Fall Redfish Naples to the Everglades

Summertime backcountry action is firing up in Naples and Marco Island, delivering incredible fly and artificial-only fishing. Snook are spawning near the passes and outward mangrove points, aggressively crushing early-morning topwater plugs and well-placed baitfish flies on the moving tides. Redfish are tightly hugging the shade of the mangrove roots and shallow oyster bar weedless soft plastics and shrimp-mimicking fly patterns. Meanwhile, acrobatic juvenile tarpon are rolling in the deeper backcountry bays and creeks. also schools of jack crevalle roam the channels, ready to smash fast-stripped streamers and topwater plugs.

inshore fishing has been solid with good catches of redfish, snook, and trout. Redfish are being found around mangrove shorelines and oyster bars, with some larger fish showing up in deeper channels. Snook action is steady, especially near the passes and docks, with early mornings and evenings producing the best bites. The bite is strongest around tides, particularly during incoming water. Pompano are also starting to show up along the beaches, and mangrove snapper are plentiful around deeper flats and structure. As the weather cools in the coming weeks, expect more consistent action, especially on snook and redfish.

One of the many advantages of fishing in a skiff regardless of the weather is that you can always get into those little hidden creeks despite the weather. Its almost inpossible to not hook into a snook and maybe even a tarpon or redfish on a jig or surface plug!