Naples Tarpon and Snook Report 3/6/11

Spring is finally here and the fishing has really turned on in Naples. Snook and pompano were the main targets the last two weeks with some really good trips. Pilchards have become very easy to find and most mornings one throw of the net and your all set. Snook have been feeding in all the normal areas the beaches, passes, docks and back bay mangrove shorelines. They are still not as thick as they will get, but are in good numbers. I have caught as many as thirty fish to 29" in a single trip and on some trips we have only managed a dozen. Pompano fishing was great in the passes until the other day when that minor front blew through, they should stack up again when the pattern stabilizes. There were also some really big spanish macks in the passes, which should be a sign the kings are close behind. I have come across some big tarpon the last few weeks in some warm bays, yet didnt fish for them until today. I had the morning off and wanted to see if I could get them to eat. I netted some mullet and it didnt take long to get hooked up. After having three fish blow up on the mullet a 60lb fish decided to be the first of 2011. They were feeding heavily on big schools of mullet on an outgoing tide. This weeks afternoon outgoing tides should be very productive for tarpon. Check back late week for more pics and a full tarpon report. {%image_id=19604%}