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The first cold front of the 2020 fall season is upon us. This means the fish will be moving back into the 2nd or 3rd bays. I actually cant wait as this means predictable activity.

This past week has been very good fishing at the right tides. It seems that the falling tide has been best but there are fish to be caught all day. Snook, Redfish and Sea Trout have been active and willing to bite our offerings.

For the snook we have been using free lined live shrimp and also soft plastics like the Zman Dark and Stormy 4 inch jerk bait. It seems the shrimp work best when tide flow is slower but as the tide picks up throwing the Zman right at the mangrove roots it the ticket. The first cold front coming in today may slow things for a day but quickly recover by Wednesday.

Redfish and seatrout have been getting more active and with this first cold front they will enjoy the cooler water temps. After we get past this full moon the turbidity of the big tides will subside. We will have some great action. Right now for the redfish and sea trout we have been using Gulp Shrimp in New Penny color. Also you cant beat a brown bucktail 1/8 oz tipped with a small piece of carefully place shrimp.

I am now booking for the 2021 season and January has been very active. If you want to fish on a true backwater fishing trip contact me. Please be patient when you call. I am on the water everyday so I usually return calls after 4pm.

FISH THE TIDES NOT THE CLOCK

Capt. John

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Backcountry snook have been very aggressive. Its been some of the best I’ve seen in many years with over slot snook released almost every day. My clients have been ecstatic. These fish are hitting soft plastics and top waters during the first part of the falling tide right to the bottom of the tide but we are pushing the envelope some days. It seems the extreme low water is holding the bigger fish and sometimes we only get an hour or less to target them in some spots. The bigger fish have been laid up 4 to 8 feet from the mangrove but also smaller fish are tight to the edge.

Redfish have spiced up the trips and are eager to also hit the soft plastics especially the Zman 4 inch jerk shad in purple. These fish are very aggressive and you barely get your bail closed before they are all over your offering. We have also been getting good bites on gold spoons and shrimp.

Big gator trout have been on the prowl on the outside grass flats. Its been really great fishing and fills in when we can’t get into the back. Big jacks have been coming in with the tide with the bait fish and some are in the 10lb range. Great fights on the light tackle.

I will try to do more reports here on my website but you can always go to Instagram @captjohnpfeiffer or on Facebook at snookhookerfishing.com.

Just a note> Due to the Covid19 Pandemic I am follow all the sanitization and cleaning recommended by the CDC. I have wipes on board as well. I am sanitizing the rods with hospital grade disinfectant after every trip. so get down here and fish. The summer is some of the best of the best.

So the photo is my client Maura with her personal best snook. Just under 40 inches. Incredible.

FISH THE TIDES, NOT THE CLOCK!

See you soon.

Capt. John

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Ok folks, snook and tarpon are here but with all that is going on with the Covid-19 virus that has totally stopped all of us in place. I hope everyone is doing well and my heart and prayers go out to all suffering with loss and symptoms.

That being said I am still running some trips and all at discount prices. Call or email me for details. I’m trying to give back to the community that supports my business and working to get people out on the water and out of the house. Anyone in the Marco Island, Naples or Bonita Springs area will have a very special price, at a major discount off regular prices. I want to try to get the kids out so this is the deal. I will take 2 kids and one adult, 2 adults or single anglers on trips. The boat and tackle get disinfected every trip and I have hand washing available on board also. You drive to boat get on and get off. Your only contact outside of yourselves is me.

So the snook have been very eager to jump on the top waters like Rapala Skitterwalks and poppers. Once the sun gets higher we convert over to soft plastic paddletails. The bite has been best when tide is moving and the outside points have been the target areas when the weather permits.

Big trout have been active also. We don’t catch a bunch but the fish are quality 23-26inch all on top waters. Seriously when they pounce you swear its a big snook as the trout hammer the plug. That’s me in the photo above. Go to rapala.com and buy a few Skitterwalks in bone color or silver/black.

Tarpon have been just very happy lately. They have no problem biting the 6 inch paddle tails in white or purple. 20lb Sufix braid with 60lb leader works just fine. Use about 24 inches of leader using a Albright knot to connect line to leader.

Ok folks! Let me know if I can help you in anyway. We will get through this and be better for it.

FISH THE TIDES NOT THE CLOCK

Capt. John

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Great fishing with great clients. I have been blessed with both. Chazz and Chrissy were a delight. We fished 5 days. Both are great anglers and have fished all over the world. They caught dozens of redfish and snook plus some gator trout. Truly just a great fishing week.

There have been sporadic shots a tarpon this past week. We jumped a few but a cool front coming may put them down for a while. Soft plastic 5 inch paddle tails have been the ticket but now we wait for the warm up and the tarpon will be back in force with in a few days.

Check out my Instagram page @captjohnpfeiffer for updates. Also at Facebook at snookhookerfishing.com for fishing reports.

Snook have become plentiful now. Using paddle tails and top waters has been the productive combo. Large shrimp tossed under the mangroves have also produced some respectable specimens. Hitting the tide just right, looking for shore birds and moving water will put you on the right track. Savvy anglers always look for the signs.

Working the edges of the mangroves and oyster bars are still producing nice numbers of redfish. Taking your time and being observant will serve you well. Watch for bait such as finger mullet and glass minnows and target those areas. These reds patrol shore lines and oyster bars looking for anything that moves. Crabs, shrimp, small baitfish and seaworms are all on the menu. Using Gulp 4 inch swimming mullet in white or gray with a red jig head have been producing strikes. Remember to close that bail just before your offering hits the water. Redfish are notorious for hitting within 2 to 3 turns of your reel when your presentation is inches from the shore line.

If you are looking for tarpon you better get your bookings in now. March is half full and going to close out fast. April is a great fishing month for big snook and tarpon. Don’t wait!

FISH THE TIDES, NOT THE CLOCK

Capt. John

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Snook, redfish and speckled trout have been the targets this week. The tides were tough this week as they were weak but clients pulled some great days out of it. We had a couple good days of catch and release snook fishing because of the decent outgoing tides. We have been using 4 inch swimming mullet by Gulp on 1/8 oz jig head. Also the gulp New Penny Shrimp has been productive. Most of the fishing has been good just south of Marco Island.

Redfish have been around. The bite was a bit slow this past week but clients have releasing a few everyday. Jigs tipped with shrimp, Gulp shrimp and baitfish paddle tails have been taking the bulk of the reds. There was a couple of cool mornings we had to slow down the presentation a bit but they were eager to bite.

Speckled trout have been very active. Using Rapala subwalks and 5 inch paddle tails has produced some good size trout. These bigger trout tend to be loners so casting long casts is the ticket. Incoming tide on the dark bottom flats has been productive. Casting past your target area and reeling though it has been the best method this week. We had some very clean water so the bigger trout are spooky.

There are some days still open this month and March is starting to fill up. Lets go fishing and get into some great winter fishing in the Ten Thousand Island south of Marco Island and Goodland.

“FISH THE TIDES, NOT THE CLOCK”

Capt. John

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The winter fishing is off the hook. We had our first real cold front come through a few days ago and dropped the water temps 10 degrees. Air temp on Tuesday was 38 dgrees in the morning so I postponed that days trip but this is what we were waiting for. Expect the fish to get into more of a predictable winter pattern.

The next day it was on. Got out on some of the dark bottom flats and started picking up some trout, pompano and ladyfish. As the day warmed up we got into some nice redfish because of the 3 degree warm up during the morning.

Redfish have been now taking up in the second bays around oyster bars and shorelines. The falling tide has been best but the flood tide has produced good numbers also. Slow and low is the presentation now the water temps have dropped, however, as the day goes on you can be more aggressive with your presentation. Swimming mullet Gulps have been working well.

Snook have moved to warmer backwaters but are still eager to attack a properly presented bait or lure. Again we have been using Gulp mullet with 1/8 oz. jig head. we have also used flashy 1/.8 oz. bucktails and have received our share of bites.

Sea trout will turn back on with the warm up. There are plenty of small trout in the deep cuts but if you want the bigger trout you have to fined some grass or dark bottom. Jerk bait, plugs and jigs have produced some trout over 24 inches.

I have some days in the first 2 weeks of February open still. You can catch up here or go to my Facebook page snookhookerfishing.com or also Instagram @captjohnpfeiffer

Give me a call and let me set up a trip in the Ten Thousand Islands. We leave from Calusa Island Marina in the fishing village of Goodland, FL. We will fish from Goodland to Everglades City. Lets go fishing.

“FISH THE TIDES . NOT THE CLOCK”

Capt. John

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Incredible fishing this season. The New Year started off with a bang. We have been banging the redfish, snook and seatrout. Its not just because we have had great weather. There have been challenging days with the wind but working with my clients and getting them to get the presentation just right has paid off.

We have our first real cold front upon us. That may change the game a bit but a quick warm up is in the forecast. Its all about acclimation. These fish get a little shock but they seal the little deeper water or the darker bottom flats that warm up quick from the sun.

I had several new clients this week who had zero experience casting a spin rod and they connected with their first redfish, snook and trout. It just take a little couching and you can do it. Booking 2 trips really give you the advantage. Second day you are all ready with the first cast. The photo of Desmond above is a case in point. He never casted a rod before but you see the results. You will see the rain behind him making the photo a bit fuzzy but he persevered and came out the winner.

I still have some dates open. A handful in January and some open in February. Give me a call and lets chat about your goals. I will do my best to make a memorable trip for you.

FISH THE TIDES, NOT THE CLOCK

Capt. John

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First redfish for this young man, Tanner. There is nothing better than father and son trips. This young man is now hooked on the Ten Thousand Islands fishing experience. Love it!

The redfish have been the predominant species this week. Because we have not had a real cold front the fishing has been in the first bays. I have clients using paddle tail soft plastics on jig head and they have taken some big reds this week. We have several over slot fish in the 28 to 30 inch range have been released. Still using light tackle therefore be ready for a good long fight. Makes for exciting trips.

Snook have shown back on the points. Using the same paddle tails and also some top waters early in morning. Rapala Skitter walks have also produced a few good bites. Fishing the edge of bars has produced but the grass flats have had their share of action also.

The bigger seatrout have been on the edge of flats where its a 2ft to 4ft change. Targeting these fish can be a challenge but worth the effort. Fishing the deeper holes with jigs tipped with shrimp has produced small seatrout but great action.

So the holidays are behind us. I still have some slots open in January and February. Give me call. Lets go fishing!!!

FISH THE TIDES, NOT THE CLOCK

Capt. John

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Redfish dominate the bite in the Ten Thousand Islands. Marco Island and Goodland have been some of the best redfish fishing so far this year. Many slot fish in the 24 to 27 inch range have been eager to strike our offerings. The slightly warmer than usual water because of the lack of cold fronts has kept us in the first bays. Fishing the islands and oyster bars on the moving tide has been the best. Jigs tipped with shrimp have been producing bites as soon as your offering hits the water.

Snook have been around the same areas therefore you just never know which will get to the bait first. Jigs and soft plastics have been working just great and there is no reason to think it will not continue. We have had some action early in the morning on Rapala Skitterwalks and Subwalks. Nothing better than a top water bite.

Speckled Sea Trout have been also biting on the flood tide on the grass flats and outside darker water points. Jigs and popping corks with a shrimp under it have been taking some large specimens over 20 inches. There are also all the other usual suspects such as jacks and big ladyfish that take up the slack in between the tides.

We have also found that some juvenile grouper have taken up the areas of deep undercut channels along with some decent mangrove snappers.

Bookings are strong right now. So if you are looking for a certain date the next few months, get in touch ASAP. My holiday schedule is tight but there are a few slots still available. Let me tailor a trip to the Ten Thousand Islands for you.

FISH THE TIDES, NOT THE CLOCK

Capt. John Pfeiffer

Tight Lines

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Just this week there have been 2 slams fishing the Ten Thousand Islands on the snookhookerfishing.com skiff. That is a snook, a redfish and a speckled sea trout caught by one angler. The cooler water has the fish moving into their usual haunts.

We have been catching at least 6 reds per trip because of the cooler water. The reds are all over the oyster bars and mangrove shore lines. Jigs tipped with shrimp and 3 inch gulps in the shrimp pattern have received eager bites. These fish are not shy on the take. Great fun on light tackle.

Snook are in the back bays and ready to pounce on jigs and soft plastic presentations. There have been a ton of 18 to 20 inch snook with the occasional 25-30 inch. Moving tide is the key as these guys are ambush predators. Lots of fun on the light tackle.

Speckled sea trout have just come alive because of the drop in water temps. Shrimp on a jig head or a spiked jig has been the ticket. We have been catching tons of slot fish and we had several in the 24 inch range just this week.

Lets get those reservations in soon. Bookings are beginning to really fly in. I don’t want you to miss out on our spectacular winter fishery here in The Ten Thousand Islands. We begin our trip at Calusa Island Marina in Goodland Florida, the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands. Let me guide you to a great day on the water.

The photo above is Cameron holding a snook just before releasing. Cameron caught his first slam, a snook, a sea trout and a redfish. Congrats Cameron!

“FISH THE TIDES NOT THE CLOCK”

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