More Fishing

• Fishing: Take a day at the beach
• Fishing: Cold front has cooled things down, but opportunities still abound
• Fishing Report: With temperatures dropping, fish are on the move

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The big question in most fishermen’s minds this week is how the local fishery is recovering from Tropical Storm Fay, and the answer is a surprisingly positive one.

The backwaters are still stained and tannic and the near-shore Gulf of Mexico appears churned up, but the fish are hungry and feeding in both areas. Even in the back bays where there is a strong freshwater flow and the waters are almost black, snook and juvenile tarpon are still being caught. Likewise, just a few miles out in the Gulf, the mackerel were already feeding on Monday.

Of course, conditions are far from ideal. Bait is scarce and it certainly is not a good time for sight fishing, but the winds and rains have subsided and the fishing should be excellent by the weekend.

Unfortunately, there is already another storm brewing south of Cuba, and this one is considerably stronger than Fay. Right now, however, it is not predicted to impact this area. Nevertheless, anyone fishing this weekend needs to keep an eye on the weather forecast. If this hurricane even moves within a few hundred miles of the coast, it could certainly influence the fishing.

• NAPLES: Capt. Tommy Robinson managed to get out for a half-day of offshore fishing Saturday and said the waters were very rough and dirty. It was raining, but the fishing was surprisingly good. Robinson anchored over a wreck about 5 miles from the beach, and his party caught Spanish mackerel, grunts and large jack crevelle. They also boated a big barracuda and had several others that attacked the fish that were hooked.

Robinson said the fish were extremely aggressive, even in the dirty water. The fishing should be phenomenal this weekend. Very few boats have been out, and with the conditions improving rapidly, there will be excellent opportunities to catch snapper, grouper and cobia.

• MARCO ISLAND: Capt. Stacy Mullendore fished Thursday and Friday and said the fishing was still poor. By Monday and Tuesday, the waters had cleared considerably, some bait had returned and the snook fishing was the best it had been in a month.

Mullendore said before Fay, he was averaging about six to eight snook in a morning, but this week he has been catching 15 to 25 in the same amount of time.

Mullendore reported that the back bays are still stained and very fresh and the beaches are dirty, but the fish are hungry and very aggressive. The middle bays, just inside the passes, seem to be producing the most fish.

Mulledore fished a half-day Tuesday with Ted Norris and Jack Ely around the south end of Marco Island. They caught 25 snook between 15 and 24 inches plus a 24-inch redfish in just four hours of fishing.

• EVERGLADES CITY: Capt. Shane Miller fished Sunday and said the fishing was fairly good.

There was no bait on the outside, so Miller netted some finger mullet in the middle bays and stayed in that same area to fish. He said the middle bays have the cleanest water. He landed 12 snook to 8 pounds, plus two large trout. The trout were caught in a deeper cut that ran between the bays.

Miller said there is also good fishing in the back creeks where there is a strong freshwater flow. Both small snook and tarpon are taking top water lures in these areas. These fish were probably flushed out of the Everglades by the storm, and they are very aggressive.

• NORTH NAPLES: Capt. Terry Davis fished Estero Bay on Monday and said the fishing was fairly slow, but he did catch some snook.

There was no bait along the beaches, so Davis netted some pinfish on the grasses and fished the back pockets and coves wherever there was less wind and clean water. Davis caught several small snook but no redfish.

Later in the day, Davis moved offshore. The waters were very muddy along the beaches but cleared about 3 miles out, and even in the poor conditions, the Spanish mackerel were already feeding. Davis expects a very good weekend of fishing.

• FRESHWATER: It seems that for the past year there has not been enough current in the canals for good fishing, but now there is too much. According to Jess Edwards of the Golden Gate Bait and Tackle Shop, the water is pouring through the canals and even over the banks, and the fish are simply not used to it. The best fishing will be in the dead end canals or where two canals intersect, especially if there is a runoff.

Bass fishing will most likely be poor until conditions stabilize, but there should be good juvenile tarpon action. Tarpon love the heavy freshwater flow and will be rolling in the Lake Sapphire area. Some snook will also be caught, and panfish will be up tight along the banks feeding on the bugs that are washed into the waters.

E-mail John Preeg at captjohnpreeg@aol.com.