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Artificials such as jerk baits and suspended plugs have produced very well in Naples, Marco Island and Ten Thousand Islands. Double digit  days with trout for every client and some nice snook to spice things up. There is just something, a feeling you get when you catch a trophy on artificials.

The redfish have been roaming the edges and have no problem engulfing a jig tipped with shrimp or popping cork presentation. They have been also hitting artificials. Jerk baits worked slowly but erratically  have produced big strikes.

The weather has been cooperating all week. The water temps are hovering in the 75 Degree range. This should continue until we get another cool front. The tides are coming off the moon and the water should be clearing. The opportunity for sight fishing will improve. We will continue to focus on the snook first thing in the morning then switch to trout and redfish.

The best action has been at the lower end of low tide. That is how the tides are lining up for the weekend with outgoing every morning. Setting up on the edges of the points and casting artificials up on the flat and dragging over the edge has been very productive. The trout are lying in that trough just waiting to ambush your offering.

On the fly fishing front the usual bait and crustacean patterns have been doing their job. Now that the tides have settled we will have better chances at sight casting. With redfish a bit of a lead such as 10 or 12ft places your offering in the path. Short strips as the fish approaches will end up with a hookup.

Just a reminder that if you can pin down your dates now I can tailor a trip for you using the tides I can optimize your fishing time.

FISH THE TIDE NOT THE CLOCK!

Capt. John

Naples Fishing Guides

snookhookerfishing.com

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Angling for redfish and gator seatrout using Rapala jerkbaits has been very productive this week. There is bait around the points and with the strong moon tides the redfish and gator seatrout have been waiting for the right presentation. The flashy Shadow Rap has been proven  winner with the higher water and turbid conditions. We always have off color water during the full moon phase when the range of tides is 4 foot or better.

Redfish

Redfish have been in their usual haunts cruising edges of oyster bars and flats. They have been waiting for enough tide to slide up on the flat at higher tide. The Rapala jerkbait and also jigs tipped with shrimp have been very productive.

Seatrout

The seatrout have been the largest I have seen in several years. 24 inch fish have been common. The seatrout have been very happy attacking the Rapala  jerkbait the Shadow Rap as well as jigs tipped with shrimp and popping cork presentation.

Snook

Snook have been around but a bit off on the bite this week. Once this turbid water clears up the next couple days it will improve. We have released many in the 20 to 24 inch range at first hour or so of daylight.

On The Fly

Its been a bit windy but the good caster can punch through it. With the turbid water from the full moon sight casting has been limited to higher tides. Shrimp and small baitfish patterns have been productive. Blind casting the points and oyster bars has produced reds and snook.

The season is really taking off. Bookings are very strong. Get your reservations on the books especially if you looking around the holidays. Days are becoming limited and I don’t want you to get shut out of some great fishing.

Capt. John

snookhookerfishing.com

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Well the late fall season is just incredible. Irma did its damage but the fishing for snook on topwater in the morning has been spectacular.  The outside points have been loaded with 20 to 30 inch snook and the reds are cruising hard bottom and oyster bars. Top water plugs have been also taking some very large jacks and we have encountered some early tarpon action also.

Redfish have been very eager to jump on the topwater Rapalas even with the 20 knot winds we have been experiencing. Walking the dog and poppers have been productive early then switch to suspended baits as the sun rises. The sun is getting lower in the sky so that has extended the morning bite for several hours.

Flyfishing has been excellent for snook around the outside points and redfish are on the oyster bars using baitfish and crab patterns. Also topwater gurglers that push water are also productive.

The next few months should continue to have a great deal of activity. As the water cools we will venture into the second bays and the seatrout should be showing along with all the other usual suspects. As the days get shorter snook and redfish will begin to get into their pattern in the back and will be eager to eat jigs and shrimp.

Now is the time to book your trips as I can pick the best tides for you and tailor a trip for you. The booking are coming in and you don’t want to miss out on choice dates that fit in with your schedule.

Remember kids are welcome and I will keep them busy and they will have a great experience in the Ten Thousand Islands. So if you are in Bonita, Naples or Marco Island over this winter give me a call and let me tailor a trip for you.

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Fishing this month has been very productive. Reds, trout, snook and 20lb jacks have been cruising the flats on the outside and the middle bays. The unseasonably warm water has been a factor and we are actually fishing like its April.

Redfish have been the target on the tides with many being taken by jigs and Gulps rigged with weedless presentations fishing the edges of flats and oyster bars.

Snook have been becoming more prevalent now. They maybe a bit confused with the warm water but again fishing like it is spring has been productive. We started using top waters last week and have connected with snook up to 25″ but I suspect the big girls will be on the points real soon.

Trout have been plentiful but seems to light up only during top of the high tide.

Now lets talk jacks. The big boys are starting to prowl the flats and edges out front. 20 and 30lb jacks have been exploding like concrete blocks dropped from the sky. If you can catch up to them with light tackle and a skitterwalk you are in for a 30 minute fight. Spectacular! When hooking up in shallow water the jacks only have one way to go and that is long runs.

So lets go fishing.  March is booking up but there are some choice dates left. Give me a call or send a request and get set up on the light tackle experience you been wanting to enjoy.

snookhookerfishing.com

Capt. John

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There have been a couple cold fronts come through the past week. Fishing in the backwater has been good on both sides of the front. Redfish have been prowling the shore line. Snook are still around despite it being winter. The water temp is still 69 and that is good.

Redfish have been biting jigs and shrimp under a popping cork. Gold spoons have also produced bites in the coves near moving water. Most have been just under slot or in the slot.

Sea trout are still plentiful. Jigs tipped with shrimp bounced right above the grass and hard bottom has produced slot trout and many just under.

Some large jacks are starting to show up and the other species such as sheepshead, black drum, and snappers have kept the anglers busy. Because of the winds running the trap lines for tripletail has been tough. Looking at the forecast we may get a chance late this week to try that.

Something I would like to touch on is the importance of getting kids involved in fishing. It is a great bonding tool for parents. I had Lilly out with her Mom Michelle. They had a great time and they are booking another trip during spring break. Lilly’s smile tells it all.

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TROUT:

Fishing the tides, not the clock is my philosophy and that has been paying off. Jigs tipped with shrimp and whole shrimp on a jig have been producing lots of sea trout on the right tides.

REDFISH:

The reds have started to fall into the winter pattern after the cold front last week. Fishing the mangrove shore line and oyster bars has produced decent size redfish in the slot. Again fishing the tides and not the clock has given clients their chance at wrangling with these fish on light tackle.

Low and slow on the retrieve has been the ticket using jigs and gulps.

SNOOK:

Well it is winter so the snook are around but best on those sunny days and on dark bottom flats. Low and slow retrieve using soft plastic jerk baits has enticed some good strikes.

Give me a call or send a request and I’ll tailor a trip for your around the tides.

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The first week of 2017 fishing south of Marco island in the Ten Thousand Islands is off to a great start. Snook, Redfish and even a few Tarpon have been cooperating readily to the daily offerings.

The back water is a magical place where life begins and the snook, redfish are plentiful. This week has been no exception with multiple releases. Redfish and snook along with sea trout, snappers, ladyfish and jacks have been feeding well. The action has been good and the water continues to be unseasonably warm so tarpon have showed themselves from time to time.

Slot and over slot redfish have been eager to bite when we have good tide movement. The offerings of jigs tipped with shrimp or a live shrimp on a popping cork has been very productive. Fishing the falling tide has been most productive. there is also a good bite during the flood tide, fishing the flats and edges of oyster bars with water flow. During the outgoing tide we hit the mangrove shore lines and have been connecting well with reds, snook and trout. We have had several slams this past week with 3 of the 4 main species being brought to the skiff.

There was little cool front that went through yesterday and it dropped the air temp a few degrees but the water temp remains higher than normal for this time of year. That is why  a few tarpon still lurking around.

January and February are starting to get booked up but there are a few days left with choice tides. So if you will be in the Naples, Marco Island area  give me a call or inquire by  email and we will discuss and create a trip to the Ten Thousand Islands for you. The fish are waiting.

The featured photo is an over slot redfish and a perfect release. The angler is Rob Laufenburg from NJ. Great job Rob!

FISH THE TIDES, NOT THE CLOCK……

Capt. John

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Trout have been biting good despite the warm water temps  south of Marco Island and in the Ten Thousand Islands. Fishing the upper half of the flood and the beginning of the out going has been the ticket. Jigs tipped with shrimp are producing the larger trout.

Here is my client Jack Lahrman with a nice trout caught on a jig. There are some predicted cold fronts coming so the should get the reds moving again.

Get your reservations in for the next three months as choice days are booking quickly. Call me or inquire on my site. I will tailor a trip for you.

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Its been a good week of fishing. Even though the water temps have moved back up to 76 Degrees in the back water the trout and other usual suspects were very eager. With these warm water temps the redfish have been very scattered. I think they are confused thinking its still summer. We have been using jigs and spoons for the reds and trout and bait fish and crab patterns on the fly.

This week end a cold front came and that should get all back on track. We have encountered a few nice snook and some large jacks have filled in the gaps. This is the time to book your trips especially for after the holidays while some choice dates with great tides are available.

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Its been good fishing the past couple of days with 3 or 4 nice redfish released each day and plenty of sea trout, snappers, jacks, snook and ladyfish to keep the action going all through the tide.

We have been using light tackle with St. Croix rods and Penn Battle II 2000 reels loaded with 10 lb braid and light leaders. We have caught reds on jigs tipped with shrimp and spoons. The fight on the light tackle with a red is exciting as they show their power. Fishing is good don’t miss out.

The classic SilverKing skiff is a stable platform and gets us back in the skinny water. It’s a more personalized and specialized experience for anglers.

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