Barron River Resort, Marina, Motel & R.V. Park:
Johnny says fishing is red hot. Sheepshead, big snapper, pompano, reds, tarpon, and trout are all possibilities in a day's outing. Although snook are out of season right now, those into catch and release will find large snook in the 25 lb. category in the back country. Look for bigger trout in the 21 in. category being caught on shrimp, and pompano being enticed with live bait and bucktail jigs. tarpon are in all the passes being caught on mullet, red & white lures, and DOA chartreuse Baitbusters being likely winners for bait and lures. Johnny says this is a perfect time to stop by Barren Rivier Resort because the rates are low and the fishing is great.
1-800-535-4961

Bianchi's Resort Motel & Marker 7 Bait & Tackle: Tarpon, Spotted Sea Trout, Snook, and Redfish are what is happening at Bianchi's. tarpon are being taken on spanish sardines, red herring, finger mullet, and silver spoons. Look for them in the backwaters, Marco River, and the Goodland Bay area. The trout can be caught on shrimp tipped jigs on the flats off of Cape Romano. Redfish can be found on the south end of the outer 10K islands. Mike says that Richard Strange from Tennessee is particularly proud of his 36 inch Snook caught right before the end of snook season.
941-394-1313
941-394-3498

Mar-Good Resort: Redfish and trout are very active right now. There have been some nice trout taken in the 18-24 inch category, a pretty respectable catch by anyone's standards. Look for trout on the grass flats and redfish on the oyster beds. When in the Mar-Good Resort area stop and ask Dave for the latest fishing information.
941-394-6383

Master Bait & Tackle: Fishing in the Estero Bay area is great this time of year with anglers catching lots of nice cobia, sharks, smoker kings and tarpon. The flats are producing nice catches of trout and reds. Capt. Lindy has been doing well on offshore charters for snapper and grouper, and of course, lots of big barracuda. Stop by Master Bait & Tackle for the latest fishing conditions, see our full line of Fin-Nor reels and our world famous Master Bait & Tackle T-shirt.
941-992-2553

Outdoor Resort - Chokoloskee: Karen says there are plenty of trout and big snook being taken. One of the favorite baits for Snook is the finger mullet. Be aware that Snook are out of season now, but then there are always tarpon and redfish. stop in and ask for Kenny or Karen for the latest fishing information and the hottest baits.
941-695-2881

Chiquita Bait & Tackle: Speckled Sea Trout are very active with Love lures and popping corks producing well by the St. James City Power Line. Tarpon are cooperating nicely at Boca Grande Pass, Matts Point, and Captiva Pass. Capt. Roy Gottschalk took his customers 35 miles offshore at Redfish Pass to locate 17 groupers, 11 gag and the rest reds, with plenty of 21 inch snappers as well.
941-540-0052

K.C.'s Riverstop: Trout and Spanish mackeral are being taken off of the Tarpon Point area with shiners and shrimp. Good sized cobia are being taken off of the Pier with jacks a common catch as well. Black tipped sharks are also being taken off of the Pier. George says to stop in for all of your bait needs and pick up fuel for your boat and food for yourself as you head out for the day.
941-549-5699

Ft. Myers Marine: Chuck says the fishing is great all over. He is particularly proud of winning the Boca Grande Old Timers Invitational tournament sponsored by the Tween Waters Inn on Captiva. His three day total was 118 lb. represented by 2 snook, 1 trout, and 1 redfish. Very impressive! Dick Younger and Herb Kenole won the big fish category of the tournament with a 27 1/4 lb. snook. Stop by and ask Chuck what is his secret.

Sanibel Harbour Marina: The redfish are biting exceptionally well on shrimp. Look for the larger ones in the deep holes, and there are plenty of keeper size ones in the mangroves. Trout are very plentiful with 20 inches a pretty common size. People are having a great deal of fun picking up trout on flies, particularly a Seaducer. Capt. Lori Johnson won the woman's division trophy of the annual Caloosa Catch and Release tournament. Part of the proceeds of the tournament goes to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
941-454-0141
941-454-0104

Hippies Bait & Tackle: Tarpon are out by Boca Grande Pass and Matlacha Pass. Look for redfish on the flats during highwater and in the holes during low water with small crabs and big shrimp the key to success. You will find pompano around the edges of the flats with fiddler crabs and sand fleas the preferred baits. Trout are everywhere as well as the sharks. John says to look for their new location right next to the Oyster House.
941-283-2400

Ray's Bait & Tackle: Ray says that trout are hitting well on the flats with jigs and live shrimp being the key to success. Redfish can be found in the mangroves by freelining with live shrimp being one of the many ways to entice them. Sharks, sharks, and more sharks. Look for them at Sanibel Causeway with Black Tips running 3-4 feet and Hammerheads running very large.
941-283-4402

Seven Sea's Bait & Tackle: Jim says snook can be found in the mangroves during high tide with greenbacks, top water plugs, and mirro lures all working well. There are lots of sharks out there following tarpon with very large hammerheads. There is more than one story floating around about hammerheads cutting a 150 lb. tarpon in half with one bite. There are plenty of redfish in Pine Island Sound and they can be caught on jigs tipped with shrimp and DOA shrimp [(308) Natural Color]. Tim Fox was one very proud customer after landing a 45 in., 28.3 lb. snook.
941-283-1674

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