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Southwest Florida - Naples, Marco, 10,000 Islands
Capt. Jeff Legutki
January 31, 2005
Ten Thousand Islands - Saltwater Fishing Report
Inshore January 30th
Today had a break from the guiding,and go figure I went fishing for fun. After all, isn't that what it's all about! I have been guiding only for a short time now, (4 year's) and I still can't get enough. It's my addiction, my passion, my first true love.
I invited my best friend, Wes Bedell to join me on a new adventure. Wes a captain himself, came up with the idea of fishing some where different, like Pine Island. Since I guide out of the 10,000 island's year round, it sounded like a great new destination to investigate. Even though it's only a 45 minute drive from our neck of the wood's, I've never fished there. I have heard such great thing's about the place, and let me tell you they are all true.
Never have I seen such clean water, and vast amount's of healthy grass bed's. For miles and miles, expansive flat's teaming with life. The entire time I was dumbfounded with the endless oppertunities. You could fish the pot holes, or the mangroves at the same time, depending on what side of the boat you were facing. Trout were so abundant, we got bored of catching them. No real monster's, but I'm sure with a little more experience in the area, we'll find the gator's we alway's hear about.
Red fish were swimming on just about every flat we tried out, and the greatest thing was, they seemed to travel in school's. Every time we sighted one, five or six would materialize out of thr grass around him. Something we don't see to much down south. Wes and I sight fished five red's up to 6 1/2 pound's. All fish were caught on custom jig's I make. Every fish we saw appeared to want to eat this jig. The water being so clear made them a little skittish, but that just made it a challenge we love so much. After all, if it was too easy, it wouldn't be fun, right!!!
We got the chance to see alot of the area, and we also got to see how much damage the hurricane's caused. Such a shame, so much beauty wiped out so quick. There was downed tree limb's every where you had to use caution driving around, at the same time a lot of fish were on these tree's. You could see which direction the gale force wind's came from, and how they clipped the island's in half. On a good note, mother nature is springing right back and you can see alot coming back on the mangrove island's.
If you ever get the chance to visit the area, hire a guide and take the oppertunity to fish this little piece of heaven. Hiring a guide is a must in this area, everything look's the same, "perfect". If your a fly fisherman like myself, it's sight fishing heaven. The clear water, vast amount's of turtle grass, and plenty of fish, you will get enough shot's to bring you back again, I promise!
Until next time, tight lines and screaming drag's to all.
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