Marco Island, Ft. Myers & Boca Grande

Fall fishing Usually fall is the best time of year to break out the artificial lures and catch a fish on every other cast but this fall has been anything but filled with action. We are catching a variety of species and many of them are better than average sized but the spotted seatrout bite is almost nonexistent. Spotted seatout make up a good portion of the action when lure fishing this time of year and I believe that outbreaks of redtide this summer must have killed the majority of the adult trout. An average day of trout fishing would normally produce 30-60 keeper trout along with a dozen redfish and a few snook. This year the snook and redfishing is as it should be but we're only catching a dozen trout on a good day. Hopefully as we draw closer to winter and the water cools off the torut will show up and prove me wrong. Redfish: Sight fishing for "tailing" redfish has been awsome. We are getting 30-50 shots at tailers alomst every day during low tide. All the flats in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island are holding good numbers of redfish. I normally target these fish with artificial lures but a live shrimp or cut ladyfish is a sure bet to hooking up. Snook: The snook migration is on and they are feeding on small sardines and pinfish. Look for the snook to be holding on points and cuts in the upper and mid harbor area. Trout: Trout fishing is poor. The few that are around are good sized. Mackerel: Spanish mackerel are all over the Marco Island area and the upper 10,000 Islands. Look for birds and macks busting minnows on the surface. They will hit almost anything shiny. The forecast should be excellent for redfish and snook. Fishing for reds is good all winter. Hopefully as the water gets colder the trout fishing will get better. Good luck! Capt. Scott Hughes Blackwater Charters 941-628-4247