Full on Action in Naples Backwaters!
Capt. Todd Geroy
April 25, 2015
Naples - Saltwater Fishing Report
My last couple reports mentioned "spring transiton". Well that's over with and no matter what species you want to tackle, it's on right now! With water temperatures now holding around 85, fishing has gotten very consistent. Big tarpon, monster sharks, redfish and some of the largest snook of the year have all been caught.
I ran several tarpon trips in the last 10 days, having success on each boating at least one fish and up to three while jumping several others. While I would like to be concentrating on fishing just off the beach, it has been a bit bumpy out there on the days where we want tarpon. Instead, I have been fishing in the larger bays just inland of the gulf. Cut baits, live mullet and casting with DOA Baitbuster lures have all produced bites. The tarpon have been large, averaging 90 to 120 lbs. We did get a jump from a huge fish that would have gone close to 150 #.
Snook fishing has been excellent! We have been having fun catching and releasing as many as 25 fish on half day trips. There are still loads of 20 to 23 inch fish keeping us busy, along with some overslot fish providing the catch of a lifetime for some of my clients! Yesterday, Ken Shea boated this 23 lb. 43" monster...
Redfish continue to be scattered, but they have been quality fish when you find on Thursday morning, I had one of my regular clients Bill out with his granddaughters Mary Kate and Issabella. They had a great morning releasing snook and redfish including this 30 inch fish for Bill...
Sharks continue to be a sure thing. We have been finding bull, lemon and blacktip sharks running anywhere from 4 to 9 feet long anytime. Several of the lemon sharks have been huge. I would estimate their weight between 250 and 300 lbs. All of this inshore in less than 5 feet of water.
Here is a shot of one of the large lemon sharks at the side of the boat...
-Capt. Todd Geroy
Target Species:
tarpon, snook, redfish, shark
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