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Southwest Florida - Naples, Marco, 10,000 Islands
Capt. Jeff Legutki
September 27, 2007
Ten Thousand Islands - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fall Red fishing
Fall is here, you can feel the difference in the air! More bait is washing into our area every day. Hordes of bait can be seen on every outside point and pass from Naples to the Everglades National Park. And under these pods of bait are plenty of hungry fish.
This past week school of redfish have been feeding aggressivly on the top of the incoming tide. Around the rock jetties from Naples to Marco 20 -30 fish days have been common.
I personally have been having better luck with artificial than my friends using live bait. I beleave the reason is because of all the other bait that is in the area. More or less their baits are just blending into the schools of bait without being noticed. A 1/8 oz. white jig or a small castmaster spoon has been highly productive under the pods of bait. Standing out a bit and getting more attention.
Most red fish are on the small side of the slot, with a few towards the top near 25- 27 inch. Fun all around, especially if you happen to be fishing with children. Action fishing at its best for about two hours on the top of the tide.
Along with the redfish, you will see schools of small snook blasting the bait simutanously, flying out of the water dozens at a time. A small white fly rarely gets turned down if you're in the right place at the right time. These fish tend to be under the slot, but great fun on a 7 wt. flyrod.
With all this action taking place it attracts other species to join in on the feeding spree. Big jacks up to ten pounds will crash anyones party if they find the bait before the other two mentioned. Ladyfish, bluefish and mackeral can be caught on any cast!
As the water temps keep dropping the fish will hang around the outside points until the bait starts to thin out. Fish will start working their way into the back waters as temps keep falling. Internal bays are holding fish now, and last of the outgoing tide can make sight fishing great.
I would like to take this time to congradulate two close friends who just captured the Red Fish Team of the Year Title on the Redfish Tour. Bill Faulkner and Al Keller, two guides from our area. This was the first year they fished together and obviously make a great team! Good going guys!
And I would also like to take the time to thank William H. Faulkner for doing the latest story with myself for Florida Sportsman, Finer points of, "Glades fishing"! A well written article, thanks Bill!
Fishing is fantastic right now and the waters are still empty. Get out and enjoy the finest fishing around. Until my next report, tight lines and screaming drags to all!
Capt. Jeff Legutki
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