Naples Inshore

July 2nd, 2008

The last month fishing has been great in the Naples area. Summer rains have really turned on the tarpon and snook. I have been fishing both the early mornings and late afternoons.

The bait has been the only tough part of fishing. Finding good sized pilchards has been a bit tricky. One day they are all over the wreck and the next they are gone. There has been plenty of small pilchards and threads that have got the job done. The snapper have been all over the passes and docks making for plenty of action and dinner.

Snook have been easy to come by with big fish this month coming in at 43 inches. It was caught on a whitebait on a nice backcountry point. I have caught a good amount of fish in the mid to upper 30's and two other fish at 40 inches. I have been concentrating on the passes and beaches for the snook. The docks are covered in snapper and it's hard to get a bait past them.

Tarpon have finally made a good showing with all the rain that has shown up. I have caught seven fish over the last ten days with most in the 70-115 lb. range. All fish have come off threads under a cork fishing just outside the swim buoys off the beaches. I have also managed to hook some smaller fish in the 20lb. range in the pass. They are feeding good at sunrise for about an hour and then turning off. The late afternoon's have been better after the rains if you can get out. Locate the big schools of bait and look for fish around them.