Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Capt. Scott Hughes
November 2, 2000
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

Last Gasp for Silver Kings!

The weather has been good. The bait has been easy and the snook, redfish and trout fishing are very good. I could spend a lot of time talking about these things, but what’s the point. WE ARE KICKING THE TARPON!

The tarpon fishing this week has brought back the memories from spring. With winter just around the corner the tarpon have been migrating south to the keys and we have jumping 9-13 fish when the wind is calm. These tarpon aren’t nearly as big as the spring and summer fish but they range from 30-70 pounds. You can fish these tarpon just like the ones in the spring by running a few miles offshore and looking for them breaking the water are hanging around wrecks. However, when you find them in the fall they are usually a little farther offshore and they don’t usually hang around in one spot for to long. Live sardines and mullet are the best baits.

Sharks from 10-50 pounds are cruising with the tarpon along with some huge jacks that are 15-20 pounds. You’ll catch them with the same techniques that are used for the tarpon. Also if you fish a spot and you don’t get any sharks to take the bait there is probably a good chance there aren't any tarpon around either. One treat last week was a 27-pound smoker kingfish that we caught on the last sardine of the day. He hit a live sardine fish with 20lb test line.

Tarpon wasn’t the only target this week, but I did spend the majority of my time “hunting” them. Inshore, like I mentioned before, fishing is good also. Reds and snook were on the flats hitting live sardines and cut bait. Trout were on the outside of the bars in 3-5 feet of water hitting jigs, top-water lures and sardines.

All in all, it was a fine week of fishing and its not over yet. I think the winds are going to hold off for the most part over the weekend and most of the fishing should stay strong until the next major weather change.

Good Luck!

Capt. Scott Hughes

Blackwater Charters

863-946-9171

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