The 10,000 Islands are at the absolute peak of the tarpon season this week. Snook are aggressive on the mangroves, redfish are staging on the flats, and the dawn bite has been the strongest in months.
Tarpon — Peak Season
The 10,000 Islands are loaded with tarpon. Schools are rolling through the channels and laying up in the deeper passes on the falling tide. Live pinfish, mullet, and crabs are the standard baits. Sight-casting to laid-up fish along the beaches and outside the passes on calm mornings is producing for those willing to put in the run. Coon Key Pass, Indian Key Pass, and the cuts between Cape Romano and Marco have all been productive.
Snook on the Mangroves
Snook fishing is excellent on the mangrove shorelines and oyster bars throughout the 10,000 Islands and inside Marco. Free-lined live whitebait or pilchards pitched tight to the mangrove roots on a moving tide is producing slot fish constantly. The bigger fish are in the passes on outgoing — live pinfish on a 4/0 circle hook.
Redfish and Trout
Redfish are staging on the flats around Marco Island, Big Marco River, and inside Rookery Bay. Tailing fish are showing at first light on calm mornings — gold spoons or live shrimp on a popping cork will hook them. Trout are still on the grass flats around Capri Pass and inside Naples Bay at dawn.
Specific Spots This Week
Coon Key Pass on outgoing tide is producing the most consistent tarpon shots — fish are stacking at the mouth and holding in the deeper channels through the islands. Indian Key Pass and the cuts south of Marco are also holding fish. For snook, work the mangrove shorelines deep in the 10K Islands — Lostmans River and Chatham River have been particularly good. The east side of Cape Romano on incoming tide is producing both snook and redfish on live whitebait pitched to the mangrove edges. Inside Marco, the Big Marco River dock lights are firing at night for snook in the 24–32 inch range. The grass flats off Capri Pass are still giving up trout to anglers throwing soft plastics at first light.
Conditions and Outlook
Water temp 78–80°F. New moon Saturday — soft tides but strong dawn and dusk windows. Light easterly winds through Friday. Outgoing tide at the passes is the tarpon window.
Local Intel This Week
Coon Key Pass and Indian Key Pass on outgoing tide are the consistent tarpon producers in the 10,000 Islands right now — schools of fish rolling through the cuts. Inside Marco, the Capri Pass area has snook on the seawalls and reds on the flats. Rookery Bay back lakes hold tailing redfish at low tide on calm mornings — sight-casting opportunity for those willing to push deep into the mangroves. Florida saltwater license required, all snook stamp rules apply. Tight lines.
Spots & Access This Week
For boat access, the Caxambas Park ramp on the south end of Marco Island puts you closest to the Cape Romano and Ten Thousand Islands tarpon water, while Bayview Park and the Cocohatchee River Park ramp in Naples give quick reach to Gordon, Doctors, and Wiggins passes. Run south to the Port of the Islands ramp for the Faka Union and the back-country redfish in the Ten Thousand Islands. Land-based anglers can work the Naples Pier and the seawalls around the Capri Pass and Goodland for snook and snapper on the moving tide.
Tactics & Tips This Week
In the passes, anchor up-current of the tarpon and let live crabs or threadfins drift back on the strong flow — Gordon and Big Marco passes fish best on the first hours of a hard-moving tide. On the back-country bars of Rookery Bay and the Ten Thousand Islands, gold spoons and weedless soft plastics worked along the mangrove edges and oyster bars draw the reds on the higher tides. This Week’s Tip: push deep into the Rookery Bay back lakes on a calm, low-tide morning and sight-cast tailing reds before the sea breeze and the boat traffic find them.