Windy conditions have finally subsided to the placid levels expected during the month of May. While better late than never and an appreciated improvement, the recent spring winds truly provided for a tough stretch of casting, catching and commuting for anglers prospecting the waters both shallow and deep.
A break from small craft advisories has offshore enthusiasts making longer, safe and more comfortable runs to the distant Gulf grounds. Once on the scene, solid bottom and wreck fishing has kept anglers hooked up and bent to the rail.
The fishing week marks a halftime of sorts for the harvest of greater amberjack. The spring mini-season for the hard charging offshore jack began on May 1 and closes on May 31. Encountered over and around the periphery of Gulf artificial wrecks and reefs possessing significant vertical relief, the greater amberjack fishery is scheduled to reopen again on Aug. 1.
While greater amberjack will soon have to be released, there are plenty of other species waiting for anglers out beyond the horizon. Red grouper will always remain the most popular reef fish target. However, a roster filled with colorful snappers, mackerel, sharks, permit and barracuda will keep everyone wishing they were fishing every day.
Closer to shore and in the shallows the calmer conditions have assisted tarpon enthusiasts. Often a tough task even in the most ideal conditions, the lighter winds have allowed for greater ease in spotting rolling or staged up targets along with cruising schools of the famed inshore game fish.
Last week: Southwest Florida Fishing Report: May showers slowing down anglers
Two weeks ago: Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Summertime feeling for anglers with the heat, storms
Three weeks back: Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Winds subsiding should mean action increasing
Locations to search for tarpon vary from along the beaches, outside area passes and within many of the middle and back bay systems scattered throughout the region. Despite the broad range of location options, it often gets crowded out on the tarpon grounds as everyone truly wants to experience the thrill of hooking and landing a mighty silver king.
Allowing ample distance between other vessels and minimizing engine/deck noise when prospecting is always appreciated and truly good sportsmanship.
Water quality within the inshore is not superb with clear conditions reigning supreme. Bait fish can be caught over nearshore structure and along select stretches of beach shoreline.
Responding to a well-placed live sardine or herring have been snook, redfish and large jack crevalle. The clear water is warranting the use of size appropriate circle hooks and liberal traces of 20- to 30-pound class fluorocarbon leader material
Offshore: Aboard his Port O Call Marina-based Alabama, Capt. Kraig Dafcik has enjoyed a solid run of fruitful half-day and full-day outings.
Pointing his bow toward the west and northwest of Gordon Pass, Dafcik and crew have been concentrating their half-day efforts over natural hard bottom areas and artificial reefs located in 40 to 55 feet of depth, while day trips have the Alabama crew venturing out beyond 35 miles.
Dafcik’s half-day catches are being fooled with chunks of threadfin herring and pinfish with lane/ mangrove snapper, porgies and white grunts taking the bait. Full-day red grouper catches are coming over the rail for the Alabama when deploying live pinfish, squirrelfish and frozen herring.
Dafcik reports that the best bottom bite is happening out beyond 80 feet of water depth while nearly every artificial reef is hosting barracuda, shark and goliath grouper. A slow trolled tube lure has worked well for the barracuda and chunk baits are best for shark and goliath grouper hook-ups, reports Dafcik.
Naples/Estero Bay: Aboard my Port O Call Marina-based guide boat the Grand Slam, my anglers have enjoyed mixed bag catches in the waters surrounding Naples and Marco Island. The tides have been very strong due to the full moon and the water extremely clear, especially during the incoming tide phase.
Early in the day and out along the beach, small schools of Spanish mackerel and large jack crevalle have kept the rods bent and the drags working while casting jigs, live sardines and trolling 2- to 3-inch Clark spoons rigged on 8-pound class spinning gear. In the same areas, tarpon and sharks were snapping up chunk mullet, live crabs and live pinfish for my anglers.
During the incoming tide phase, area passes have provided catches of pompano, mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel. Casting brightly colored tube jigs tipped with a small piece of fresh shrimp proved effective.
Jagged middle bay shorelines south of Naples have been great areas to prospect for snook and redfish. Tight to these shorelines, a well-presented live shrimp or sardine rigged under a popping cork or free lined produced steady action for my angling groups.
Ten Thousand Islands: “Finally the winds have gone light here in the upper Ten Thousand Islands and waters surrounding Marco Island,” Goodland-based Capt. Paul Nocifora said. “The calm and clear conditions have us back to a normal springtime tactic of sight fishing.”
Early in the fishing day, Nocifora and his casters can be found working shallow middle bay shorelines for snook or Gulf-facing shorelines/beaches for tarpon. Casting a white-colored Lightbulb pattern has worked well for snook and presenting a large-profile purple/black colored baitfish fly is attracting the attention of feeding tarpon, according to Nocifora.
Nocifora recommends being out on the water well before first light and concentrating on areas of moving water possessing baitfish and bird activity for best fly-fishing results.
If you have a report to share email captwill@naplessportfishing.com.
Anglers, email your photos to news@naplesnews.com and we will compile your images into an online gallery that’s featured each Thursday morning at www.naplesnews.com. Do not submit photos of fish caught illegally.
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