I will be vacationing in Marco Island this February. I am looking for places to fish from shore. I am also looking for info on the recommended setup, and, the type of bait to use, for having success.
Thanks!
FinFisherman
Loc: Born in Ohio - 40 yrs Florida- Clearwater,Fl
kdnate wrote:
I will be vacationing in Marco Island this February. I am looking for places to fish from shore. I am also looking for info on the recommended setup, and, the type of bait to use, for having success.
Thanks!
Shrimp, circle hooks for salt water.
You can fish under the Jolly Bridge from shore. Lights at night attract bait fish and Snook. Always a shark or several around. Jacks, Ladyfish get caught there also. Not eaters but don’t discount the fun of catching them. Can always chunk a lady fish and use it for bait.
Tiger-tail beach gives you a lot of fishing if you walk the beach and will take you to Hideaway beach that you can get to depending on tides and where the sand has moved. The T Groins there hold fish and deeper areas between them are good also. Shrimp and circle hooks work as already talked about but if bottom fishing you get more catfish. I would recommend a jig tipped with some shrimp. You can work the entire water column with a jig. If you carry shrimp in any kind of bucket they are dinner for some big shore birds and they are not shy about taking it out of your bucket. Keep in mind that Hide Away beach is a public beach right up to the high tide line so pretty much all the sand. If you leave the sand you are trespassing on private property.
There are some docks at the public boat launch on Goodland that people fish from. Don’t know how they do there. You may want to check out Sunshine Tours at Roses Marco River Marina. Rodger runs an off shore Charter boat like it’s a head boat and you can book the entire boat or do a split charter with up to 5 others. 1/2 3/4 and full days trips there. They also have a three hour backwater trip on a mini head boat and other boats with captains and all gear and bait. Worth checking onto as soon as you arrive if interested or give Sun Shine Tours a call. You can pick a day and start a shared trip. I think they are still the only boats doing split charters. Hope this help. GOOD LUCK!!
flyguy
Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!
kdnate wrote:
I will be vacationing in Marco Island this February. I am looking for places to fish from shore. I am also looking for info on the recommended setup, and, the type of bait to use, for having success.
Thanks!
Welcome to the Forum, kdnate, The Capt. pointed you in the right direction. Good luck.
Take the Captain's advice! Just Sayin...RJS
Rayz
Loc: North West N.J. and South Hero Vt.
The last time I was there Naples had a nice pier that sold bait and lunch food. They don't allow shark fishing because it is near a swimming beach.
When I go to Marco Island, I usually stay in the Hotels, The Beach/surf behind the hotels are excellent for fishing.
Early Morning hours and early evening hours are best at Sunset. Lookout though everybody comes out at Sunset from the hotels to see the Sunset ! Usually between 6-8pm. Excellent fishing at that time. Use either live shrimp or dead shrimp, both are good. We have caught Jacks, Blue runners, ladyfish and I've been hit a few times by Tarpon before but lost the fish. Use swim baits if possible also for the Tarpon, the water is only 2-5ft when casting from the surf with a normal 6.6ft rod and a regular reel, does not take much ! The view is spectacular even if you dont catch anything, you'll have lots of fun with the family, take plenty of Pics and It will be a memorable experience, but we always catch fish. Every so often you'll see your family of Dolphins coming up to the surface this includes the Naples Beaches as well. Dont forget you also have Naple Pier down by Gulfshore Blvd and 12th street. Excellent fishing as well in the Naples Pier.
Enjoy... Have fun !
Captain wrote:
You can fish under the Jolly Bridge from shore. Lights at night attract bait fish and Snook. Always a shark or several around. Jacks, Ladyfish get caught there also. Not eaters but don’t discount the fun of catching them. Can always chunk a lady fish and use it for bait.
Tiger-tail beach gives you a lot of fishing if you walk the beach and will take you to Hideaway beach that you can get to depending on tides and where the sand has moved. The T Groins there hold fish and deeper areas between them are good also. Shrimp and circle hooks work as already talked about but if bottom fishing you get more catfish. I would recommend a jig tipped with some shrimp. You can work the entire water column with a jig. If you carry shrimp in any kind of bucket they are dinner for some big shore birds and they are not shy about taking it out of your bucket. Keep in mind that Hide Away beach is a public beach right up to the high tide line so pretty much all the sand. If you leave the sand you are trespassing on private property.
There are some docks at the public boat launch on Goodland that people fish from. Don’t know how they do there. You may want to check out Sunshine Tours at Roses Marco River Marina. Rodger runs an off shore Charter boat like it’s a head boat and you can book the entire boat or do a split charter with up to 5 others. 1/2 3/4 and full days trips there. They also have a three hour backwater trip on a mini head boat and other boats with captains and all gear and bait. Worth checking onto as soon as you arrive if interested or give Sun Shine Tours a call. You can pick a day and start a shared trip. I think they are still the only boats doing split charters. Hope this help. GOOD LUCK!!
You can fish under the Jolly Bridge from shore. Li... (
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Nice job welcoming a newbie.
Fishing the Beach or Surf behind the Hotels always pays off ! Best Time in the morning if you're an early Riser is between 6am-9am. After that the Beachgoers start coming out and its pretty hard to fish once the beach gets packed with people. It's common sense and courtesy to stop the fishing once the public takes over the Beach. I tried once to sneek and squeeze between bathers right in the middle of the afternoon and its pretty hard, people look at you funny and wish you would stop fishing near them. Not only that it was pretty dangerous...all I did was attract a small shark nearby and people definitely do not like that. Don't want to ruin anyone's vacation. Lesson Learned ! ...we stopped and never again. Only early morning and early evening by sunset. There is no one in the water during those times. I was only excited to get my rod out there cause the early morning catch was pretty good, with a Pompano, some Jacks and Perch...I was on a roll. But folks, common decency and courtesy dictates otherwise. Fish only in the Super early morning hours or in the Evening around Sunset ! We mainly use shrimp, either Live or dead, as well as some artificials and plastics, try everything in your tackle box. Birds early in the morning are good indicators of bait fish in the surface or a mullet run. Lunkers are close by like Tarpon/snook. depending on the season of the year of course.
Anyhow Good luck ya'll
Happy Fishing
My warmest appreciation for the welcome, and, all of the great responses that I received? The detail that everyone included was so much appreciated! I’ll be driving from Michigan to Marco in about a week; I have my fishing gear ready to go, and now, I know some great places to give it a try.
Thanks again to all at the Fishing Stage
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