Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Winter Report for 2002 A lot has happened since my last updated report. I went on vacation for three weeks and returned to very cold and rainy weather which pushed the tarpon and snook out of the country and I caught the flu while I was at it. On top of that, I blew my knee out play basketball a couple of nights ago. As you can see, I haven’t been on the water much lately and I probably won’t be for the next 4-6 weeks. I’m not going to chance making my condition worse when the tarpon season is just around the corner. I expect the tarpon to get into full swing around the middle of March in the 10,000 Islands. Around mid May the tarpon fishing will move off the beaches of Sanibel, Ft Myers and Boca Grande. From Mid June until September the tarpon will be in the upper Charlotte Harbor area south to Pine Island sound. Until then I’m going to out of commission. Normally this time of year I try to focus on fishing the deep backcountry of Pine Island sound and the upper 10,000 Islands. The fish like it for the same reasons that anglers do. It’s warmer and out of the winds that are on the open flats. Flies, jigs and spoons are my favorite baits this time of year. Shrimp on a jig head with catch trout, reds, small snook, sheephead, snapper, pompano, ladyfish and small jacks in these areas. The key to most of this fishing is to work the lures slow and deep in the water column. I like to fish during low tide and move into these areas where the fish will be concentrated in the deeper holes. During the high tide the fish scatter among the mangroves and out on the flats when the sun warms the water. As late February roles around the baitfish will migrate near shore and Tarpon, snook, large jack crevelle and mackerel will follow. If the winter is extremely cold the fishing will be the same as now. If the ground hog doesn’t see his shadow then the spring migration of sharks, tarpon, kings and permit will sure to follow. Good Luck! Capt. Scott Hughes Blackwater Charters 863-946-9171 941-628-4247 (mobil) www.blackwatercharters.com [email protected]