Naples - 10,000 Islands Fishing Report

[Captain Jeff Legutki]

I gotta say that July and August are the most brutal months heat wise, throw in the still summer breezes, humidity, and the sun factor at #10 and you feel like a piece of bacon frying in the pan under a heat lamp!!! By 10:00 am your shirt is saturated with sweat, and you know it's time for the A/C.

This is the time of year for the early start, before the sun rises you want to be at the ramp unloading the boat, and don't mind the no-see-ums they'll go away with the heat! If your boat is floating on the water by 6:00 am. you're in good shape.

Grab your favorite bait whether it's live or artificial and head for the outside beaches and passes. Anywhere you can find structure and current you should find hungry snook looking for a snack. The snook are stacked in the passes like cord wood, and the jetties along the beach as well. Throw in the small tarpon slamming the glass minnows with the jacks, ladyfish, and the ever pesky goliath grouper and an ocational red fish and you have a morning full of action

The incoming tide has been better than the outgoing on the out side, and vice versa on the inside.

Last month, there was too much fresh water for the back country pushing most of the fish to the outside. The only thing worth fishing for was the baby tarpon rolling in the creeks at first light for an hour or so.

Last night I fished with an old time friend Chris Wilson. We were playing around looking for small tarpon on the flyrod's, so much bait fishing lately it was time for a change as well as a challenge. We found quite a few tarpon in the 5-20 lb. range, but couldn't fool them into biting. We moved to another spot in the back and suprisingly found numerous aggresive little snook as well as a nice red fish here and there. The fish have definately acclimated to the fresh water.

All fish were caught on a 7wts. with floating lines, and for the fly of choice it was a chartuese and white Mangrove Bunny #1 hook.

It was nice to be surrounded by mangroves and tannic waters again, the back country is beautiful at dusk. The water's glowing reflection of the sky at sunset, the rolling tarpon and the popping snook, in a pond of glass and you know you are in paradise! The bugs are pretty harsh so bring that bug spray, but the fishing is worth the hassle.

So if you get the chance to get out, go either early or late and beat the heat. Plenty of oppertunities to take advantage of, so have a good time and be safe and courteous to others. Until the next time, tight lines and screaming drags to all.

Capt. Jeff Legutki
Anglers Addiction Guide Service
(239)293-1664