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Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande
Capt. Scott Hughes
October 20, 2000
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
More of the Same........Fishing is Good!
Fishing this week was more of the same. Redfish and snook were the main targets and they didn’t disappoint any of our anglers. From the flats of Charlotte Harbor to the north to the 10,000 Islands south of Everglades City, redfish have been schooling and feeding like they are supposed to this time of year. Bait has been everywhere. Offshore has schools of large sardines and inshore grass flats are loaded with small herring and sardines. With the cooler water temps more mackerel and tarpon will be pushing south and will start hanging around the artificial reefs a few miles offshore. It’s a great time to get on the water as long a the cold fronts don’t get to strong.
Redfish fishing is about as good as its going to get. We have produced good catches of keeper sized reds as far south as Chockoluskee and as far north a Marco Island. The reds are also being reported all over the potholes of Pine Island Sound and on the flats of Charlotte Harbor. I haven’t had the chance to check them out myself. But the pattern should be the same as previous years. We have been using small sardines fished around the outer islands of the 10,000 islands averaging about 9-10 reds per trip. Larger sardines caught offshore have been doing about as well on the flats of Cape Romano. Sardines, shrimp, and plastic jerk baits are the baits of choice in Ft Myers and Charlotte Harbor.
Snook fishing is still producing at least a dozen fish per trip. Most of these fish are on the small side, however. The same sardines that we are using for redfish are catching the snook. Most days are producing “backcountry slams” which consists of snook, redfish and trout caught on the same trip.
Trout fishing is improving with each day. The season, however, will be over in 10 days for this year. After Novermber 1st trout fishing will be catch and release. I haven’t been focusing to much on trout with the redfishing being so good but the flats around Round Key should be excellent as well as the flats south of Cape Romano. In Ft Myers the flats north of Chino Island and off Cove Key are good spots to start. Jigs, shrimp and sardines are the best baits to use.
Jacks, mackerel, ladyfish and flounder round out the catches for the week. Expect jacks to attack what ever lure you decide to use. The small 4-5 pound fish are all over the flats and the bruisers are around the pass mouths. Don’t be surprised if a flounder grabs your sardine or jig this time of year. Cooler water seems to make them get more aggressive. Ladyfish can get quite annoying when you trying to get a trout or a redfish but don’t throw all of them back. Cut ladyfish is catching on as a redfish bait and livies will get a 100-pound tarpon if its fished in one of the passes of the 10,000 Islands.
Good Luck!
Capt. Scott Hughes
Blackwater Charters
863-946-9171
[email protected]
www.blackwatercharters.com
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 I specialize in light tackle saltwater, and fly fishing from the backcountry of the 10,000 Islands to flats of Pine Island Sound and the bay system of Charlotte Harbor. I have pick-up locations out of Ft Myers, Marco Island, Pine Island, Punta Gorda and Boca Grande. I like to target big fish. During warm months, tarpon, sharks, snook, redfish, cobia, king mackerel and big jacks are the main species sought after. Most of the winter months are devoted to redfish, trout, snook and grouper. Whether
Contact Info:
Blackwater Charters
12571 Burnt Store Rd
Punta Gorda, FL 33955
Phone: 941-575-2389
Alt. Phone: 941-628-4247
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