Southwest Florida anglers got kicked around as 2008 arrived with some really nasty cold weather which in turn kept most of them dry docked.

Submitted photo

Herb Handelson took a group of kids offshore fishing. Herb reports that his 14-year-old-grandson Andy Molnar is holding a 42-inch kingfish and they all had a great day's fishing and catching snapper and little tunny. They were fishing about 15 miles offshore. Pictured: (Back row) Bernie Blutfield, Ted Handelsman and Natalie Molnar. (Front row) Andy Molnar, Nickole Handelsman, Carolyn Ellis and Emmy Ellis.

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It’s a good bet many of the Spanish mackerel and kingfish have moved south, some of them as far south as the Keys. The good news is the same scenario will play out in the counties north of us. Those fish could show up in our waters replacing the ones that left if we get a warming trend. Anglers may have to go deeper for the kings.

There were some anglers that managed to get offshore before the big blow and came in with some nice fish in their box including snapper, kings, mackerel, grouper and bonito.

Marco Island angler Herb Handelson took five junior anglers fishing about 15 miles offshore just before the cold front moved in and managed to find some action including some snapper and a 42-inch kingfish his 14-year old grandson Andy Moinar caught. The kids had the time of their life Herb added.

Thanks for the report and picture Herb.

Marco angler Glenn Babst managed to get a Keys fishing trip in and returned to Marco before the cold front moved in. He writes: Just thought I’d drop you a note about the fishing. My son came home for the holidays from the Marine Corps, so we took the time to get some fishing in. Mostly did bottom fishing around the Tennessee Reef area and found the grouper and yellowtail snapper fishing to be excellent. We were able to limit out on the yellowtail every day we fished. The only problem was the wind which kept us from going to far offshore. It blew between 15 to 20 knots from the east and southeast.

We went on two sailfish trips which we hooked up on two sails and one 10 pound black fin tuna on one day and only a stinking barracuda the next trip. Also managed to get a Marco offshore fishing trip in and caught a king, some small red grouper and a keeper flounder, not bad for just fooling around.

Gary, a north Naples angler writes: I have heard about the Vanderbilt rocks, supposed to be just off of the old Vanderbilt Inn site. We have tried to find them with not much success, any suggestions that will help me in my quest to find them.

Hi Gary, thanks for the mail. I am not aware of the exact location of the rocks but it would not surprise me if they are there. There are also some off Doctor’s and Wiggins Pass. I would check out Chart #09F. It covers an area from Fort Myers south into the Keys and features up to 300 locations and just might be of some help to bet you close to the rocks.

Looking near any of the crab pots is also a good suggestion. You can also keep your eye on the bottom recorder while trolling deep running lures. Be prepared to punch the numbers in if you go over hard bottom with some profile and/or print a bunch of bait and fish.

Bottom fishing the area with a short scope on the anchor line will allow the anchor to drag along the bottom and keep the boat pointed into the current. It’s a must to have the anchor rigged so it breaks away from the debris. You can also rig a grouper drag that we used years ago. It was a metal pipe about four foot long with four chains about four foot long spaced about a foot apart attached to the pipe. The anchor line was tied at both ends forming a bridle and the chains would snag into the debris on the bottom.

It was a crude method but worked.

Gary also writes: My wife and I are fishing partners so I don’t have a hard time finding a reason to get on the water.

Our inland waters should bounce back to some productive fishing and catching of snook, snapper, ladyfish, jack, redfish, sheepshead, black drum, some pompano. They will be found inland, outer shoreline, flats and passes. The middle day hours could be best and if you have a strong tide will be better.

Curt Ledbetter, Naples Fishing Club President reminds us their Jan. 16 meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. with a fishing roundup where members tell fishing tales about recent experiences. The club then divides into two groups at 7 p.m. for offshore and inshore division meetings that reflect preferences, plan outings and report the conclusions to the club, all of this is followed with a 10-minute break at 7:30 p.m. Then the guest speaker, NFC Vice President/Treasurer Frank Garofalo, will speak about Guatemala sailfishing.

Garofalo visited Guatemala for three days in December to go sailfishing and will share his stories about the trip including the lodge accommodations and the fishing guides.

All this happens at the VFW on the corner of State Road 951 & Pine Ridge Road, Neffs Way strip mall.

You may call Kat McNabb at (239)595-3122 or visit their Web site www.naplesfishingclub.com for more information.

Have a great week!

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