Positively the spawn is on.   Over the last week, we’ve pulled in snook along the beaches.  Catch and release only.   Our normal system on catching these prize gamefish is slightly different.  We find this time of year rather than hitting food bait the strike is more territorial.

Back in the mangroves has been turned completely off and we reel them in cruising just off beaches. Rather than being stationary, the snook has been traveling laterally.   Just off the surf break mere feet from shore.  We think silver spoons work best and that proved correct.  A fast retrieve without varying speed.  Don’t slow up. The fish will turn away.  A steady reel proved best for us

The reds are stacked up together.  Dismal area in the ten thousand island has produced.  Mainly the teacup bays.  The small inlet between each bay.  They seem to be traveling into the current whichever direction the tide is.  Facing into current just waiting for baitfish to track to them.  Any cigar size fresh baits have worked.  More so than plugs.

At the turn around tide, we searched out calmest flat water.  Where you can see tailing.  We found small schools of four to six large fishtailing and pitched to them.  Lots of time spent on hunting but then they were found we got them. Floating plugs that dive on retrieve had proved useful.  The larger bait fish were hard to find.  So artificial baits were the only option.  One on spoons.  And keep in mind that copper with a red dot really is our best bait for these lunkers

Don’t quite look for the permit and pompano yet.  I spent a few hours in the inlets sand bars.  We have a few spots that produce but not that day.  Just bonnet head sharks and a black tip.

Snapper are the smallest I’ve seen in a long time.  Nothing keepable.  Trout aren’t in the normal holes but offshore.   Cape Romano homes gave up a few keepers.  Fishing is only going to get better.

If you’re a seasonal resident or a tourist on vacation and have questions, A do it yourself fishing day you can call.   I’d be more than happy to make new fishing mates.  You’re welcome to all my advice.

I see it this way … there’s more than enough fish for everyone.  I am not secretive about fishing.   I’d rather hope that you’d return the favor if something gets hot to land fish.

I am in the tourism industry.  I want nothing more than to think Marco and Naples’s guest have a super time no matter what they do.  The people that do will return for sure.