Tarpon fishing report

Capt. Scott Hughes
August 30, 2008
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report

It's still tarpon seson in Southwest Florida. We did have a 10 day period of slow fishing the first week of August I believe due to hot surface water but since then the fishing has been some of the best of the year. The fish are harder to find this time of year but when you do it "game on" because these fish are here to feed. Some days we have been finding the tarpon crashing schools of ladyfish and other days we have found them slurping small shrimp and crabs off the surface. There have been all sizes of fish. On any given cast you can hook into a 30 pounder or one well over 100 pounds. Our best luck has been with large swim baits in either either gold or sardine color. In addition to the swim baits we have hooked at least one tarpon each of the last five days on Cajun thunder gold spoons. If the tarpon are feeding heavily on ladyfish schools its been best to try to catch a few live ladyfish and drift them behind the boat. There is alot of by catch around the ladyfish schools and it hard to get the lures to the tarpon.

Other than the tarpon, snapper fishing is out of control. You can catch snapper just about anywhere in our area. Shrimp or small sardines are the best baits. Try them in the passes, on the flats and in the mangroves. Find moving water and you'll find the snapper. Its been that easy.

Good luck,

Capt Scott Hughes
Blackwater Charters
941-628-4247 cell

www.blackwatercharters.com

Fort Myers Fishing Forecast:

Expect to see the tarpon fishing to be good until sometime in mid October. That is when we'll start to get some cold fronts and that will move the tarpon out of the area. Snapper fishing will peak next month and the redfish are already starting to school on the flats. Expect that to get better as the water cools off and will continue to get better thoughout October.

Target Species:

Tarpon, redfish, snapper

More Fishing Reports:

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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