Now is the Best Time of Year for Big Snook

Since my last report it has been all about the snook on recent trips.  My anglers have been enjoying what is the peak time of year for catching snook as they stacked up during last weeks full moon phase.
Several outings produced as many as 50 fish ranging to 23 lbs. on a half day.  It seems that nearly all of the snook in the area have moved into or near the passes and along area beaches as they carry out full on spawning activity.  Sight fishing has been very good with several of the largest fish being caught by spotting them in shallow channel edges and casting live baits to them.  This is exciting fishing!  I even couldn’t resist heading back to a spot after one trip to catch a 42″ 23 lb. fish myself!

Dave Sharrock with another big snook released on a morning trip last week with Capt. Todd Geroy.

Barritt sight cast to this nice snook in less than 2 feet of water.

Capt. Todd with a 23 lb. snook released last week while sight fishing.

Red fish are scattered about along the mangroves at high tide.  While not being caught in big numbers, with a little effort some very nice fish can be caught

Dr. David Crane always seems to come out and land quality fish.

A 35 inch redfish made his morning last week!

For those looking for monster fish, tarpon are still showing in decent numbers just off he beaches and big sharks are abundant both in the nearshore gulf as well as the shallow inshore bays.
Water temperatures inshore are very warm right now topping near 90 degrees in some of the back bays and averaging 85 on the beaches.  That being said, the action has been best in the mornings and afternoons are best spent in the pool or air conditioning this time of year.

-Capt. Todd Geroy

Continuous Action in June

The fishing has rebounded  after a bit of a set back last week as we dealt with rough, rainy conditions with the passing of a tropical storm across the state of Florida.  Now the waters are clear and calm again and we are back on our game putting anglers on some great fishing!

I am still finding some big sea trout in deeper water inside the passes.  Fishing live baits near bottom, we have caught some very nice fish up to 23 inches.  The same spots are producing action with gag grouper as well as some keeper mangrove snapper.

Snook fishing has continued to be red hot!  Snook are stacked up in area passes and all along the beaches.  With the water clearing up since last weeks blow, we have enjoyed some great site fishing.  On yesterday mornings trip 6/15,  I fished with Ted Noethling and 7-year-old son, Andrew.  While moving to a spot,  I spotted a huge school of snook hugging the bottom in about 8 feet of clear water.  The school was huge, with probably 1000 fish.  More than I have observed in my career.  Of course we stopped and presented our offerings.  Ted and Andrew continuously hooked up and boated a large number of fish for about an hour until a pesky dolphin moved in and decided to target any fish we hooked and released instead of picking on any of the congregation of snook in the area.  Andrew was the star of the morning catching some beautiful snook to nearly 14 lbs.  A rewarding trip for this guide who has seen it all.

There are still some big tarpon in the area, although I have not had anglers wanting to target them.  It is not too late in the season to catch a bucket list fish.  Early morning and late evening tend to be the best time to fish for the silver kings.  I have run across fish both along the beaches, around passes as well as in some of the inland channels.

Sharks continue to be abundant as usual this time of year.  I have several shark trips on my schedule during the next couple of months.  Contact me regarding my popular discounted shark fishing trips offered from July though August.

-Capt. Todd Geroy

June Fishing in Naples Brings Quality Catches!

Fishing action has really heated up during the last couple of weeks.  I have shifted to only fishing mornings as it has just been uncomfortably warm in the afternoon and the action seems to slow down mid-day.

My anglers have been enjoying some great action with plenty of large sea trout ranging to 25 inches.  I have been targeting them in deep channels close to the gulf using live baits fished near the bottom as well as jigs.

Snook fishing has been as good as it gets!  This is catch and release fishing as the season is closed for the summer, but the abundance of fish are providing my anglers with fantastic action using live sardines and soft plastic swim baits.  Many half day trips have been releasing over 50 snook ranging from 22-33 inches.  We have had some hookups with giant fish over 40 inches as well, only to get beat in the cover while using light tackle.

Anglers have been encountering some nice redfish often showing up in the same areas where the snook are congregating. While not schooled up, the reds we have been catching have all been nice fish ranging from 25 to over 30 inches.

Now is the time to catch big sharks in the back bays.  Large bull, lemon and blacktip sharks are easy targets right now for anglers wanting a battle with a powerful fish.  Sharks we encounter run from 5 to 8 feet in length.

– Capt. Todd Geroy

December Arrives With a Variety of Fish

A new month upon us and while winter is creeping in throughout much of the country, SW Florida has been enjoying some marvelous fall weather.  With a slight cool down last week, our anglers have enjoyed comfortable conditions and are catching a variety of different fish on many trips.

We are welcoming the arrival of decent numbers of sea trout.  They are nice fish averaging 15 to 20 inches. I am finding most of them in fairly shallow water, 2-4 feet with sparse grassy bottom.  Live sardines as well as jigs are both taking fish.
Pompano have been running outside the passes on both tides as long as the water is moving.  The most popular and effective way to catch them is with a jig bumped along the bottom.  The pompano are running from 12 to 18 inches.

Small snook continue to chew on live sardines along the mangrove edges. They are scattered everywhere in the back bays.  As well as near the area passes.  There are also snook being caught on soft plastic swim baits and jigs.  Most of the fish are on the small side 18 to 24 inches.  December 1 begins the closure of snook season which reopens in March.  Snook can still be targeted, but must be released.

Redfish are scattered around.  While not schooled up, anglers willing to “hunt and peck”  along the shorelines, points and oyster bars are coming up with some very nice slot and a few over slot redfish.  Live sardines, shrimp and jigs are all productive baits. 
I’m looking forward to a busy December and hoping for the nice weather to continue as winter approaches.

-Capt. Todd  Geroy

Last week was a busy one as the “season” appears to be in full swing keeping me on the water with double half day trips.  My anglers kept busy with some good fishing while targeting a wide variety of species successfully.

Trout fishing is turning on with a couple trips catching limits of fish running in the 15 to 18 inch range.  I am finding the trout active along the channel edges adjacent to shallow flats on moving water.  We caught nice trout on jigs as well as live sardines.  There are some hard pulling bluefish mixed in with the trout also.

Pompano are active in the outside channels near the passes.  Jigs bumped along the bottom are taking quite a few of these scrappy fish.  They are a favorite table fish for many.  I have had success on both tides as long as the water is moving.

Snook continue to be just about everywhere we stop along the mangrove points and pockets.  Live baits have been producing plenty of smallish snook running 18 to 23 inches providing fun action on light tackle.  Unseasonably warm weather has continued to keep fish scattered from the beaches to the bays far inland.  Upcoming cool weather should help to bunch the snook up in the bays.  Some hefty jack crevalle have been caught along with the snook in many spots.

Redfish are scattered all over the inland bays.  High tide stages have been most productive along the mangroves, while deeper troughs have held good fish at low water.  Most reds caught have been mid slot “keepers” while my anglers have also released some over slot fish ranging to 31 inches on several outings.

I am looking forward to a busy holiday week coming up.  A welcome cool down in the weather pattern should trigger some good action for inshore anglers.

-Capt. Todd Geroy

We are merging into my absolute favorite time of year to fish the back waters of SW Florida.  The days are getting shorter and soon, the waters will begin to cool off slightly.  These factors will contribute to more of an all day bite as opposed to the early day action of the summer months.

Recent outings have been very productive.  Tarpon, redfish, snook, mangrove snapper and pompano have all been active.  This is a great time of year for anglers to catch the coveted “Grand Slam”, catching a tarpon, snook and redfish in one day.  We have been able to complete this challenge on several recent trips!

Redfish have become particularly active the last two weeks.  I have been finding slot size (18″ – 27″)  reds feeding along flooded mangrove edges and along shallow bars and flats at low tide.  My anglers have encountered schools of fish where they have pulled as many as a dozen fish out of one small mangrove pocket.
Snook have been everywhere, with most being small fish in the 18 – 22 inch range.  They are staged heavily in the passes now as well as scattered all over the back bays just inside of the gulf.  We have encountered a couple of monster snook as well, ranging up to 40 inches!

 One morning on my way to the dock to pick up my anglers,  I stopped to make a cast or two and check out a spot.  I was rewarded with a somewhat rare catch in our waters.  I identified it as the unusual “tarpon snook”.  After a bit of research, I discovered that it might well have been a species named “fat snook”.   It is very difficult to tell at a glance the difference between the two.  Without counting and comparing the number of rays on the fins and a few other differences, I will never know.  A very unique fish however!

My rare tarpon/fat snook

We are continuing to enjoy action with the juvenile tarpon.  Ranging up to 40 inches, these beautiful minutures of the fabled silver kings give anglers great thrills.  Amazing jumps, strong runs and stubborn standoffs on light tackle make for a challenging quarry.  We have been catching some of them in very tight spaces in remote backcountry creeks, adding to the excitement as these wild fish often jump right into the bushes!

My son Matt with a nice baby tarpon released on 9/3/15.

Last Saturday, I enjoyed a morning with Rob Harrelton of Naples and his friend Dave Crane, visiting from St. Louis.  We enjoyed some great action throughout the morning.  Dave was treated to some memorable catches.  Dave had a strong strike from a giant snook that proceeded to run 75 yards of line through the mangroves and down the shoreline.  The 15 lb. test line held up as Dave gingerly finessed the fish all the way back through the cover until the big fish finally got entangled around a large cluster of oyster ladenprop roots that extended all the way to the bottom.  Not to be shown up by this fish after such a battle, I went overboard, wading into the mangroves and got hold of the beast.  Dave, Rob and I celebrated this amazing catch of a snook measuring out at just about 40 inches!

Dave Crane released this giant snook along with redfish and tarpon to complete his “Grand Slam” last week! 9/4/15

I decided that we has stirred that shallow stretch of bank up, probably spooking anything else in the area.  I moved into a narrow creek mouth just 50 yards down the shoreline where I though we might find a tarpon to cooperate.  In a narrow space just wide enough to get the boat in, we set up and on the very first cast, Dave came tight again.  This time, a very spunky 40 inch tarpon came airborne.  After multiple jumps against the bushes and running under the boat several times.  Dave managed to subdue this amazing fish and complete step two of a potential “Grand Slam”.

Dave Crane was ecstatic after boating this wild juvenile tarpon in close quarters!

Now it was a quest to complete the slam!  We idled across the bay to fish a pocket along the mangroves where I often find redfish on that tide.  It took a few casts to get the bait far enough under the cover as the full moon flood tide closed up the pocket, but Dave was rewarded with his redfish.  We managed several more redfish from that spot.  While it wasn’t the largest of the morning, Dave was again thrilled to have completed his “Grand Slam” catch.

Fish # 3 of the grand slam

I have a busy schedule next week and am looking forward to some more great fishing!
-Capt. Todd Geroy

Mid-Summer Backwater Action

July is flying by and while I have still been laid up for the most part recovering from foot surgery, Capt. Ben has been busy most days and finding a good variety of fish for our clients.  The water is hot now running about 89 degrees on the beaches and into the mid 90’s in the back bays. Anglers are finding the mornings to be the time to be on the water before retiring to the air conditioning mid-day.

There are still some tarpon in the area to be caught.  Ben has had success getting hookups in some of the inshore bays near the gulf entrances.  Both live and cut baits are getting bites as well as some action using artifical baits such as traditional hard plugs such as Bagleys finger mullet and Heddon Lucky 13’s as well as soft plastic swim baits.  The tarpon are ranging in size from 30 to 100 lbs.  Action should continue through the next several months for those that want to commit the time for a hookup.

There are plenty of lemon and bull sharks patroling the same bays along with the tarpon.  The sharks are running from 4 footers to 7 foot bruisers.  It is not hard right now to get tight with one of these great fighters.  We are offering discounts though the month of August on our popular 1/2 day shark outings.  All sharks are released.

Snook fishing is still decent with the best action first thing in the morning before the sun gets too high. Live sardines (pilchards) are always effective as well as a variety of plugs, soft plastics and flies.  Most of the snook are running on the small side 18 to 23 inches, but there are good numbers of them around to offer fast action.

For those anglers looking for good table fare, mangrove snapper are everywhere right now with many of them running easily into the keeper size.  These tasty fish are easily caught on live pilchards or shrimp.  Docks, rip rap shorelines and blown down trees along mangrove shorelines are holding good numbers of snapper now.

This is a great time of year to be on the water and enjoy minimal boat traffic, beautiful scenery and some decent summer fishing.

I am taking some needed time off this month to recover from recent foot surgery.  In the mean time, some good fishing has continued without me and my son Capt. Ben has done a fine job getting our clients on some great fish!

Water temperatures are warm with 88 degrees on the beaches and the water in some of the bays heating up to the 90’s.  Heavy thunderstorms most every afternoon have hampered any chances of fishing that time of day.  That said, Ben has been fishing every morning finding most of the action early with the bites tapering off by noon.  Anglers have had good success with large snook, a few tarpon, redfish and big sharks.

Some of the largest snook of the season continue to come aboard for a quick release as they continue their spawning activity in the area.  Some of the fish have been running well over 20 lbs.  Quite a few smaller snook have been “filling in the gaps”  as well as a few redfish and tasty mangrove snapper.  Live pilchards have been the best bait to get action, but well presented hard plugs and soft plastic baits will get attention also.

Tarpon continue to show throughout the area both along beaches near baitfish concentrations and in some of the back bays.  On a trip last week, Ben guided this young angler to his first big tarpon catch.  It was hooked in a bay at least a mile inland and ran all the way to the edge of the gulf by the time it was boated.

July kicks off our annual discounted monster fishing special.  We offer discounted trips for specialized shark fishing trips.  Sharks are in abundance and provide some great battles for those looking for a real work out with big fish.  Common species we catch are bull, lemon and blacktips  that range from 5 to 8 1/2 feet.  All of our shark fishing is done in the shallow protected bays so rough seas are not an issue.  Please contact me for information and a quote on special rates available through August.

Plan your fishing early in the day, beat the heat and enjoy some fine summer fishing!

May is here and although fishing had been very good through April, we have suffered a bit of a set back as slow moving late season front moved through SW Florida last Wednesday.  Heavy rains and prevailing onshore winds forced us to stay off the water for a couple of days.

  Returning to the water on Friday, we encountered muddy water conditions, and water temperatures that had dropped 7 degrees.  All of which made catching live baits nearly impossible and slowing down the bite.  This is only temporary though, and I expect things to rebound by the end of the weekend.  I think the fish will be very hungry by then!

Before the weather, we were doing well with some great catches of snook.  Several large fish were released on my boat along with countless fish averaging 18 to 24 inches.  Live sardines are deadly this time of year, but well presented plugs and flys attract bites also.

This 23 lb. snook was released by Ken last Friday…

Redfishing remains okay, with some nice fish caught, although not in the same abundance as the snook.  Most redfish we have caught have fallen into the keeper slot of 18″ – 27″ with a few larger fish in the 30″ range.  One recent half day was with long-time regular client Bill along with his granddaughters Isabella and Mary Kate.  The trio enjoyed a good morning catching plenty of snook along with some big jack crevalle and redfish.

Here, Bill shows an over slot redfish before release….
I have not tarpon fished during the last week.  I believe the tarpon have moved into the near shore gulf waters and it has simply been too rough most days to fish for them comfortably.  I hope to get back into them as soon as things settle down.

-Capt. Todd Geroy

Spring Transition is On in Naples Backwaters!

March is here and so is warmer weather bringing the annual spring transition on the local waterfront.  It is always amazing to me how quickly the fishing can change with just a few degrees difference in the water temperature.  During the last two weeks, the water has gone from as low as 58º to 75º in the back waters.  Seemingly overnight, came the appearance of big tarpon and sharks along with some great catches of snook and nice redfish. 

The tarpon are starting to make their appearance as they are beginning the annual “run”.  These are large fish ranging from 90 to 180 lb. monsters.  They are invading the shallow bays now and can be targeted with a variety of methods.  Live baits, “chunking” with cut bait are very effective as well as sight fishing with fly tackle when conditions warrant and casting with plugs are all common techniques.  I am seeing plenty of free jumpers fish as well as laid up and rolling fish. These fish usually stay in the bays for the next couple of months before heading out to the gulf to begin their spawning migration.

I have also been spotting some very large lemon and bull sharks in the same areas as the tarpon.  They are easy targets that provide long runs and powerful fights for my anglers.  I am looking forward to fishing for both the tarpon and sharks on upcoming trips.

As waters warmed up by the middle of last week, I started having great success using live sardines for snook and redfish.  Several trips enjoyed constant action releasing many snook ranging to 25 inches along with some nice redfish to 27 inches.  When we don’t have a snook or redfish on the line, the jack crevalle have been filling in the gaps with countless numbers of these aggressive fighters being boated.

Steve and Linda had an all out slay fest with big redfish, snook and large jack crevalle on 3/5/2015

The large sheepshead are still running in the area passes along with a few pompano and sea trout for those looking for a mess of good eating fish.  Pieces of shrimp fished on the bottom are taking loads of sheepshead to 4 lbs. while jigs tipped with shrimp fished in the outside channels with take pompano and trout.

January Fishing in the Naples Backwaters

We have had some real solid days since my last report.  We have again fished in a myriad of conditions with some overcast days, a few chilly mornings and some very windy days. My anglers have caught a long list of different fish using everything from live bait to jigs to fly rods.

Late last week and earlier this week, I had some anglers experience a real blitz of pompano action in the outside passes near Marco Island.  One party caught nearly 40 of these scrappers in a couple of hours on an afternoon trip.  Most were released, but a few did make it back with us for dinner.  That action seemed to die down my mid-week as water temperatures climbed back into the 73 degree range.  All of the pompano were caught on jigs.

My “go to” pompano rig. 10 lb. test line, 25 lb. leader and a 3/8 oz. tube jig.

We also have been using shrimp along points with shell bottom to catch a few redfish, sheepshead and mangrove snapper.  An occasional goliath grouper has been taking the bait giving my fisherman a good battle under the mangrove bushes!  Live sardines are bringing a few snook and some larger redfish to the boat along with plenty of jack crevalle.  A bit of a headache has been the numbers of gulls and terns attacking the baits from the air.  Windy days seem to be the worst.

Cornie Morgan with a beautiful upper slot redfish caught on a blustery afternoon trip on 1/23/15.

A couple of fly fishing trips this week brought a few snook, pompano and bluefish along with loads of jack crevalle and lady fish.  We are using small minnow patterns along the mangroves for the snook action and sinking flies and sink tip fly lines in the channels for the other species.

As I write this today, another cold front is coming through as they seem to each weekend.  Strong southerly winds yesterday have turned NW as the cooler air moves starting us on another cycle for next week.  I expect the fishing pattern to continue for the next several weeks with the cycle of different species all in the lineup!

Grand Slam Time in SW Florida!

Great fishing continued for my clients last week. Fishing morning trips daily, we continued to have success on large tarpon,  loads of snook and and ever growing number of redfish showing up.

The tarpon action has been strictly at first light.  Arriving to the fishing area in the dark, we have been having many shots at tarpon in the 80 to 150 lb. range.  As the fish begin feeding at first light, we have been casting to rolling and feeding fish with soft plastic swim baits such as DOA Baitbusters and the new Spooltek baits.  Live baits such as crabs, ladyfish and sardines also get their attention.  I am finding that we are actually having more bites on the lures as they give us the ability to make long casts directly to fish and cover a lot of water.  Most of the action is over by 8:00 or so in the morning.

Snook have been schooled up heavily near area passes with plenty of fish in the 20 to 25 inch class providing non-stop action.  There have been snook in the 30 inch + range in the mix as well.  Live sardines are the ticket to fast action, however we also had a successful morning with fly tackle using small white baitfish imitations.

Redfish are now common catches along the flooded mangrove edges and along shallow flats at low tide.  The reds have been nice mid-slot fish averaging 25 inches.  They have seemingly appeared out of nowhere, after being practically non exsistant for the last couple of months.  Live sardines, shrimp, jigs, spoons and topwater plugs will all catch the redfish this time of year.

Last Wednesday, I fished with repeat client Justin Harper who was in town from Texas for a business conference.  He had contacted me regarding catching a big tarpon which was a “bucket list” fish for him.  His timing was good and we headed out in the dark to get the best shots at catching the silver king.  Justin hooked into three large fish and after battling for over an hour, brought a big tarpon boat side.  We estimate the fish was around 130 lbs.

Exhausted and with some time left to fish, we decided to switch gears and pursue the opportunity to produce a “Grand Slam” which is releasing a tarpon, snook and redfish in the same day.  The snook and redfish cooperated, and within the next hour Justin’s slam was complete!  Here are some shots of Justin with his catches.  A great morning with another happy angler!

Releasing this 130 lb. tarpon was the first leg of Justin Harper’s grand slam catch last week!

One of several snook released by Justin. #2 of the Grand Slam.

A nice redfish comes aboard to complete a SW Florida inshore slam!

I am really looking forward to the next several weeks as September is one of my very favorite months to fish.  Redfishing should really pick up along with more great snook action.  Tarpon should remain in the area making this the best time of year for anglers to catch all three species.
- Capt. Todd Geroy

Big August Tarpon in Naples

Fishing has really picked up during the last couple of weeks in the Naples area. Some of the best tarpon action of the summer and multitudes of snook have been keeping us busy on recent trips. Redfish are starting to show in the area along with lots of mangrove snapper. Sharks have been easy targets also.

During the last week, I ran several early morning trips to get shots at sunrise tarpon off area beaches. The tarpon have been congregating just offshore amongst huge concentrations of bait fish. An early arrival each morning virtually guaranteed fast action with the silver kings. It has been important to be ready for the "magic hour". They fed heavily each morning as the sun rose to the east and the full moon set over the gulf. We have managed to hook tarpon on each trip with one morning getting 5 hookups in just a couple hours with two fish boated.

I have been having success on a variety of baits, including live crabs and ladyfish as well as DOA Baitbusters in a silver and black color.

A noteworthy catch was Tuesday morning when I guided Volker and Kristy Pennino along with their nephew Malek who is visiting all the way from Casablanca. On Kristy's bucket list was catching a big tarpon and within a couple minutes of her first cast with a crab, she was tight on the tarpon of a lifetime! The fish put on a great show with numerous jumps before taking us on a SW Florida sleigh ride towing us nearly two miles into the gulf. Kristy hung on and eventually the giant fish was brought boat side and released after a few photos were taken. I estimate that this fish was somewhere just shy of the 150 lbs. Here is Kristy along with her giant tarpon...

We then headed inside to try for some of the many snook that have been lining schooling up just inside the passes. The snook did not disappoint either as the three anglers released fish after fish using live sardines for bait.

Snook action has been fantastic throughout the last full moon phase. Fish have been stacking up on banks with good tide flow and deep water nearby. Water temperatures have been as high as 94 making them a bit lethargic, but a little live chumming gets them going. Most of the fish are in the 20 to 24 inch size, but a few larger fish have also made it to the boat.

Redfish are now starting to show in the area in better numbers. I had success with mid-slot fish with live pilchards along edges of shallow flats and bars on the morning falling tides the last few days. They should become the main focus here in the next few weeks

Mid-July Fishing Action in Naples Backwaters

I am finally catching up on my fishing report for July after taking some time off for family the first week of July and then having surgery a week ago for which I have a two week recovery time off the water.  I am really getting cabin fever, but know that I letting my body heal is critical.   My son, Capt. Ben has kept busy filling in for me, fishing daily and having some very good summer action.  With lots of snook, redfish, grouper and sharks all cooperating keeping rods bent and anglers smiling.

Snook have been very active since the full moon last week with some trips releasing as many as 35 in a half day.  On an evening trip earlier in the week a young angler released the snook of a lifetime, weighing in at over 20 lbs before release!

20 lb. snook released with Capt. Ben Geroy 7/15/14

Shark fishing is reliable as always this time of year with bull, blacktip and lemon sharks cruising the shallow back bays looking for an easy meal.  The sharks are running from 4.5 foot scrappers to monsters ranging to 8 feet in length and 275 lbs.
 
There are plenty of big tarpon in the gulf just off the beaches.  They have been gathering in good numbers around dense concentrations of bait fish.  For success, it is critical to get out early in the dark and fish the “magic hour” before the sun gets above the tree line.  Late evening can also be productive, but afternoon thunder storms have put a damper on many an evening lately.  Before I was laid up, I hit the tarpon several mornings in a row hooking up on several each trip.  We were throwing DOA Baitbuster lures.  Other guides have been hooking up on the same as well as live crabs, ladyfish, thread herring and live mullet.

I will be back on the water by the middle of next week and hope to have more to report by the weekend.  Check back in to find out what’s biting

Summer Snook Action in Naples, FL

June 12, 2014
I have been on a bit of a writing hiatus for the last month, with no excuse other than a busy fishing schedule and some relatively slow fishing for this time of year.  While we have had to work really hard for the fish so far this summer, our efforts have produced some great catches with a few tarpon and some big snook coming to the boat.

This is peak tarpon season here and there are some big fish in the area.  For some reason, this year I have only had a few anglers wishing to dedicate their trips to fishing the silver kings with most anglers opting for action fishing for other species. We have jumped a few tarpon and also boated a few.  Most of the larger fish are now congregating off area beaches near the numerous schools of small bait fish.  The best time to target them has been at first light and near sunset.

Snook fishing has been our main focus and my anglers have been having success with some large fish running up to 29 inches.  Live baits (scaled sardines) are taking the largest fish but we have also had success on the smaller snook with flies and a variety of plugs and soft plastic baits.  Incoming tides have been most productive.  I have been targeting most of the snook near the passes or just inside where they are staging for spawning this time of year.

On Tuesday of this week, I had and angler hook up with a large snook against the mangroves on a very high tide.  The fish put up maximum resistance against Neil making several long runs into the cover before becoming completely entangled.  Determined not to lose this prize, I slipped into the water and waded into the entanglement of roots.  I managed to get hold of the fish and return to the boat to celebrate the great catch before releasing the 15 lber back to the water.
  My guests snapped a photo of a determined guide!

Capt. Todd returns to the boat after retrieving a 15 lb. snook from deep in the mangrove cover.

Neil Henges proudly shows off his 15 lb. snook before release on 6/10/14

Wednesday I fished with Jim Cober of Dallas who has been a client for over 20 years.  He brought his 14 year old grandson, Tucker along for his first experience fishing in saltwater.  We had to work hard, as we found numerous lazy snook slapping at the baits and not connecting and only seeming to be able to boat one fish per stop.  At the fourth stop, Tucker’s first cast was quickly consumed by a giant snook!  The fish made a long run down the shoreline and tried desperately to get into the cover, but Tucker was able to maneuver the fish and boat it after a long battle.  The fish was released after a quick photo to remember a great catch!

Tucker with a 39 inch snook released 6/11/2014 with Capt. Todd Geroy

Snook and tarpon will remain the main targets for the rest of June.  Baby tarpon action should heat up once the summer rainy pattern settles in and runoff pushes these fish out of the back country creeks into the bays.  Redfishing has been spotty, but they are large fish in the 26 to 30 inch range when we find them.
-Capt. Todd Geroy

April Fishing Action Getting Better

After running a full schedule for the last few weeks, I am taking a day off as another strong frontal system barrels its way down the coast of Florida.  Windy conditions and the threat of heavy thunderstorms mid-day forced our decision to stay on land today.  These fronts have been disrupting our activity on a weekly basis, as we keep assuring ourselves that this is the last one of the season.

When the weather has been stable, my anglers have been getting a taste of some great spring fishing as snook and redfish action continues to improve.  I might add that with spring break in full swing, I have enjoyed many great trips with young anglers cathcing some nice fish!

Many trips have been scoring on multiple redfish to 30 inches along with plenty of slot size fish.  I have encountered more schooling fish during the last week with double hookups common.  Live sardines have been getting the bites, however it is interesting to note that several of the fish I have filleted have been engorged with crabs. 
The snook bite has really improved with warmer water temperatures now approaching 80°.  The snook are scattered all over the backcountry with most of the action being along mangrove points that are either facing the wind or tide or both.  Again the live pilchards are candy to these fish, although we have had success with  Mirrolure plugs with green backs also.

Young angler Nick Seitz and dad, Mike with a nice double on snook during a recent April trip.

Springtime brings big jack crevalle to the backwater channels.  I have been having great success with jacks ranging to 18 lbs. recently.  These bruisers will eat anything that moves and put on a great battle on light tackle!

Mike helps Nick with a giant jack crevalle!

There are plenty of big sharks in now as well as a good number if tarpon for those that want the tug of a lifetime.  My recent outings have been opting for action fishing, but I do look forward to tangling with some giants in the next week or two.

Spring Transiton Fishing in Naples Backwaters

Spring transition continues on the local waters as we continue to successfully target a variety of fish through out the week.  With mild fronts still moving through each week, it has been a roller coaster of conditions from one day to the next controlling where we can fish with some strong winds and what we fish for as water temperatures fluctuate.
Over all last week was great.  Early in the week, my clients enjoyed some of the best pompano fishing so far this year.  We used 1/4 ounce jigs tipped with shrimp outside of area passes to catch limits of these tasty fish on several trips. Inshore, live sardines provided some great action with snook, redfish baby tarpon and jack crevalle while fishing along mangrove edges.

After the passing of a cold front on Friday morning, I fished a group of anglers from St. Louis not quite knowing what to expect with high winds and cooler conditions.  We had a great morning fishing with live shrimp around creek mouths in Rookery Bay.  We ended up with a limit of mangrove snapper to 15 inches, some hefty black drum, sheepshead and goliath grouper and snook also in the mix.
Large tarpon and plenty of big sharks are also in the area, but we did not invest any time in them last week as clients were interested in other quarry.  I’m looking forward to another week of good fishing ahead.

Chilly Weather Fishing Can Be Rewarding

The coolest weather since last March blasted through SW Florida early last week bringing dreary days, gusty winds, and temperatures into the low 40's for a couple of nights followed by chilly days. While nothing to cry about compared to what the northerners endured, this is a sub-tropical zone and the fish quickly switched behavior as water temperatures fluctuated dramatically during a four day period. Water temps went from 72 degrees last Sunday to 62 degrees on Tuesday, then back to the 69 degree range by Saturday.

While the weather forced a couple morning trips to cancel early in the week, we did run afternoons as well as double half days Thursday and Friday. We had success with a variety of fish coming aboard during the colder weather, while action got tougher as it warmed up. Weak tides late in the week contributed to the slow down in action.

During the colder period, we concentrated on deep holes in back country. Rigged with a 1/4 ounce jig head with half of a shrimp, we managed quite a few black drum, loads of sheepshead, a few pompano, mangrove snapper, sea trout, gag grouper, flounder and a few redfish.

I fished for the first time with Kirk and Vicki Strand along with daughter Valerie on Thursday afternoon. The family caught a bunch of fish consisting of most of the previously mentioned. Vicki caught the largest fish, a 12 lb. black drum.

The pompano run we were enjoying for the previous week or two slowed down as the tides became less favorable. We did catch a few last week, just not in the numbers as the previous weeks. I expect that to improve during the next few days.

- Capt. Todd Geroy

November Fishing Delivers Some of the Best Action of the Fall

November 21, 2013

The month of November has continued to deliver fantastic weather and along with it some great days of fishing on the inshore waters of SW Florida!

There have been plenty of snook around from numerous fish in the 20 to 24 inch range to some impressive snook catches with fish ranging to 38 inches.  Live baits have provided the best action, and several trips have released as many as 30 snook on half day trips.

Dave Thoresh boated and released this large snook with Capt. Ben on 11/19/2013

Redfish also continue to please anglers with plenty of nice fish caught in the last week or two.  The reds are running from 23 to 28 inches.  They can be caught sight fishing in the shallows at low tide or in pockets along mangrove edges on the flood tide.  We have been catching reds on live baits as well as jigs and flies.  The redfish action should continue for the next several weeks.

Brothers Bill and Jack Forte’ doubled up on 30 inch snook and 30 inch redfish in one backcountry hole! Released 11/14/13

I have found an increasing number of sea trout showing up on trips.  I expect the trout fishing to really take off once cooler weather finally settles into our area.  Along with trout, pompano and bluefish are due to make a strong appearance as well.

I am looking forward to some fine fishing for the remainder of the month and into December.

- Capt. Todd Geroy

Fall Fishing Snook, Redfish and Tarpon in Naples, Florida

September is winding down and while we have had a great month of fishing in the Naples area, I expect October to only get better. October and November are in my opinion, the two very best months to fish the backwaters of Southwest Florida. The slight cool down of water temperatures provide action all day long and push more fish into the back bays from the outside beaches and passes.

The last week had a few challenges with weather in our region as periods of heavy rain showers forced us off the water on a couple of occasions. I did manage to fish a few half days and those anglers were rewarded with some nice catches of redfish and snook as well as baby tarpon action on each trip. The "baby tarpon" are juveniles ranging in size from 12 to 30 lbs. We have been finding them with great success in the last month for the first time since the fish kill caused by freezing temperatures during the winter of 2010.

One notable trip was Friday morning. I fished with long time client John Shroyer of Naples and friend Dr. Paul Richards. The duo enjoyed the best weather of the whole week and boated numerous snook and redfish. The reds ranged from 23 to 25 inches while the snook ranged from 22 to 32 inches. John managed a "Grand Slam" with a tarpon release along with his snook and redfish.
Dr. Richards with a nice 32 inch snook...


I am looking forward to some better weather conditions during the upcoming week. Tides are going to be especially favorable as we approach the new moon phase.
Get out and enjoy some great fall fishing in SW Florida!

- Capt. Todd Geroy