Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
May 2, 2003
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Frontal Assault
This past month has been touch and go. The fishing season has been in full swing. Most guides have been running back to back trips. The weather this spring has been unsettled since mid-March. We have been scrappin’ it out there. Between cold fronts the catches have been very good. Snook, redfish and trout are out in full force. Tarpon, the star of the spring show have been more difficult.
Live bait has been tough to get. When the weather settles between cold fronts, we have been managing to get bait along the beaches. I have had success with plastic Hybrid bodies on a quarter ounce jigs too. Snook and redfish have been plentiful in the Ten Thousand Islands bays and points. Because of the heavy winds all month, we have had to move around a lot. Deadly accuracy has been a must.
Tarpon have been spotty throughout the islands. Most of the tarpon that my clients have caught have been big. All of the tarpon that I have caught in the past month have been taking cut bait. Because the tarpon are not here in large numbers, you have to be patient. After the front we had passed through, the seas and back bays calmed down. Jim Cross and my father Phil landed two large tarpon on cut bait today. Jim’s fish had a forty one inch girth and was seventy one inches to the fork. That put the fish at around one hundred and fifty pounds. Jim only stands about five feet and weighs one hundred and thirty pounds soaking wet. I can’t wait to see the pictures. These two have been fishing buddies for over sixty years. I always learn a little something about my dad on these trips. It is great leverage. Thanks Jim.
As May progresses, hopefully the weather will settle in to a regular pattern of soft easterly winds. Tarpon should return to near shore and the backcountry. The schools of threadfin will come in and the scaled sardines will line the beaches. Double digit days with snook will be commonplace. Trout and redfish will round out a perfect day.
This is the time of year that you need to go loaded for bear. I carry light tackle and eight weight fly rods for snook and redfish. Large jacks will get you into the backing as well. Twenty pound class rods with reels that will hold at least two hundred yards of line will be just right for tarpon.
The key to success when the weather is tough is to just get out there and do it. Many of us guides have no choice so we find patterns and methods to use for success. It makes for a no brainer when it is sweet out.
I hope to get back to a regular report habit now that it “appears” that fishing is improving. We are in the final stretch of our season and things are about to heat up. I’ll see you on the water.
More Fishing Reports:
