beaches right now with acres of sardines, pilchards and herring migrating into the area. I have seen plenty of spanish mackerel working them along with some bluefish and ladyfish. Bonito should not be far behind.
Shark fishing remains great in the back bays with a nice 6 foot blacktip boated the other day after just 10 minutes of waiting. The scrappy shark at a blue runner used for bait.
I fished with a group of guys from Atlanta for an afternoon half day recently. We started off with live bait and caught several fish, but the bite just didn't seem to be on. We changed to Gulp shrimp imitations on ¼ oz. jig heads and started picking the shorelines. That was the ticket! The trio got into the reds and boated a number of them up to 29 inches. Here is a shot of Dave with a big red we released…
Yesterday, I fished with Naples resident Jim McCann and his buddy Tim Scott. We had very high water all morning and the reds were way under the bushes. Using live pilchards under a popping cork, we managed to float the baits under the bushes and boated well over 20 reds to 27 inches. There were a few snook to 25 inches in the mix as well as snapper and jack crevalle.
-Capt. Todd Geroy
Naples Fishing Forecast:
More of the same ahead, and were just getting started on fall action.
Target Species:
snook, redfish, sharks
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