Everglades City / Naples

[saltpotato]

I am heading to Naples in April. Wondering if I should book a charter out of Naples or head to Everglades City for a backwater guide? Any thoughts?
Thanks

[loon]

Naples isn't bad, but it's like a zillion other places. Everglades City will have you fishing the 10000 Islands or Everglades National Park which are NOT like other places (and the fishing is better). Check out Ned Small's website: sightfish dot com.

[soundownsam]

If you can get down to Everglades City its a no brainer. Naples has some good fishing, but EC is has access sto far better water with way less pressure. You can't find any better inshore fishing than along the piece of coast between Choko and Flamingo.

sam

[sped]

It's school vacation week for me...the truck is loaded, boat in tow......and when the dismissal bell rings...........I'm headed for Chocoloskee......10,000 Islands and the Everglades is the ONLY way to go.......Also, a second for guide Ned Small.....pricey but a guaranteed good time....Sped

[flyfishsalt]

The amount of places to fish in Naples, Marco, Goodland, Port of the isles, and Everglades City is tremendous. April is a great time to fish them all. If you are looking for some great Snook fishing I would not hesitate to head over to Everglades City right now. We have been into some awesome Snook in the last couple weeks and Tarpon are due to show up in big numbers soon. If you are looking to get out into the Gulf and chase Bonito, Spanish Macs, and Reds there is some of that going on out in front of Naples right now. In addition there is always great fishing in the backcountry out of Goodland which is only 20 minutes from Naples. I am fishing there this week with someone who is visiting Marco Island. I love fishing out of Goodland and into the 10,000 islands because you never know what you are going to see.

[backwater]

Don't forget to look to the north, as well as. There can be some outstanding sight fishing in Fort Myers and Port Charlotte for reds and snook. The area around Boca Grande can be outstanding for tarpon as well. This is probably the best flats fishing you're going to find around SW FL.

The fishing from Naples and points south is mostly backwater style fishing along mangrove shorelines and points and searching for rolling tarpon. I grew up in Naples and really enjoy coming back for the fishing. I would call Capt. Steve Westervelt. He's one of my favorite guides in the area.

[Soundking]

Other than getting a guide (IE my homie Capt. Joe), my sugestion would be to rent kayaks from a local company (my choice would be my buddy Chris at salt water sports just east of naples on 41) and explore the back creeks. The snook and reds will be transitioning between a spring and summer pattern. If you have a cold snap, target dark bays with east facing coves on the bottom half of the tide. The fish will be layed or cruising up a few yards off of the sticks.

The Gordon river in Naples also holds a respectable year-round tarpon fishery. The fish are 10-40 pounds and are found in creek apexes on the dump. It's not a targetable fishery until April, but it should break up the Snook monotony.

Also, around that time of year, juvie pilchards should be funneling out of the passes. My personal favorite is Doctor's Pass in North Naples. It is a first light fishery, and should not be fished unless you have the bottom of the drop mixing with the sunrise. Spanish Macks, Jacks, Ladies, Poons, Trout, Snook and even small Gags will line up for the festival. It's two hours of mayhem if you time it right. The snook will be feeding along the jetty, and the faster gamefish will be just outside the pass. The quarter and twitch with a 1/0 clouser is deadly on the mackerel and poons in this situation.

Another consideration is the ditch along airport road. In the nine months I spent in Naples, this was the best fishery. Go east on RT 41 untl you hit the left turn for the road. Go north on Airport until you pass golden gate blvd. The ditch holds some serious largemouth, landlocked snook and baby tarpon. Just after you cross under golden gate you will see a large pond on your right. Keep going until you hit the spillway, and turnoff on the gravel. That pond is loaded with bass and snook. To the north, if you go about 10 miles past the pond you will pass the Ritz Golf Club (about 2 miles past the Pine Ridge intersection). The canal will get small, then expand into a basin with rip-rap on the other side. This is in my opinion the best spot in naples. This basin has 10+ pound bass, 30 inch snook and some huge Amur Carp.

I hope that this was of some help and if there are any more questions, feel free to ask.

[Divot]

Wow! That is great info! I will be coming down in late June and I have been
looking for places to fish from shore. What kind of baits do you use for the
largemouths and snook? In North GA. I use soft jerk baits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms, etc. for the largemouths, I have no clue for the snook.

Also, are the places you listed safe to take kids fishing.

Thanks!