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Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
January 23, 2001
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Winter Front
A front slid through Florida this past week that stalled and left us with rain and lingering heavy breezes. The mornings have been cool and the afternoons have been in the low to mid seventies. It is still warmer than it has been all month. The water temperature has been on the rise. Cold fronts that pass over the peninsula make the up coming week hard to call. The system can blow right through or stall and prolong rain and gloomy weather.
According to them and we all know who they are, we will have more of the same for the next week. That means cool mornings and low to mid seventy-degree afternoons. I wouldn’t be surprised if the breezy winds stay with us. The wind can be hard to predict.
Up until the cold front we had been catching keeper trout in the deeper runs along the islands as well as over the grass flats. Quarter ounce jigs of all sorts seem to do the trick. If the wind is blowing hard, it can render some of these spots useless. I will catch larger trout in deeper troughs of bays where you might expect to catch a snook. It is one way to get out of the wind and actually catch fish. Live shrimp under a popping cork is another good way to prospect for fish. Expect to catch ladyfish or jacks while you are hunting for trout. They all seem to congregate together.
Guides and other anglers are starting to report more sightings of small to medium snook in shallow water. Redfish are making a better showing as well. There are several methods to hooking one of these fish. You may cast a light jig or a fly. Make sure that you lead the fish so that the lure that you are using does not spook the fish. You may also elect to throw a live shrimp in front of the fish. Unless the water is very cold, a shrimp will almost always produce a strike.
Deep drop methods are always a safe bet in the winter. We are still catching black drum, sheepshead, gag grouper, jewfish and what ever else will take a live shrimp on the bottom. Most of my fish are coming from deeper rivers and craggy holes in the upper islands. Once again, use your bottom machine to locate rough bottom. You are likely to find coral and structure for the fish to set up shop. Make sure to use just enough weight to keep your shrimp bouncing slowly on the bottom with the current. We have caught several large snook this winter using this method.
With every passing week we are getting closer to spring and tarpon. I for one am ready for some warmer weather. As always I’ll see you on the water.
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