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More Fishing and Boating

• On the Hook: Be ready — and grateful — for what you get
• Collier, Lee among Top 10 most dangerous boating areas
• Anglers Outlook: The best bait to catch those huge tarpon

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Southwest Florida offshore anglers have continued to battle brisk winds during the first days of April. At least the weather is warmer and better days are ahead.

One good factor was the nearshore water did not get too dirty and some Spanish mackerel were found near Caxambas Pass, Cape Romano, nearshore fish havens and Capri sea buoy intermingled with trout, jack, bluerunner and ladyfish. The winds tend to calm down on the change of tide and can give nearshore anglers a short but more comfortable window to fish.

Our offshore waters, fifty out, should still have some kingfish. They are making their northern migration and the survivors could get as far as the Florida Panhandle. Setting at least three lines out while trolling deep running lures, large jigs and spoons can work well.

The rods should be set at different depths as the bait will not always be on the surface and can be running at different depths out of sight.

Keeping your eye on the bottom recorder gives you a chance to alert the anglers they are going over the bait and some action may be happening soon. Trolling can spawn some new honey holes as the bait will be found over wrecks and spots with hard bottom and some profile. Some of these hard bottom areas have a ditch or trench like holes about two to three feet deep and two to three feet wide. They can harbor several species of marine life including yellowtail, mangrove and lane snapper, keeper size grouper, stone crabs and Florida lobster.

Anglers fishing the bottom would also be wise to set a rod out rigged with a live bait such as a pinfish, grunt, small jack, bluerunner or ladyfish. It should be free lined or rigged with a float to keep the bait near the surface. Do not be surprised if a barracuda or shark beats the kingfish to the bait!

One of my favorite methods for kings while anchored over a wreck is to use a large jig with a live bait. I cast it out and reel it back very slowly keeping it near but away from the wreck. I have caught some nice kings, amberjack and cobia with this game plan.

Of course this can also work for tripletail while fishing near a buoy marker or any decent size floating debris. You do need to use smaller bait such as tipped jigs, live shrimp or minnows for tripletail.

Tripletail should increase in their average size and numbers as we move late April and remain on the scene through August.

Setting at least three rigs out with each rig set at different depths is a good idea. Tripletail carry a 15 inch minimum total length size with a two legal size tripletail per angler per day bag limit.

I have been told they are another example of a species with an open season during the period of their spawning season. Why not change it to a closed season or a one fish per person per day or a two per boat? I believe this is correct about the spawning season and is something to be looked into. Please let us know what you think.

Our inland passes, flats and outer shoreline waters will continue to offer anglers redfish, trout, snook and a mix of jack, sheepshead, black drum, ladyfish and some resident tarpon from 15 to in excess of 50 pounds.

Allen Chamberlain of Sea Gone Fishing Team report echoes the above and adds Fran and Don Schweiss of Wisconsin had a ball fishing the inland waters with him. Both caught some redfish, two of which must have been twins along with many of the other species listed above. You may contact Allen at 642-7310.

Like so many of us anglers I have a tendency to rush the various seasons such as snook and tarpon.

I thought I would give someone out there on the firing line almost 24/7 to make sure I get as close as I can so a call to Captain Bill Jones was a must. He e-mailed, “the waters have been so cold the tarpon haven’t been around yet.” I will let you know when things pick up and get you a report and pictures. He may be contacted at 394-6059 or captbjones@aol.com for more information about tarpon fishing.

The good news is the weather report showed local water temperature hovering at 80 degrees as I write this article so I believe Bill will be calling me soon.

Don’t forget the Naples Fishing Club meets the third Tuesday of each month. This month’s meeting is April 15 at the VFW corner of State Road 951 and Pine Ridge Road. It all begins at 6:30 p.m. They offer members guest speakers, in house fishing tournaments and outings.

Have a great week!

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Red Stier is a weekly contributor to the Marco Island Eagle. Questions or comments may be directed to redstier@aol.com or 172 Trinidad St., Naples, FL 34113.