Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
May 28, 2002
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Whiplash
The effects of the unusual cold front that passed through last weekend lingered with us throughout the remainder of the week. Strong winds stifled our best fishing efforts until the later part of the week. By the weekend, most of us were able to procure live bait and get down to some serious fishing. Better yet, the fish were starting to get back in a feeding mode.
After the cold front, heavy winds persisted until about the middle of the week. Cool temperatures in the morning reminded me of late fall. As the week progressed, snook started to cooperate. Until I could find bait, jigs with Hybrid fish bodies produced excellent results. The snook are all over the place this time of the year. We have been doing very well in the south Marco area and the upper Ten Thousand Islands. The outside islands have been producing super snook action as the tide approaches a higher phase.
As the weekend approached, some of us were able to find threadfin herring and scaled sardines. The snook went bonkers on the incoming tide for them. Uneven shoreline and fallen cover would often produce more than one fish. Some of the fish were too much for ten-pound test. Hey, I’m rooting for the fish. We caught several fish that tipped the scales at fifteen pounds. Other guides in our area were giving me similar reports.
Redfish have been in the mix as well. Large jacks have returned to the area too. I am talking about tackle busting ten pounders that deserve serious respect. Although I have not been fishing for trout, we have been catching some large trout while we have been beating the bushes for snook. Usually the trout will be holding a little further off of the bank than the snook or redfish.
I am still seeing tarpon. We were working a bank in the islands when two tarpon rolled out in front of us. Being prepared, one of my anglers tossed a shiner from a stout rod in front of one. That fish hit like a bass to the tenth power and the next fifteen minutes were spent fighting a sixty-pound fish. We were able to jump two more that afternoon.
It looks as if there is another small system over Texas right now. After last week, I’m too gun-shy for the weather predicting business. I felt like a real weatherman. I was wrong in a big way. Sorry.
How about this; I like to get on the water whenever I can. That axiom is usually dictated by the weather. The best forecast is to stick your head out the window the morning that you decide to go. When should you go fishing? You should go every day you can. They say that every day that you spend fishing adds an extra day to your life. I like that fuzzy math. I’ll see you on the water.
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