Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
July 30, 2002
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Early Hours
Mornings have been still and the atmosphere is like a sauna. Afternoon rains are right on schedule. The beaches, points, nooks and crannies are bulging with bait. Everywhere you look, there is evidence of the struggle for the survival of the fittest. We were anchored on a point this morning and we watched full-grown mullet shower a bay as they scurried for their lives. A hungry jack was hot on their trail. Small threadfin herring were being blasted on every point in south Marco.
These scenes were typical of the early morning hours this past week. There is plenty of bait to fill the wells. Live bait is what most of used to get lots of action. Jigs, plugs and flies were working well too. Snook, snapper, and jacks were the main catches.
I had the opportunity to take my wife PJ and Eduardo Rojas fishing this week. Eduardo is our good friend from Costa Rica. He always makes sure that we have a good time when we go to his home country. It was time to reciprocate. PJ and Eduardo caught plenty of snook, trout, snapper, jacks and a redfish as well. We caught some large mackerel too.
Snook are in almost every venue that you can think of. Snook of all sizes are staging on points and fallen bushes. They are in the deeper troughs as well. Moving water seems to be the key. We caught snook out front, in the middle islands and in the backcountry.
Trout on the grass flats are willing to hit jigs, shrimp or live bait. Expect to catch mackerel on the flats too. We have been catching larger trout while we are pounding the bushes for snook and redfish. The redfish are still scarce in the upper Ten Thousand Islands and the Marco areas.
Tarpon from ten to forty pounds are plentiful. Most of them will show off by rolling. They will lay under a bush or close to it and give you an unexpected surprise.
Fishing comes to a grinding halt by about eleven o’clock. The tides slow and the heat takes over. Mid to late afternoon trips have been worthwhile. Afternoon showers are always a concern so carry the rain gear.
There aren’t many boats on the water during the week so get out there early and you will have the place all to yourself. I will see you on the water.
More Fishing Reports:
