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Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
October 6, 2004
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Good Bye Summer
It has been difficult to get an update done because of all the hurricanes we have been having. I think the smoke has cleared. I have to admit that my immediate family bailed and went on our annual pilgrimage to Costa Rica during the last hurricane. One side affect is that a hurricane in the states usually sucks all the bad weather out of Central America. We had beautiful weather.
We also had the best fishing out of the Rio Colorado Lodge that we have ever had. We put 219 tarpon in the air and brought 87 to the boat. I would have to say that about only five were less than 100 pounds. The largest would have been about 170 pounds. These fish are not for the faint of heart because they can go deep and break your back while they hang under the boat. My brother and I affectionately call them “prop suckers”…..heh heh. We caught them on fly, jigs, plugs and even live bait.
When I got home, I got on the water immediately. I bought a new Pathfinder 22 Tournament Edition. I haven’t had a chance to break it in with all the bad weather. This past week I have been getting bait on the beach. There are some very nice snook out there. Some of them are the spawned out females. Double digit days are not out of the question. The redfish have gone spotty again. As the weather becomes more predictable, I think they will get in the groove.
The fall migration is in the swing of it. Good friend Robb Murchison went fishing with me in the afternoon this week. Robb is creator and cameraman for the TV series Tales Of The Everglades Angler. Being the cameraman, he never gets to fish. We ventured a couple of miles offshore to see what was going on. There were mackerel jumping everywhere. We decided to catch a few. While we were hooking and releasing fish, we started seeing fifty to seventy pound tarpon rolling in the mix. We threw out a bait and sat back and lit two fine cigars and chatted about old times we have had together. All of a sudden, Robb got whacked and the chase was on. The sketchy news was that Robb had a seventy pounder on a snook rod. It was no big deal except the leader was inadequate. Robb fought the fish for thirty minutes before the leader failed. It put on a good show and we had a good laugh. The good news is that we have been seeing tarpon of all sizes in Marco and the Ten Thousand Island areas.
Soon the bait will pour into the islands and all hell will break loose. In the meantime, fishing has been good to excellent as it is. Right now is quiet time. You can get on the water and have some breathing room. Soon the tourists will be here and it will be wall to wall. My 1890 Action Craft is for sale now. It has a Yamaha 200 HPDI with low hours on it. Everything works. Turn key. Trailer included. Send me an email. Get out there soon. I’ll see you on the water.
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