Fishingcast: Conditions for Southwest Florida, March 16-22

CONDITIONS

Generally tranquil week weather wise. New moon Tuesday brings strong tides both ways. Winds mild but variable, and kick up later in the week. Water temperatures 72 to 74; shallow water warmer.

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MARCO ISLAND

• Backwater: Sense end of sheepshead spawners. Last effort in cooler deep water holes and cuts. Mangrove snapper to size begin showing near the edges of Hurricane Pass, Rookery and Johnson Bays.
• Nearshore: Good mackerel action continues two miles west of Capri Pass. Snapper action Walton Reef, a.m. incoming. Pompano off Sand Dollar Island on midday high turn.
• Offshore: Migrating kings showing deep wrecks holding bait and on runner under chum. Long run 30-35 miles due west; hard bottom for red grouper on live pinfish on drift.

NAPLES

• Backwater: Pompano Hurricane Pass early a.m. low turn and tipped jigs. Spec trout Rookery flats on drift with shrimp. Snapper at all edges both sides Dollar Creeks.
• Nearshore: Mackerel 20-30’ structure Gordon to Doctors; jigs over chum. Snapper north of Keeywadin Reef. Snook a.m. north end of Keeywadin Beach; early a.m. incoming.
• Offshore: Reminder: Last of stone crab season = loss tripletail habitat. Work now. Mid-range wrecks holding bait have kingfish showing; on runner on wire under chum.

BONITA

• Backwater: Pompano action circa Ostego Bay a.m. incoming. Bottom bounce tipped jig heads. Snook action hot all Bay current points. Redfish showing and many oversized in super shallows and east wall.
• Nearshore: Mackerel and some bluefish east edges MAY reef; best incoming.
• Offshore: Yelllowtail snapper and mid-range wrecks holding bait and freelined chum bits. Crab pots holding tripletail. On tipped jig worked on surface.

Questions: dawnpatrolmarco@cs.com.