Monster Sharks, Tarpon and Snook Inshore Naples
Capt. Todd Geroy
May 8, 2011
Naples - Saltwater Fishing Report
I had another full week of trips out last week aboard my skiff the "Intowishin". We targeted everything from snook and redfish to tarpon and sharks with some degree of success with all.
My trips early in the week found snook very cooperative particularly in the mornings with several fish pushing around 30 inches and loads of fish released in the 20 to 26 inch range. We continue to be having great success with live baits such as pilchards (scaled sardines). There were a few slot sized redfish mixed in with the snook on Monday and Tuesday as well as a few trout and flounder.
I took Dorrie Barton of Naples out Wed. afternoon and she boated some nice seatrout for dinner followed by a snook blitz hooking fish after fish from 22 to 29 inches on nearly every cast. She completed the afternoon by boating and releasing a rare and unusual looking tarponsnook. The tarponsnook is one of the four or so species that are found in our region. Dorrie's fish is one of only three I have ever caught. Here is a shot of Dorrie with her unique catch…
There were plenty of tarpon off the beach here early in the week as well. Wed. night brought a weak weather system which produced a swell making the water a little rough and cloudy near shore putting a damper on the action for the last few days. We did jump a few fish early in the week but no success getting one to the boat. Things have settled down this weekend and it looks like the tarpon fishing will be back to normal in the upcoming week.
Paul and Tracy Hotchkiss from Calgary are long time clients/friends of mine. They are in town with their 11 year old daughter Olivia for a two week vacation. We scheduled a couple backwater trips while they are visiting. My wife and I shared dinner with them one night last week and Olivia brought up that she really wanted to catch some sharks. I knew just how to go about that mission!
We headed out Wednesday morning for a half day starting with some fast action with snook, grouper, snapper and jack crevalle. Then it was off to conquer the shark fishing! I ran to a large shallow bay where we chunked some of the jacks we caught earlier and set up shop. As we waited for the first shark, we were spotting plenty of tarpon of all sizes rolling around the boat. I really thought we were going to hook one, but they were not interested. I threw a plug in front of several but got no interest. Then I spotted the first shark. A quarter mile away was a huge dorsal cutting the surface of the glassy bay. The shark slowly zig zagged its way across the bay towards our boat. We watched it for 10 minutes or so before it finally came in range and we tossed a bait in its path. The bait was immediately consumed and the game was on! Paul hung on as the brute took us on a sleigh ride across the bay. I left one of the baits dragging behind the boat as we pursued Paul's fish and it wasn't long before another bruiser picked up the bait and Tracy was hooked up too! Paul's fish was on a slow steady course while Tracy's screamed drag making long fast runs and circled the boat. We finally got Paul's in first and it was a behemoth lemon shark at least 8 ft. long. I would estimate the weight between 275 and 300 lbs! We cut the leader and continued to follow Tracy's shark which turned out to be just slightly smaller, probably about 250 lbs! We got more than we bargained for on that morning! Way to go folks!
- Capt. Todd Geroy
Naples Fishing Forecast:
More great earlier summer action coming up. We are soon going to be in the thick of the tarpon run . It is early and there are already plenty of fish showing up.
Target Species:
Sharks, tarpon, snook
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