Submitted

Marco Island Bill Beebe, Pastor of the Marco Wesley United Methodist Church, holding a small snook that he caught and released on light tackle using a tipped jig.

Submitted

Left to right, John Brossard the 3rd, his brother Rhys and their friend Billy Hearder holding ladyfish they caught and used for fresh cut bait for their shark fishing trip with John Brossard of Naples Fertilizer.

Submitted

A five and a half foot, 65 pounds plus, black tip shark that John Brossard caught and released while fishing with his two sons and Jr. angler Billy Harder who also caught and released one about the same size.

Fishing reports are slower forthcoming then I expected during the last days of April on some fishing fronts. No excuses, just plain facts such as very brisk winds, heavy smoke that discouraged anglers wanting to fish the inland, passes and near shore waters. In addition of several anglers were added to the low numbers of bait, another factor.

I tend to agree with the bait problem in some areas. My explanation is simple, it’s just that time of year and the amount of bait should have increased on most all fronts by the time you read this article. May 1 also marks the closing of snook season through August. This of course does not prevent you from catching and releasing them.

The larger spawning snook and tarpon should be moving in force into the nearshore fish havens, passes, inland waters and cruising the beaches. The list of bait for them includes live crab, pinfish, small finger mullet and ladyfish. Fishing the early morning or afternoon hours during a high incoming and high falling tide should be best in the inland waters.

Always remember to nudge the live crab when fishing them as they will dig down to hide. Pulling them out of the bottom can alert a nice snook or redfish nearby.

During the med day hours many of the larger snook should be laying on the bottom along with tarpon, giant goliath grouper and just maybe some sharks where the water is deeper and bit cooler.

Set your anchor up current from a spot where the bottom drops off and tie the anchor line off at a comfortable casting distance from the spot you wish to fish.

My favorite rig for live bait would be an egg slide sinker large enough to take care of the swift current. The sliding sinker is placed on the fishing lie above the swivel, leader and a circle hook. The leader does not have to be much longer then two to three feet.

If the sinker slides up the line during the cast your leader is too long. The reason for the free sliding egg sinker is the fish does not feel any drag when it strikes the bait.

While I use a heavy 60 plus pound monofilament leader a coffee color wire leader will work but can come back looking like a spring and wasting your time replacing it.

Of course, this type of fishing requires a rod and reel heavier then your ultra light a some intermediate size combos.

May is also a good month for catch and release of sharks. John Brossard of Naples Fertilizer took his two dons Ryhs, John III and their friend Billy Harder shark fishing. The kids had a ball catching ladyfish for fresh cut bait.

John senior had a ball catching and releasing one measuring five and one half foot, 65 pounds plus black tip.

Another May method that should work for added action. Trolling spoons, lures and feathered jigs over the deeper holes and along the mangroves on the way to your back country honey holes. Many anglers will miss the boat when they head into a no wake zone on their way to their favorite honey hole. Sticking two rods rigged with one of the baits listed above just might add some extra action for everyone. One should be set on the mangrove side and should be a shallow diver. The other one set to run a little deeper. You have to go slow anyway, set the rods out and enjoy the scenery.

Marco angler Peter Archidiacone and one of his fishing buddies Pastor Bill Beebe of Marco Wesley United Methodist Church have been finding nice catch and release action in the back waters using jigs tipped with Berkeley Gulp bait aboard Pet’s boat “Knot Head.”

Much of it is small snook on light tackle. Pete also reminds us the Marco Sportfishing Club meets the first Thursday of each month at the Jewish Temple located on the corner of Peru and Winterberry. It all starts at 6:30 p.m., open to the public to visit to see what they are all about and join if they are interested.

The club’s Web site is marcosportfishingclub.com is one you should visit. It answers just about anything you need to know about fishing in this area such as fishing, etiquette, social activities, answer to frequently asked question, a form to apply for membership and much more.

You may call Pete Arcidiacone at (239)394-1136 for more information.

Things continue to look good from our near waters with increased patches of bait being worked by Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jack and bluerunner. The fish havens, wrecks and towers will continue to have permit looking for your live crabs, tipped jigs, and shrimp leading the list of bait used.

Local marinas have started to offer live crabs for sale. Do not be surprised if you run into a cobia, amberjack, or stray kingfish.

Of course, the three outlaws, shark, barracuda near the surface, giant goliath grouper near the bottom will be there trying to ruin your day of fun in the sun. Everything is looking good on all fronts for May.

Catch you later!

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Marco angler John Barrett writes in part, Red: thanks so much for putting in the picture of my grandson Troy Yarnell and the black tip he caught in you April 3 edition of the Eagle. Unfortunately they put his first name as Tony not Troy. We know a lot of people on the island and it would have been nice if you would have mentioned my name as his grandfather.

Very sorry about that John. Thanks for the correction and being so slow in responding.

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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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