Angler's Outlook: July can be a fishing smorgasbord

June is nearly history. Time to look ahead.

Weather permitting, July could be a bit better for inland, outer shoreline and flats waters with some nice-size fish. Catches could include mangrove snapper, redfish, snook, tarpon from 40 pounds to in excess of 100 pounds, jack, bluerunner, ladyfish and even a few trout and pompano.

Capt. Bill Jones of Make a Memory Charters continues to find tarpon south of Goodland using live and fresh cut bait. Jones says he sets his rods out and uses chum to bring the bait closer to the boat. This also allows him to catch fresh bait. He catches and uses catfish, jack and ladyfish for bait.

I asked him if the sharks were a problem. He said you can catch as many as you want, but I like to avoid them as much as I can. Many of his charters are targeting tarpon. The chum can bring sharks closer to the boat as they are after the bait, so I cast the bait out away from the boat on the edge of the chum slick to avoid the sharks.

"We are hooking up as many as five to six tarpon with a catch and release ratio of three or four," Jones said.

Carol Kennefick was one of the lucky anglers who bagged a 100-pound-plus tarpon while fishing with Jones. On another outing, Jack Kennefick hooked into a big sawfish estimated to be close to 15 feet with a 4-foot bill. Jack fought the monster for about 30 minutes and then turned it over to his friend, Dan Haxton, who brought it to the boat for release after fighting it another 30 minutes.

Both tarpon and sawfish are protected. You can, however, purchase a Florida tarpon tag that allows you to harvest one tarpon for a skin mount for about $52.

July should continue to be a productive month for tarpon and all of the species noted previously. Fishing early-morning or late-evening hours during a high incoming or high falling tide could be best for better catching, not to mention beating the heat.

Submitted photo

Marco angler Dennis Carley holds a tiny tuna he caught near shore using a tipped jig on light tackle.

Our waters from the passes out should continue to offer a nice selection of species that include Spanish mackerel, bonito, some tarpon and sharks. Cobia and permit should be found at the wrecks, towers and spots with hard bottom and profile. Grouper grabbing will remain the same: go deeper, use live bait and lots of chum for the larger fish.

Night fishing with lights rigged for snapper will remain productive along with a resident kingfish, amberjack or cobia.

New rules are forthcoming for snook. The size window is to be changed from 26 inches to 27 minimum, with no change on the 34-inch maximum limit. The new regulation also requires snook to be measured by determining the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed together while the fish is on its side.

Snook season is closed through August.

Submitted photo

Jack Kennefick and Dan Haxton hooked, caught and released this sawfish while tarpon fishing with Marco captain Bill Jones.

More news is in about the annual RedSnook Fishing Tournament. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida recently announced the tournament will return in 2007 after a one-year hiatus. It is scheduled for Oct. 6 and 7 and will be managed by the Conservancy. Proceeds will benefit the Estuaries and Coastal Watershed Initiative as well as the Coastal Conservation Association.

"The Conservancy has long wanted to identify an event that would unite the conservation, fishing and boating communities around a common cause," said Conservancy board member Andy Hill. "The Red Snook Tournament is one of the premier fishing tournaments in Southwest Florida and we are pleased with this new partnership. Conservancy volunteers Gil LaCroix and Jim Lozelle have worked to keep this exciting tourney alive and are actively planning to make this an even greater event."

The tournament was founded in 1993 by Tim Perry and Dick Botthof and benefited the YMCA of Collier County youth sports programs. Following the 2005 event, the Collier County YMCA made the decision that an adult fishing tournament did not fit with their long-term development objectives and decided to retire the event.

The revived Collier County-based tournament, to be held in Naples Bay, Rookery Bay and Everglades National Park, will include two days of fishing, a silent auction and numerous social events. The Conservancy is looking for energetic and enthusiastic volunteers to work on the event.

Submitted photos

Capt. Bill Jones and Carol Kennefick hold a nice tarpon she caught south of Goodland using fresh cut bait.

Since its founding in 1964, the Conservancy has worked to protect the area's environment while upholding the quality of life and is dedicated to preserving Southwest Florida's natural environment. Today, the Conservancy fosters its mission through a comprehensive approach to conservation through scientific research, development of sound environmental policy, wildlife rehabilitation, sea turtle monitoring and environmental education.

The Conservancy operates the Naples Nature Center, offering abundant learning opportunities, special activities such as camps for children and other unique programming and events.

For more information about the Conservancy, contact Beth Menchaca at 403-4219 or www.conservancy.org.

Don't forget the Coastal Conservation Association Naples/Collier Chapter monthly Catch & Release Fishing Tournament on Sunday, July 1 at Calusa Yacht Club & Marina in Goodland.

Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. You can join the CCA or sign up for the event if you are not a member The cost is $40 per boat, limited to three anglers per boat. The target fish is redfish with a mystery fish announced that morning.

Contact Wright Taylor at 831-9203 or Terry Metzger at 597-4973, or more information.

Have a great week!