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More Fishing and Boating

• A not-so-lovely weekend for a regatta
• Seaworthy: Starting the season off right
• Seaworthy: Start the season right

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Some of you may have noticed a decline in the number of fishing reports on most all fishing fronts. Not to worry as fishing reports are always fewer in numbers during September.

This is no surprise to me with hurricanes threatening us only to move on but leaving us more fresh water for the back waters, passes and outer shoreline. They can also cause some confusion to near and offshore anglers by silting in some of their secret honey holes.

The flip side of this scenario is there might be some new spots out there that have been uncovered by the same storms.

The good news is some offshore anglers planned ahead for the window of good weather days by making sure the boat is rigged and ready, have doubled checked the tides and have their bait lined up.

One report just in from Marco angler Bert Hoell reads, “Hi Red, here are some pictures from our fishing trip Sept. 17. We were fishing near an offshore tower aboard Joe Sajdak’s boat Lucky Star III. I had never caught a permit and what a thrill it was to get one in the boat. We were using some small crabs we caught floating on the surface and landed two nice size permit. Mine was 28 2/3 inches and Frank Sroka’s permit was 25 inches. We free lined the crabs and the fish really put up a fight on light tackle. Ron Shudes and Allen Bristow were also aboard. Shudes caught a 25 inch red grouper and Bristow caught a 4.5 foot gray shark. The keeper grouper were caught on live pinfish.”

Thanks for the pictures and report, Bert. I am a bit surprised the crab and permit were still out there. It is a good bet if the nicer weather we are having as I prepare this article stays, that they just might stay a little later than usual. You were lucky to find the crabs.

Live crabs can be hard to find from October on. Some bait and tackle shops try to handle live crabs year round. The wise angler will find out who they are and contact them a day or two before their trip to see if they are in stock.

Weather permitting our nearshore and offshore waters just might be picking up with increased patches of bait with several species working them including Spanish mackerel, jack, ladyfish, bluerunner, barracuda, trout and shark. Add some tripletail that will be lurking around any structure and patches of floating debris such as buoy markers and towers and you have a nice selection of species out there waiting for you.

Using tipped jigs or live crabs should work well.

Our flats, passes, inland and outer shoreline could be bouncing back if we get lucky with the weather. Fishing the inland waters during the high incoming and high low tides could be to your advantage.

October is arriving and with a little luck the first half of it just might remain warm enough you will be comfortable fishing the early morning during the tides listed above. Snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, jack, bluerunner, ladyfish, trout, tarpon, shark, Spanish mackerel and of course the old trouble maker catfish will be found. Add some kingfish that may find their way to our waters by mid October. But more storms and all bets are off.

Marco Island angler Wright Taylor reminds us their October Coastal Conservation Association fishing tournament is set for Oct. 5. It all starts at dawn at Calusa Yacht Club & Marina on Goodland with the registration. Non-members can come and join the CCA, pay their entry fee and fish the tournament.

Taylor also reports last month’s event spawned only 11 boats down half or more than previous tournaments of 20 plus boats. Of course the threats of bad weather had to be the reason.

You may call Wright at 821-9203 or Terry Metzger 597-4973 for more information.

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida announces the second year for the 2008 Red/Snook Catch and Release Charity Tournament. This International Game Fish Association certified tournament will be held Oct. 3 through 5. Teams, individuals and junior anglers under the age of 16 can participate.

Heatherwood Construction is the 2008 presenting sponsor. Other participating sponsors include M & I Bank, Naples Harbor Yacht Club, Comcast, ESPN-AM Radio, Naples Yacht Club and Florida Fishing Weekly.

Roland Martin, legendary angler and television host of the Fishing With Roland Martin Show will again host the three day tournament, a benefit to raise funds for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida water quality programs.

The kickoff party and action is Friday at the Naples Harbor Yacht Club. Anglers will launch from Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee Oct. 4 and 5. The Awards Ceremony is Oct. 5 evening.

You may contact Meghan Clancy at 403-4200 or visit www.theredsnook.com for more information and to register.

Marco Island Sport Fishing Club president Peter Arcidiacone reminds us that their October meeting will be held the first Thursday at the Jewish Congregation of Marco located at the corner of Winterberry and Peru.

It all starts at 6:30 p.m. and will feature a redfish clinic. That’s right, a redfish clinic! Now you will have the opportunity to cram all the knowledge offered into 1.5 hours of learning.

The clinic will explain the type of equipment, tackle, baits, methods and general locations of the art of red fishing. The general meeting will follow at 7:45 p.m. You may call Peter at 394-1136 for more information

One thing is for sure, it will be a busy weekend.

Catch you later!

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Red Stier is a biweekly contributor to the Marco Island Eagle. Questions or comments may be directed to redstier@aol.com or 172 Trinidad St., Naples, FL 34113.