Fishingcast: Conditions for Marco Island, May 26-June 1

BACKWATER

Summer conditions expand; p.m. thunderstorms now showing under 100 degree real feel; p.m. gusty winds abate cleaning water. Weekend new moon brings 4.5' range p.m. outgoing. Water temps steady 82-84 range. Overall action here marginal, slowly improving. Usual strong spring pelagic action Capri Pass et al missing. Snook remain as good bite; most sub-slot on pilchards, threads on a.m. incoming; current points Johnson, Rookery, Addison Bay current points this week. Few pompano Hurricane Pass last, first hour either tide on tipped jigs to bottom. Slow size improvement on mangrove snapper; most in 9" range on shrimp most shoreline edges both tides. Work shaded overhangs.

NEARSHORE

More stable water conditions here (clarity, quality). Pelagics evident Capri Barges, John Dee wreck with weighted jigs worked under chum on incoming. Reports good spec trout Cape Romano Flats incoming with shrimp under popper on shallow drift on early incoming.

OFFSHORE

Monitor weather through weekend. Deep wrecks holding big amberjack. On major gear on vertically worked live bait into structure. Great action; all c/r as harvest closed until Dec. 31. Red grouper; move west; need 60-65' with moving water; on live pinfish / cut ladyfish on drift working tight to hard bottom.