Pesky May frontal passages always have a way of slamming the brakes on a springtime roll of solid catching.
While just a temporary pause, recent north/northwest winds and accompanying rainfall stymied what had been a catching bonanza of game and food value species both shallow and deep.
While the pause was short-lived, it did keep weekend offshore anglers tied to the dock and inshore enthusiasts out in the arena searching for clean water and conditions suitable for wetting/casting a line. Fortunately, the rebound has been fast as conditions abated and the various bites returned back to speed.
Last week: Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Summertime feeling for anglers with the heat, storms
Two weeks ago: Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Winds subsiding should mean action increasing
Three weeks back: Southwest Florida Fishing Report: Snook, redfish, tarpon action on the rise
Tarpon continue to make a respectable showing. Areas south of Marco Island are experiencing good numbers of the popular sportfish along the outside islands and within select stretches of coastline from Naples northward have had their silver king moments. The best tarpon bite has been during the early morning hours with a well-presented live bait, lure or chunky baitfish fly pattern being the most productive offerings.
Not to be outshined, snook, redfish, speckled trout and pompano are also bending the rods and pulling the drags for anglers prospecting area passes, middle bays and backcountry coves. All four of these inshore targets can be caught casting live sardines, live shrimp, lures, jigs and flies during both the incoming and outgoing tide phases.
Remember, a no-take, catch-and-release moratorium still remains in effect from the Hernando/Pasco county line south to a boundary within Gordon Pass locally. At no time, can snook or redfish be retained for harvest within the boundary waters or be retained outside the demarcation lines then transported/offloaded within the designated closed zone.
Pushing out to the nearshore arena, the artificial wrecks and reefs have enjoyed an active run of action. The abundance of baitfish surrounding the various fish havens is attracting mackerels, sharks, and barracuda. For best success, anchor up current within casting range combined with heavy chumming tactics will keep everyone on board hooked up and happy.
Beyond the horizon and when the conditions have allowed, efforts in water depths greater than 90 feet are scoring solid reef fish catches of red grouper and assorted snapper. Hard bottom areas have been best while ledges working well too for those choosing to employ very light tackle, heavy chumming tactics and the patience to cull through flurries of toothy sharks.
Out at the same distance, select artificial reefs are holding schools of hard charging greater amberjack. Formidable adversaries, successfully landing greater amberjack requires quality tackle, angling prowess and plenty of elbow grease.
Popular baits used locally to fool the amberjack include large live sardines and pinfish rigged on stout circle hooks along with metal jigs and surface poppers connected to a liberal length of 60- to 80-pound fluorocarbon leader. Quality 20- to 50-pound medium/heavy action rods matched to reels possessing silky smooth drags are a necessity when attempting to tame the greater amberjack.
Gulf greater amberjack season opened on May 1 with a one-fish-per-harvester-per-day limit and a minimum size of 34 inches fork length. While the spring amberjack season is a short one, closing on May 31, anglers will have another shot at the popular species when the season reopens again on Aug. 1.
Offshore: “Between the winds the Gulf has been like a lake,” Capt. Brandon Lawson said. “Our full-day trips have been very productive with good catches of reef fish making their way into the box.”
Docked at Port O Call Marina, Lawson has been pointing the bow of his Solo Lobo charter boat to the fertile offshore grounds located in water depths greater than 95 feet in depth. Anchoring over select natural hard bottom areas, Lawson has kept his crews busy catching.
Live pinfish, small grunts and large chunks of frozen herring deployed to depth have assisted in catching limits of red grouper while small bits of squid, live shrimp and live scaled sardines rigged on 12- to 15-pound class tackle worked to fool excellent numbers of mangrove, yellowtail, lane and vermillion snapper.
On his half-day outings, Lawson has been focusing on the many artificial reefs and wrecks located at a distance of 2 to 16 miles west and northwest of Gordon Pass. Employing a variety of live bait tactics, barracuda, cobia, permit and sharks were reeled in.
Naples/Estero Bay: Aboard his Naples Bay based guide boat, Capt. Pat Gould has been keeping his angling groups hooked up to a wide variety of species using several effective techniques. Overall the action has been good for Gould despite several days of strong winds and turbid water quality.
Early in the fishing day, Gould have been targeting pompano, Spanish mackerel, whiting and silver trout along the beaches and inside of the area’s passes. Casting chartreuse and pink colored 3/8-ounce tube jigs has kept the rods bent and fish coming over the rail for Gould.
During the later morning hours and afternoon, casting handpicked live shrimp and freshly netted sardines close to mangrove roots, current swept points and downed deadwood structure have resulted in catches of snook, redfish, large jack crevalle and mangrove snapper for Gould’s anglers.
Ten Thousand Islands: “Fishing around and with the wind has led to some nice outings here in the upper Ten Thousand Islands,” Capt. Chris Turner said. “Windy days have kept us tight to the mangroves, but otherwise the action has been steady on a number of shallow water species.”
Turner reports that snook and redfish were active for his casters within the middle and back bays north of Fakahatchee Bay. Using live sardines rigged on a Kahle hook/fluorocarbon leader combination, Turner and company enjoyed double-digit snook catches and a steady pick of slot-sized redfish on each guided trip.
During days of wind, Turner remained tucked into protective coves and fertile leeward shorelines where more snook, redfish and mangrove snapper responded to live sardines, live shrimp and Gulp shrimp rigged on a ¼ ounce red colored jig head.
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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