Marco Island Fishing Report

marco island real estate guide, florida, marco island chamber of commerce, marco island vacation properties, condominiums, real estate library, marco island florida, naples

Looking for the best fishing guide & charter boat Captains: Click Here: www.sixchutercharters.com

Looking for 10,000 Island GPS coordinates ? Try Turtle Cove ( 25-52-18 , 81-35-66 ) , Panther Key ( 25-49-71 , 81-32-48 ) or Indian Key ( 25-46-98 , 81-27-88 ) - Please report your success !

Looking for some great offshore action ?? Follow this " fishing tour " . The plan includes 4 great spots that are all aligned at approximately 240* coming out from Caxambas Pass. The route also includes a short stop only 3 miles out to get bait fish.

Location 1: 3 miles ( 25-52-85 , 81-46-28 ) Try here to accumulate live bait fish for your trip. There have been plenty of sandperch which can be caught using shrimp or even a small bare gold hook. Go to the bottom and bring up slowly - they will hit it !

Location 2: 8 miles ( 25-50-37 , 81-50-20 ) Try here for 20 minutes and move on

Location 3: 12 miles ( 25-48-39 , 81-52-37 ) At each stop try live lining your fresh bait as well as your traditional methods

Location 4: 18 miles ( Loran: 140435 , 437709 .. sorry I haven't converted it to GPS yet) this is the infamous " Banana Boat Wreck "

Location 5: 21 miles ( 25-49-59 , 82-02-11 ) Last stop and perhaps the best Grouper fishing you will have all season ... .

ENJOY YOUR TRIP... If you are interested in staying closer to shore.. I have some great GPS coordinates in the 10,000 Islands - just send me a request.. Best of Luck to all the Anglers....

If you would like to contribute your personal experiences to this page , please send me an email - THANKS...

Marco Island - lies in the midst of some of the world's best game fishing waters. Angling in the vicinity of two of the artificial reefs - each a mile by a half mile in size - built in 20 feet of water a mile offshore and in 30 feet of water about 5 miles out, has met with great success. Tarpon, Snook, grouper, Kingfish, Mackeral, Redfish, Sheepshead, Pompano and Jewfish are among the many different species of fish caught in these waters. No visit to Marco Island would be complete without sampling some the seafood dishes found on the local menus.

Before you go fishing, Florida regulations require that you have a saltwater or fresh water fishing license, unless you are angling from a charter boat or vessel which already has the appropriate licenses. Florida and Marco Island residents need a fishing license only if fishing from a boat other than a licensed charter boat. Exceptions: any resident over 65 or under 16. Licenses good for one year, are required for both salt and fresh water fishing. Non-Florida residents 16 and over must obtain either a three-day, seven-day or one-year licenses. For more up to date information about licenses, contact the Collier County Tax Collector's offices, 1040 Winterberry Drive, Marco Island or call (239)-394-6986.

Below is fish availability chart. Variations will occur due to weather and season.

FISH AVAILABILITY CHART

SPECIES

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Amberjack

Barracuda

Black Drum

Black Grouper

Cobia

Flounder

Gag Grouper

Jack Crevalle

Jewfish

King Mackerel

Ladyfish

Lane Snapper

Mangrove Snapper

Mutton Snapper

Permit

Pompano

Redfish

Red Grouper

Shark

Sheepshead

Snook

Spanish Mackeral

Spotted Seatrout

Tarpon

Trippletail

Yellow Tail Snapper

For fisherman and boaters alike who need to launch their boats will find several public access points to the 10,000 islands here on Marco Island.

Collier County's Caxambus Pass Park (Photo) (909 Collier Court - open daily from 7 am to 6 pm) has probably the most popular boat ramp, but boat ramps and facilities open to the public are also available at Calusa Island Marina (Photo) on the edge of Goodland and Moran's Barge Marina at the base of the Goodland bridge. Launching from these spots may not be free, as it is from State Road 951 boat ramp near the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge, but on the other hand boaters cannot grab snacks or find restrooms at the 951 boat ramp.

Facilities at Caxambus Pass Park include restrooms and a small ship's store. Launch fee is $3. Facilities at Calusa Island Marina (open daily from 6 am to 8 pm) include restrooms, a large ships store and boat storage. Launch fee is $5 and overnight parking is an additional $5. Moran's Barge Marina (open 6 am to 6 pm) have restrooms and a large ship's store, restaurant and even a hotel. Launch fee is $5.30 and the ramp is open after hours and visitors are on their honor system to pay later.

Now if you are going fishing or boating, check out the tides at http://www.naplesnews.com/weather. You will be able to get the tides e.g. for Big Marco River and Coon Key.

Conch: These chewy clams are served tenderized with lime juice, raw and chopped in salad. Also chopped, breaded and fried as conch fritters and in conch chowder (usually red, spicy).

Mahi (or Mahi Mahi): the correct name is dolphin (not mammal). Firm, white-fleshed and delicious grilled, blackened or Cajun-style.

Grouper: one of the mildest fishes available, served fried, blackened, broiled or grilled as and entree, but a fried grouper sandwich is hard to beat.

Snapper: mild, white-meat fish served fried, blackened or broiled. Best with butter sauce made tart with Key lime juice.

Yellowfin Tuna: a firm flavorful semi-dark meat fish most often grilled, broiled or blackened.

Florida Lobster: known as spiny lobster, has no claws like Maine lobster. Florida lobster tails are broiled and served with melted butter. Absolutely delicious!

CHART LEGEND
GOOD MONTHS	AVAILABLE	GENERALLY NOT AVAILABLE

FISHING ON MARCO ISLAND