If you want to catch a redfish, its time to go fishing in Naples!
As August starts wind down, and September approaches, the redfish start to become very frequent visitors on the end of happy anglers’ lines. September is the time of year redfish begin to gather around the passes, and nearby inshore waters as their spawning season approaches.
If you want to catch a redfish, it all starts with the bait. Redfish eat everything including pilchards, pinfish, shrimp, crabs, cutbait, and artificials. You name it, they eat it . It seems that the bigger they get, though, the lazier they become, and cut ladyfish, threadfin herring, and mullet seem to be the baits of choice in the back country mangroves and cuts. I think it’s a combination of scent, and the fact that a properly placed piece cutbait, isn’t going to swim away from the bite zone.
On a recent couples fishing charter, the redfish were eating pilchards. The giant 39 inch brute featured on the cover of this article was caught on the first cast, using a pilchard. I thought the customer was stuck on a snag, until the snag boiled and started wallowing. At that point I’m thinking, ok cool, it’s a pretty stout shark, goliath grouper.
The spot on the big fish’s tail told me it was a giant redfish. A really big one. The beast ripped of line on the light spinning tackle, and then swung back towards the mangrove shoreline. After a struggle to keep it out of the structure prevailed, it went under the boat. After what seemed like an eternity, the brute tired, and rolled over to be netted. Nope, almost ready, as it ripped off more line. And again, after the run, swung back under the boat. This time, however, as it circled in and out of the shadow of the boat, I was ready with the big net and scooped it up! Boom! Biggest red of the summer, and certainly a trophy to remember for my clients!
That redfish signaled the beginning of some really good redfish catches that will continue into the coming months, and he past several charters from Estero Bay down to Marco Island have been producing several reds per trip. Also, the mangrove snapper, snook of all sizes, jack crevalle, spotted seatrout, and goliath grouper (jewfish) are mixed into each trip.
If you want to catch a redfish, its time to go fishing in Naples! The weather should be great, the temperatures will start to cool off slightly, and the redfish will be ready!
Tags: marcoguide, marcoinshorefishing, marcoislandfishing, naplescaptain, naplescharterfishing, naplesfishing, naplesfishingguide, naplesinshorefishing, redfish, snook
