Report for Naples, Marco Island and the Ten Thousand Islands
Capt. Matt Hoover
August 10, 2000
Marco Island - Saltwater Fishing Report
Steady Action
The sun and heat continue to bear down on us. Clouds build over the Everglades and the rains come, leaving the atmosphere hot and steamy. We can’t complain. It has been doing that this time of year long before any of us got here. What made this past week a little different than last was the tides. They were a little bit stronger than they have been in the last two months. That usually equates to a better fish bite. That equation held true for most of the folks that I talked to.
There are hordes of bait around. You have to be somewhat selective because some of the bait is small. Snook have been everywhere. I had a friend tell me that he is seeing hundreds of them on outings to the beach. Sometimes they are very picky because every one is pitching everything at them. Sometimes they just aren’t hungry. Try using a piece of fluorocarbon for leader. Snook have been in the bushes where you might expect them. I have been making it a point to be where the current is moving. They are coming in all sizes too. There are a few large snook still being caught in the deeper holes and drop offs.
Folks are managing to catch one or two redfish on a trip. They still seem to be in hiding somewhere. This week is the Naples YMCA RedSnook Tournament and all of the guides are pulling their hair out trying to find redfish. It is the redfish that will win the tournament for sure.
There are plenty of large trout to be caught with jigs and live bait over the grass beds and flats. We have also been catching very large Mangrove snappers. They have been extremely aggressive and will attack anything. I retaliated by throwing a few in the frying pan. Yummy.
Small to medium sized tarpon can be seen in the passes and bays early in the morning. I have seen a few larger tarpon, but they are fish that we will hook if they happen along our way.
The dog days of summer are here and this is going to be another week of lame tides. It’s our job to see if the fish will bite before noon. Sigh. It’s a rotten job, but hey, you know the rest. I’ll see you on the water.
More Fishing Reports:
