An Early Taste of Spring Brings Great Fishing
Capt. Todd Geroy
February 9, 2014
Naples - Saltwater Fishing Report
Enough with writing reports about fishing winter species in cold water! The last week has evolved into a more spring-like pattern as the water in the back bays warmed up from 65° a week ago to 80° this weekend. With the transition, I am now finding good numbers of large tarpon along with big sharks invading the back waters. LIve sardines are available once again and providing action with some better snook and other species.
We are still enjoying a great variety of species such as pompano, black drum, sheepshead, mangrove snapper and some very nice redfish using jigs tipped with shrimp. With the water on the warm side now, I am fishing shallower areas as opposed to deep holes in previous weeks. There are good concentrations of fish near the passes now, and we had some great success fishing along some beach areas around blown down trees on the shoreline.
Big tarpon and sharks are now all over the back bays and though most of my trips this time of year are not necessarily interested in them, we did give them a go on Friday afternoon. I located a number of large tarpon free jumping and cruising in one shallow bay. We set up with several baits out for part of the afternoon. We did not have success getting a tarpon hooked up on that afternoon, but did hook up with a 7 foot lemon shark as well as a 6 foot black tip shark which put on quite a show as it jumped and spun across the bay before chewing through the 100 lb. mono leader.
This action will continue through spring as long as water temperatures stay at or above the 73° range. The tarpon will only get more numerous and active. It is only a matter of commitment and sometimes patience to get hooked up to the fish of a lifetime for many!
Naples Fishing Forecast:
I expect fishing to continue to improve as cold front become less frequent and less severe in upcoming weeks. Tarpon fishing should continue to improve as long as water temperatures stay on the warm side.
Target Species:
tarpon, snook, redfish, sheepshead, black drum, pompano
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