The Naples and Marco Island fishery has hit its early-summer pattern this week. Snook are stacked at Big Marco Pass and Capri Pass for the late-spring spawning aggregation, tarpon are working the beaches from Marco down through the Ten Thousand Islands, and the trout fishing on the deeper grass has held up well. Light winds most of the week kept the Gulf accessible.
Inshore — Snook in the Passes, Trout on the Grass
Snook are at their late-spring spawning peak. Big Marco Pass, Capri Pass, and Caxambas Pass are all stacked with fish. The classic pattern — live bait (pilchards, threadfin) on circle hooks fished tight to the rocks on the moving tides — continues to produce. Heavy tackle is essential; these are big breeding fish and they head straight for structure.
The night dock-light bite through the Naples Bay system and the Marco Island residential canals continues to produce excellent numbers of slot snook. Live shrimp or small white soft plastics on light jigheads are the high-percentage approach.
Seatrout have settled into the deeper grass flats in 4-6 feet of water. Live shrimp under a popping cork is the standard. The Rookery Bay and Capri Pass back areas are reliable producers.
Redfish continue on the oyster bars and mangrove shorelines of the Ten Thousand Islands. Cut bait or live shrimp on circle hooks with light fluoro is producing on incoming tides.
Beach — Tarpon Cruise
The tarpon migration has reached the Marco beaches. Schools of 60-130 lb fish are cruising in 15-25 feet of water on calm mornings. Sight casting from flats skiffs and small center consoles is the productive technique — run the beach, intercept ahead of schools, pitch crabs or threadfin. The early window from first light through 9 AM has been the productive zone.
Big Marco Pass and Capri Pass at the mouths are also holding tarpon on the outgoing tide. Live mullet on circle hooks anchored in the channels produces solid hookups.
Backcountry — Ten Thousand Islands
The Ten Thousand Islands backcountry is fishing well for the species mix — snook on the mangrove shorelines, reds on the oyster bars, tarpon on the channels and basins, sharks and jacks on the outside edges. Live bait fished on circle hooks with light fluoro is the all-purpose approach.
The 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge water provides quieter, less-pressured fishing for anglers willing to make the run.
Offshore — Mahi Build, Kingfish Hold
The mahi bite is building. Boats running 15-25 miles offshore to weed lines and color breaks are finding scattered schools. Trolled ballyhoo on light fluoro is the standard.
Kingfish are reliable on the artificial reefs and natural bottom in 40-70 feet of water. Slow-trolled blue runners and threadfin on stingers are producing fish in the 20-35 lb class.
Red snapper opens June 1 in federal Gulf waters (verify NOAA dates) — the offshore fleet is gearing up.
What’s Ahead
The new moon is June 5 — expect a strong tarpon push and energized inshore bite. Red snapper opens June 1. Water temperatures are climbing into the upper 80s.
For this weekend: passes snook on the moving tides, beach tarpon at dawn, trout on the deep grass mid-day.
Tight lines.