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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