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Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
July 10, 2001
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Summer Splendor
Fishing remained consistent this past week. Anglers and guides found bait along the beach. You had to be selective, as most of the sardines are smaller. There have been plenty of threadfin pods near shore if big baits are what you’re after. If that doesn’t work, birds have been giving away schools of small menhaden. Actually, I have had great reports from those that are throwing artificial baits. Those methods take more skill, but the rewards are often more gratifying.
There has been no shortage of snook. They are ranging in all sizes. Weekend warrior Donny Kish told me that he and his friend caught over twenty snook with various methods. His buddy was throwing live bait and Donny threw a sassy shad type lure. That is a jig with a rubber fish like body. Donny out fished the live bait. Let me tell that he can put a lure in a teacup. That’s what I mean by skill. This time of year, snook will be staying cool in the small pockets of a mangrove shoreline. They like a shoreline with some current as it aids in staying cool as well as provides a better setup for an ambush. Two of the snook that these guys caught were over twelve pounds. They caught one snook that was at least twenty pounds. There were two redfish in the catch as well. That’s not bad for a day on the water. All of the fish were caught in the upper Ten Thousand Islands.
Guide and friend Stacy Mullendore has been staying close to home. He has been fishing the Caxambas area and the Big Marco Pass area. He says getting bait is no problem and that his anglers have been catching plenty of small to medium snook. Redfish are still scarce. He says that the mangrove snappers have been big and are as thick as fleas. They will find a downed bush and catch a fish on every cast. If you get into a mess of snappers, drop to eight-pound test line and you will be amazed at how much fun you can have. A good mangrove snapper can be very tough out of the gate. You can get cut off easy if you take them too lightly. They are great tablefare as well. Stacy said that the trout fishing is going strong and remains no mystery. Find grass and catch trout.
There are still resident tarpon out there. Most of them that are being caught are in the fifty to seventy pound range. That doesn’t mean that there still aren’t a few bruisers out there. You may see them rolling in the passes or quiet bays. They will also lay up tight against the bushes this time of year. I had several reports from shocked anglers when that snook hit turned into a much larger explosion.
If the remains of the last front would actually move through, we should see some fine weather in the next week. According to the forecast, temperatures should stay in the high eighties all week. Expect afternoon showers. That just goes with summertime in Southwest Florida. Fishing should remain excellent. I’m getting out next week no matter what. I think I may get a go from the doctor. I’ll see you out there.
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