Ill be in Marco Island FL in January and am looking for suggestions on what to do while I’m there. I’m open to any suggestions: Inshore, offshore, tackle shops, charters, etc.
Ive decided on an inshore trip. Anyone have a good experience with a guide or tacke shop in that area?
I was there a few months ago. The locals told me about a tackle shop, but we were never able to locate it. The only other tackle option is the Bass Pro Shop up the road about 40 miles. I have some colleagues in the area and can get you some suggestions on guides if you want them. We took a 34’ Dusky out of Marco and took a ride down to Everglades Island and through 10,000 Islands area. I did see a lot of fishermen around all the mandroves and islands.
I was told that the redfish and snook are more abundant and more targeted in the winter than the summer. I was there in August and the locals told me it wasn’t redfish “season”. That whole area was pretty shallow and our Captain really knew his stuff threading that Dusky through the narrow channels. We didn’t fish since it was a working trip and the sheriff frowns on his crew having rods in the boats. 
19’ Sea-Pro CC
“Swagger Wagon”
Yamaha 115 - 2 stroke
14’ CMF Skiff
25 Johnson - 2 stroke
14’ Heritage Redfish
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
may also be going down there at the same time. Let me know what you are deciding.
quote:
Originally posted by TexasRedI was there a few months ago. The locals told me about a tackle shop, but we were never able to locate it. The only other tackle option is the Bass Pro Shop up the road about 40 miles. I have some colleagues in the area and can get you some suggestions on guides if you want them. We took a 34’ Dusky out of Marco and took a ride down to Everglades Island and through 10,000 Islands area. I did see a lot of fishermen around all the mandroves and islands.
I was told that the redfish and snook are more abundant and more targeted in the winter than the summer. I was there in August and the locals told me it wasn’t redfish “season”. That whole area was pretty shallow and our Captain really knew his stuff threading that Dusky through the narrow channels. We didn’t fish since it was a working trip and the sheriff frowns on his crew having rods in the boats.
19’ Sea-Pro CC
“Swagger Wagon”
Yamaha 115 - 2 stroke
14’ CMF Skiff
25 Johnson - 2 stroke
14’ Heritage Redfish“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
I would like any feed back on the local scene that you can give me. It looks like trout, redfish, and sheephead are going to be the best bet. The local tackleshop owner in Hilton Head gave me a hot spots map and I think Ill be able to fish from shore as well. I just want to see as much of the area as I can and spend a day or two with a guide that fishes hard. Shame about your Sheriff…Sounds like you need to take him fishing!
Head south to Chokoloskee, if you have a boat the flats should have a good trout bite. Also fish near the mangroves might get some nice reds or a snook. There is a river I think the name is the Chadam(it been years since I’ve been down there)but anchor up on the nouth side of the mouth on a out going tide fishing either pinfish, finger mullet or halfed large mullet. If is you first time boating around there I would set up you gps to get there and backto theramp it is easy to get lost they don’t call it 10000 island for no reason. That is the best I can do for you. I love and miss fishing down there. PM me if you have any questions.
Goals achieved with little effort are seldom worthwhile or lasting.
-Coach John Wooden
I was there a few years ago and fished with Capt. Matt Hoover. We fished out of Goodland which is real close to Marco. Matt is a good guy and will puts youn on fish. Matt fishes out of a Pathfinder Bay Boat. Here is a link to his wesbsite. http://www.nightflightcharters.com/bio.htm
Good luck
p.s. Ace Sunshine Hardware has the best tackle in that area. You can also buy live bait at Colusa Marina in Goodland.
Bearcat
I wont have a boat this time around but appeciate the suggestions. I was hopeing to get a day or two with a good captain. I’m also bringing a couple of rods to try my luck around the docks and bridges. I saw Sunshine Ace on the list of local tackle shops but didnt give it much thought. Good to know they are legit, I might have gone out of my way for nothing. Ill shoot Matt Hoover an email with my dates and see what he suggests. I have another good referral on captain from a CF member that I’ll look into as well. I really appreciate all the responses.
BA, a good friend of mine has been down there on a job for the last 9 months. He’s a voracious fisherman, with a 20’ custom flats boat.
I have his permission to share his contact info with you and he’ll help you any way that he can.
Send me an email, LTeuton at aol dot com and I’ll put you together.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
todd Jeroy - 239 793-7141 or Chris McCubbin 239 404 6255 are guides out of naples. I dont know of marco having that many guide services. Todd is a friend of the family and I went to highschool with chris. Both know the waters pretty well and are respectable captains. Bring a rod though and fish the big bridge heading into marco I’ve pulled some nice fish out from around it. The pompano might still be in they like to hang out in that cut.
Key West Stealth
150 V-max
Call Tom Shadley’s shop - Mangrove outfitters, he can give you some numbers. Theres a few really solid skiff guides down there. Wright Taylor, Jeff Legutki. Tom can tell you some others.
Capt. Graham Hegamyer
Southern Tail Charters
Light-Tackle Inshore
843.991.8372
www.SouthernTailCharters.com
www.RogueWaterChapters.com -
I will definately follow up with latest recomendations. Ive talked to
a couple of people down there and it doesnt sound like the most productive time of year to fish, but I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully have some good info and pics to share when I get back.
email sent. thanks
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryBA, a good friend of mine has been down there on a job for the last 9 months. He’s a voracious fisherman, with a 20’ custom flats boat.
I have his permission to share his contact info with you and he’ll help you any way that he can.Send me an email, LTeuton at aol dot com and I’ll put you together.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
email replied to. Good luck!
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair