Barron River Resort, Marina, Motel & R.V. Park:
Johnny says there are lots of big trout being taken in the 21 - 22 inch category. The snook are still active and look for the finger mullet to be the special bait. Head for Round Key to see lots of reds and snook. Using a popping cork with shrimp for reds seems to be a producer for folks. Johnny tells that he caught a nice 24 inch red this way just recently. There are big snappers and sheepshead hugging the islands with snapper running 15 - 17 inches. Look for sundown to produce the big ones. Captain Max Miller has been bringing back clients happy with excellent snook and trout catches.
1-800-535-4961

Captain Bruce Hitchcock 12 Fathom Pro Staff: Fishing in 10,000 Islands in June has been great! Snook are biting well in early AM and late afternoon. Big tarpon have moved into the rivers and passes and are beginning to feed well on 12 Fathom jigs and occasionally live bait. Nine year old Justin Cerintano, of Boca Raton, caught and released a 75 lb. and a 95 lb. tarpon on his first tarpon trip. The grass flats are holding super trout action. 12 Fathom tiger striped jigs or flats floaters are being very productive. For charter info, call Capt. Bruce at
561-362-4452

Mar-Good Resort: Larry says the fishing is extra-ordinary. Plenty of grouper offshore, a good number of tarpon being hooked, and snook are everywhere. A pleasant surprise if you are staying at the Mar-Good Resort are lots of trout and pompamo being taken virtually out of the back door of the resort -- it doesn't get any better than that. Interesting piece of news -- a commercial fisherman brought in a 1,000 lb. Tiger shark recently -- quite the catch. Congratulations to Smitty for a nice 20 lb. snook.
941-394-6383

Marker 7 Tackle Shop & Fish House: Mike says there are lots of barracuda around, with tarpon being taken off of Buttonwood and Pumpkin Bay. A fair number of sharks, especially Hammerheads, are being taken. The news of the day is that there is an abundance of Jewfish in the area, especially offshore around wrecks and inshore just about everywhere. Captain Ted Naftal of the Tiderunner has been doing well for permit offshore. This lucky captain also took the Goodland girls out for the day and everyone had a great time -- some guys are plain lucky.
941-394-1313
941-450-2271
941-450-2750

Master Bait & Tackle: Dean-O says fishing in Estero Bay and the surrounding waters has been super productive. The tarpon bit is still hot and lots of big sharks are being picked up with the tarpon schools. Some keeper grouper are being reported and numerous huge Jewfish are hanging on structure. Captain Lindy has been catching cobia, permit, and snapper on near shore trips and Captain Ron has been producing lots of Gator Trout, redfish, snook, and tarpon in the back waters. Stop by Master Bait & Tackle for the latest fishing conditions and to pick up an original Master t-shirt. See our new full line of Fin Nor reels.
941-992-2553

Outdoor Resort - Chokoloskee: Kenny says lots of nice size trout can be found on the grass beds on the outside islands. Look for redfish on the oyster beds and shorelines near the gulf. Snook, snook, and more snook. They are by the outside islands, backcountry, and the mouths of the rivers. Everyone is saying that this is the best snook action they have seen in a long time. The tarpon are good but scattered alll over and seem to be more on the gulf side. You will pick up some sharks along the way, especially black tips, bull, and bonnetheads.
941-695-2881

Chiquita Bait & Tackle: Steve and Carol say that there are loads of speckled trout in the deep cuts off the grass flats and the successful fishermen are using shrimp with popping corks. There are plenty of sharks around, with black tips being taken at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River, lemon sharks in Matlacha Pass, and hammerheads by Sanibel. There are plenty of snook up and down the beach with Redfish and Captiva Pass being two of the most popular spots. This is a big, big month for redfish especially along 2 Pine and Demere Pass. They can be taken with shrimp, gold weedless spoons tipped with shrimp, and sometimes a chartreuse tail added to the spoon. There are a lot of snapper being taken in the Cape Coral canals with 12 - 16 inches being very common.
941-540-0052

K.C.'s Riverstop: Chris says the snapper and cobia action is heating up on the pier and along the sea walls. Jacks and pufferfish are being taken with shrimp being the preferred bait. Lots of sharks are being taken at night with cut bait. A regular of K.C.'s, Sodie, has been knocking them dead off the pier -- congratulations.
941-549-5699

Ft. Myers Marine: Captain Maxie Standord says that there are plenty of snook around in the 15 - 20 lb. category, especially in the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. There is an abundance of redfish in Tarpon Bay and the inlet off of Sanibel Island with pinfish and pilchards the secret bait. This is the time for large trout -- 26 inches plus. Use big shiners and look for the trout in the grass flats off of Sanibel Island. Congratulations to Clark Brinkly of North Carolina for a big day of snook with Captain Maxie as his guide.

Sanibel Harbour Marina: Lots of trout can be found on the grass flats with freelining shrimp and a popping cork being one of the best methods for doing well. Reds are in the bushes and mangroves and are pretty thick this time of year. There are lots of sharks in the passes chasing tarpon. Captain Doug Odjortel has been pleasing a lot of clients with superb success with redfish. Nice going Captain Doug!
941-454-0141
941-454-0104

Smith Marine: Captain Jim Cooper says Pine Island Sound is producing some nice fish for snook and redfish with thread herring and small shiners. There are hoards of snook being sighted also on the beach and passes. Tarpon are continuing to be caught with flies and plugs in the passes. It seems like you mention tarpon and the sharks are close behind. Lots of sharks, bulls and hammerheads, are being caught in the Sound. Congratulations to Bill Fargo for a bang up day with redfish and snook -- another satisfied client of Captain Jim Cooper.
941-939-5776
1-800-929-3701

Hippies Bait & Tackle: Congratulations to John on the opening of his bait and tackle shop at his new location. Hippies is now located right next door to Matlacha Marina. There are plenty of redfish and snapper being taken in the Matlacha canals using shrimp and a little weight. The tarpon are still in the pass with the sharks folling them. For those of you who want to catch a shark, and not using your tarpon as bait (just kidding), John recommends cut mullet and ladyfish.
941-283-2400

Ray's Bait & Tackle: Ray says that there are a lot of snapper being taken in Matlacha Sound bottom fishing with shrimp. The redfish are thick in the mangroves. There are still plenty of sharks being taken with hammerheads and sand sharks taking the lead of those caught. Our hats go off to Coop who is catching just about everything he goes after lately -- nice job Coop.
941-283-4402

Seven Sea's Bait & Tackle: Jim says there are lots of reds schooling up in Pine Island Sound. Jigs tipped with shrimp and Baley Rattling Twitch seem to be the hot tickets. There are lots of sharks in the area following the tarpon, especially in the Boca Grande area. The ticket for tarpon are the Break Away Jigs or live crabs. There are lots of trout in the area, and very large ones at that. It is not uncommon to see several over 25 inches. They are being taken with top water plugs. Snook are being taken off the Barrier Island with big females over 20 lbs. Remember, snook are strictly catch and release this time of the year. Congratulations to Bruch Pointer of St. James City, who with Brian (Jim's son), caught 42 reds out of the same hole -- a day we all dream about!!
941-283-1674

Check out my PAST reports for the months of May, June, and July, 1997 ...