Submitted
Marco angler Frank Troha, left, Capt. Randy Hamilton of Wild Thing Charters and Jim Doench from Ohio, holds grouper and snapper they caught offshore bottom fishing. The offshore bottom fishing should even get better as we move into March.
March is right around the corner, and while it can be a windy month, it should mark the turning point for an increase in the water temperature, which in turn will drive added numbers of Spanish mackerel and kingfish north from the Keys into our near and offshore waters.
The wise offshore angler will have their boat locked and loaded with deep running lures, spoons and large jigs for trolling to and from their honey holes. While most of the kings will be in deeper water, do not rule out some of them stopping by the nearshore fish havens, wrecks and areas with hard bottom and some profile.
Some anglers like to troll over their favorite spots once or twice to see if the fish are there before dropping a marker. Once the marker is set, they back down and try to get close or over the marked spot.
Having a bunch of chum is a must and should be placed as soon as you can. Setting two chum bags or tubes, one near the bottom and the other closer to the surface, just might improve the bite for snapper and grouper near the bottom and other species such as cobia, amberjack, shark, kingfish and barracuda that are roaming around from the near surface down.
Good news, bad news
You may remember the great picture on Sept. 21 of Marco angler Frank Troha’s daughters holding two large kingfish they caught aboard his boat. Good news. Frank was getting ready to cast off for another offshore trip with a guest from up north when, all of a sudden, the boat broke down. Bad news. He grabbed the phone and booked Captain Randy Hamilton of Captain Wild Thing Charters and guess what? Good news. Here, in part, is the rest of the story.
His call spawned an incredible fishing trip 20-plus miles off Marco Island. We cast-netted bait on the way out and the catching began immediately after we anchored, catching mutton, lane and mangrove snapper, as well as gag grouper. We were using 3/4-ounce white jigs, tipped with the threadfins. The action never stopped, and after catching and releasing over 200 fish, keeping five keeper gag grouper, our limit of 40 mutton and mangrove snapper, plus 20 more giant lane snapper, we pulled anchor at 2:30 p.m. and headed home, completely exhausted.
Truly one of the best fishing experiences I have had in my life, and all because my boat broke down, Frank reported. Thanks for the exciting report and picture.
The list of bait that will continue to be used for the near and offshore waters includes live pinfish, grunt and minnows, along with cut squid, mullet, minnows and so-called trash fish, such as ladyfish, jack, and bluerunner, that can be caught earlier in the day and put on ice. Of course, live bait could be more successful. Casting the 3/4-ounce jigs out and retrieving them as they fall toward the bottom just might put a big kingfish on the hook.
The warmer water will also have a very positive effect on the inland, outer shoreline, passes, grass flats and nearshore fish havens, with an increase in the bite for several species, including tarpon, snook, redfish, snapper and shark. Some of these species, such as tarpon, could also see an increase in their average size.
With this in mind, I checked in with Marco Island Captain Bill Jones on Feb. 17, in reference to tarpon. Here is what he had to say. “Red, you are on target as far as March being the kick-off month for larger tarpon moving in. The only fly in the ointment are the two cold fronts that they are predicting as we talk. If they get here and move out quickly, which they should, we should be in good shape for some larger tarpon.”
I will keep you updated as to how it is going. You may contact Captain Jones at 394-6059 for more information.
Several of you have inquired about the Dania Marine Flea Market. You were not able to get to their Web site, I had the same problem, but it is now back online at thedaniamarinefleamarket.com and the market is set for March 19-22, at the Dania Jai Alai. This marine flea market is recognized as the largest event of its type in the world.
Here is some more contact information. Al Behrendt Enterprises, Inc., 2 Oakwood Blvd., Suite 195, Hollywood, Fla., 33020; call (954) 920-7877 or toll free (800) 275-2260, fax (954) 925-1033.
Naples Fishing Club meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m., at the VFW Post 7721, corner of CR 951 and Pine Ridge Road. Contact person is Kat at 239-595-3122 or e-mail katmmc@aol.com. The NFC Web site isnaplesfishingclub.com.
John Wilken, of Marco Island Flyrodders, reminds us they will meet at 7 p.m., March 11, at the Marco Community Bank. Guest are welcome.
The club also offers their membership guest speakers, and have a program that arranges a fishing trip exchange to other fly fishing anglers in other areas that have included locations out of Florida and the U.S. You may call John Wilken at 389-1622 for more information.
Don’t forget the Marco Sportfishing Club also meets the first Thursday of each month. March 5, they meet at 7 p.m., at the Marco Jewish Congregation, located at the corner of Winterberry and Peru.
They too, offer guest speakers, fishing outings, in-house tournaments and much more. You may call Peter Archidiacone at 394-1136 for more information. Catch you later.
Red Stier is a bi-weekly contributor to the Marco Island Eagle. Questions or comments may be directed to redstier@aol.com or 172 Trinidad St., Naples, Fla., 34113.
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