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Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
August 6, 2002
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Awesome August
Warm breathless mornings gave way to afternoon scorching heat this past week. August will bring on the warmest days of the year. As in the past few weeks, most of the catching is done in the early hours of the morning. Heat and sporadic summer showers often send many anglers packing. Some of us return to the playing grounds in the later part of the afternoon.
The south Marco and Ten Thousand Islands are teaming with life. There are all sorts of bait at every turn. Mullet, threadfin, and sardines are spraying everywhere. If you watch closely, you can witness microcosms of the food chain in action. Tiny glass minnows to full grown mullet are all doing the dance of death.
Snook and snapper have been the main show this week. Anglers are catching snook of all sizes on live bait, jigs, flies and plugs. There are snook from the outside shorelines to the remote bays of the backcountry. Snapper and snook have been hitting baits around fallen trees and bushes. Don’t ignore the current side of an oyster bar.
We have been catching larger trout and mackerel while fishing for snook too. They like to smash your offering if it drifts away from the mangrove shoreline.
Anglers have been catching a few more redfish this past week. Redfish will hang out with snook. They are partial to the oyster bars. We have been catching them in shallow bays too. Tides were high and a bit soft this past week. It proved advantageous to probe some of the banks with a jig. Jigs with a soft plastic on it will get down to the bottom and stay there when the tide has flooded the fishing grounds.
We are still seeing many baby tarpon around. They like the early morning hours and will attack just about anything. Some larger fish in the sixty-pound range are out there as well. It is not a bad idea to keep a larger rod ready for a chance encounter with these larger fish.
This weekend will mark the tenth anniversary of the YMCA RedSnook Charity Release Tournament. Last year there were over forty boats entered. Starting venues will range from Naples to Everglades City. I always look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones during this event. The fishing days are the tenth and the eleventh. If you are out this weekend, do your best to ignore the crazed anglers running about.
Next week promises more typical summer weather. It may be hot but it is more predictable. I’ll see you on the water.
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