Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
April 16, 2002
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fishy Brew
Fishing is starting to heat up as we move into the heart of spring. Snook, redfish, trout and tarpon are here and willing to give an angler a shot at a grand slam. The wind tamed down considerably by the middle of the week. Anglers were able to broaden their base of attack.
Winds seemed to knock down the tarpon fishing at the beginning of the week. Everybody that I talked to did some serious bush beating for snook and redfish. If you scrounged around enough, you could get some sardines. Finger mullet are everywhere. Both baits took a variety of snook and redfish this week. Large jacks were willing to fill the gaps. Some of us have been throwing Hybrid lures when the bait is too much trouble to deal with. These lures are a soft plastic that you can put on a jig. Quarter ounce jig heads seem to work the best. You have to be accurate at putting these lures in the kitchen. They swim like a fish and get great results. This is a good time of year to throw plugs too. Top water lures are getting lots of attention right now.
By the middle of the weekend the wind died down and tarpon started showing in the passes and bays. Live bait, cutbait and flies have been getting the job done. Cutbait in the passes has been producing super results. Anglers caught several tarpon over one hundred pounds with me over the weekend. Captain Duane White and his crew of two women anglers landed two tarpon over one hundred pounds today. Captains gave similar reports throughout the Ten Thousand Islands.
It is alive with mackerel, and bait of all designs offshore. I believe that tarpon fishing will hit its peak in the next few weeks. Restring the reels and get ready for round two.
Trout seem to be everywhere. We have been catching trout while fishing for snook and redfish. Trout are in their favorite haunts over the grassflats and sloughs along the islands.
It looks as if we have another front on the way. Clear skies are behind it. It appears as if we are moving into a more reliable weather pattern. Storms are starting to brew over the Everglades by the middle of the afternoon. It is a sure sign that spring is getting ready to give way to the summer months. Steamy weather makes for a fishy brew. I’ll see you on the water.
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