At snookhookerfishing.com and Marco Island Fishing Guide on Google my story of my passion shows. The light tackle experience.

Being in the Sportfishing industry as a captain and guide for so long, I have experience so much and met many wonderful people. I consider it a privilege to do what I do.

I’ve worn many hats, captaining the Northeast canyons for well over 40 years for tuna and marlin, guided in Alaska, skinny-water guide for snook, redfish and tarpon in Marco Island Florida, fly fish guide in NJ, Pa and NY streams and rivers, Bahamas and South America Bluewater’s and on. But I think my greatest passion though is just making memories with  people. I know these memories will last a life time and be told at many fisherman’s tables. 

It’s taken a lot of hard work but anything this special is well worth the sweat and tears. I love it all and hope to continue to be the best I can for as long as I can. 

Now with my winter backwater season on snookhookerfishing.com is beginning I can’t wait to share the light tackle experience.

So a little round up of what to expect now that the water temps are cooling. The target species, redfish and snook, will become more active even during the later morning. The sun is lower now we are in the fall and tides will flow a bit more. That is good. Tide creates the feeding conveyor belt and the feeding activity we need. Marco island fishing guide on Google you’ll find my website snookhookerfishing.com for more info.

Contact me now for best dates and tides.Fish the tides now not the clock. I’ll tailor a trip just for you and a guest.

Capt. John. 908-675-6600

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Snook fishing for the savvy angler is a dealers choice of methods. First you must plan your day. Wind, tide, water temperature, water condition must all be a factor. Tides and wind especial fishing Marco Island and south are crucial to understand. Wind running in the same direction as the tide will blow out more water or will increase water. This can be significant as winter tides are typically lower at low tide. Wind can affect tides a foot or more at times. So all consideration must be noted.

In the title I note Dealers Choice. I mean by that when snook fishing you have to decide your method. It’s a choice to start with top water or a good old search bait. I always have several rods ready with both top water plugs such as Rapala Skitterwalks and jerk baits like Zman 4 inch shad but a good old hair jig is a great addition. I will tip the latter with shrimp for redfish.

The presentation to snook of your offering will and should vary. The speed of your retrieve should be varied to fasting or slower until you determine what snook are looking for this particular day. Don’t hesitate to present a resting lure at times or ripping fast. Everyday is different. Covering the water depth from top to bottom will give you your answer quick. The other day the snook fishing was slow so search baits gave us the bites we needed cover areas and eliminating them for our session.

You will find that taking time just planning your session with the weather and tides hand in hand you will be successful and maybe find the snook fishing this day spectacular.

I am available anytime via text or email to help you out whether you book a trip or not but don’t hesitate to contact me.

captbigjohn@yahoo.com or text 908-675-6700

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Marco Island fishing is on fire right now. Redfish and snook are very eager to accept our offerings. The days are still hot but if you fish the magic hours you will produce. The time between daybreak and 9 am are the magic hours. You need to be on the water at false dawn, the first glimmer of light. It is essential. Marco Island Fishing Guides know that snook love that top water such as a Rapala Skitterwalk at that low light time. Working the first bays out to the outer points where the tide is moving is essential.
Savvy anglers use these tool and knowledge to find some of the best catch and release fishing available.

for redfish the same tactic except find the hard bottom and oyster bars adjacent to deeper water. Redfish will easily bite a top water presentation but soft plastic jerk baits like Zman Jerk Shad should also be deployed. I like the darker colors in that low light as the profile is easier for them to sight. Again it is imperative that there is current. Look for water movement near points, oyster bars, hard bottom and mangrove shore line.

When you approach the area keep your distance at first. If there is a flat adjacent to the structure these snook and redfish maybe feeding on that hard bottom especially on the flood tide. Do a little search by moving 10 ft and broad casting several casts in a 180 degree arch moving towards the structure you selected.

Marco Island Fishing will only get better as the fall comes and temperatures drop. This cooling invites all the critters to become more active. So let’s book a trip for October and November. There are still days available and we will work together to make the perfect trip for you and a guest. Capt John, snookhookerfishing.com

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Snook on the outside means the migration has begun. The big females are running the shorelines and beaches. Being a Marco Island Fishing Guide I see the change in the habits.

The females are just starting to begin their spawn. The smaller snook are the males and you will see them following the females in hope of mating. But please handle all with care. As the water warms oxygen level decrease and proper release is important. Let’s talk about release. On snookhookerfishing.com we release all snook. We take the time to revive them until they swim on their own. We handle with care with only a momentary quick snap shot. These snook on the outside are very vulnerable and need the chance to breed.
With the pressure of more anglers and poor management, it is imperative. Many believe these gulf side snook are in danger. I see this everyday myself after 30 plus years in the skinny water.

Most of our releases of snook on the outside are on soft plastics like Zman Jerk Shad. We have success also with topwater walking the dog method with Skitterwalks. But you must release these magnificent animals. We need to increase the stocks for continued reproduction cycles.

On the redfish front, we have seen good numbers of smaller stocks in the 16 to 20 inch range. But again let’s release this redfish. They are the future of the Ten Thousand Islands fishery. Saavy anglers understand the fishing pressure the redfish and snook are under. Again the fisheries management has been reactive not proactive so please be a good steward. We as guides must change the culture to more catch and release and education is the only way. Also by example.

I want to thank my clients for coming into this belief that catch and release with proper revival techniques with make our future stocks increase. The future of this industry relies on us. Here is a link to Zman products that we use on snookhookerfishing.com. But do not for get the top water plugs.

Scented Jerk ShadZ™

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Snook fishing Marco Island to Everglades City remains steady despite the wind. My clients have added persistence to their fishy vocabulary. The wind has kept us in the 2nd bays back inside as fishing outside points has been tough. But we are finding snook with regularity. Snook fishing is a hunt.

We are using Zman 4 inch jerk shads with the fluke tail mostly Dark and Stormy purple. 4inch Gulp swimming mullet in white have also gotten their share of strikes. With that in mind using a top water, “walking the dog” such as skitterwalks by Rapala have produced some early morning action. Snook are ambush predators so take your time. That presentation needs to be close to them. Shadow lines, don’t forget them.

Redfish

Beside snook fishing Marco Island to Everglades City my clients have also produced some decent redfish action over the hard bottom, oyster bars and mangrove shore lines. Using a hair jig 1/8 oz with a very small piece of shrimp has worked well but also we’ve tried a hair jig with a gulp swimming mullet in white. But the secret is? When doing that trim some of the hair back first. It’s a good combo. Look for that moving water and again don’t neglect the shadow lines.

When you fish with snookhookerfishing.com you’ll be fish with fresh tackle, St Croix rods, Penn Battle 3 reels, all light tackle and on a classic platform, a SilverKing Signature skiff. Personalized fishing for 2 anglers and all are welcome, novice to experienced. Teaching is a specialty and you will learn the ins and outs of the ecosystem. You will learn why and when we fish certain areas. Take this knowledge and apply it to any type of fishing.

You can text or email and I will tailor a trip for you and show you the ropes of snook from Marco Island fishing to Everglades City.

Capt. John

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Marco Island fishing and south has been right on target for this time of year. Snook have started moving to the outside or one bay in. Tarpon are showing and there’s more bait on the flats for redfish.

Snook fishing this time of year as well as other species are on the move making Marco Island fishing and south excellent. Presenting top water lures like the Rapala Skitter walk can lead to massive explosions. But remember to just keep reeling and working that lure until you come tight. Trying to hook a snook you will just pull it away. Let them come tight themselves. Early first light is the time to be on the water this time of year.

Redfish are still cruising the shore lines, hard bottom flats and patrolling the mangrove edge. The secret is to star 50 yards away and work your way quietly to your targeted area. Using paddle tails or jerk shads such as Zman can be deadly. Vary your speed and don’t be afraid of just bouncing above the bottom or structure. Look for some current as that is the conveyor belt of food. Search shore lines for cruising reds. Make sure you give a 10 ft lead in front of them.

When thing slow down about 9 or 10 am there are always speckled sea trout to fill in. The larger trout are in ambush mode. Points just out of the current or grass flats with sand pit holes are great areas. These bigger trout will be sitting in the grass waiting for a baitfish, crab or shrimp to move over that white sand and pounce from the protection they are in.

The important thing to take from this is that warmer days for Marco Island Fishing are here and the morning when the sun is low is time to target that trophy. Just try to have a little tide moving and you’ll be golden.

Capt. John Pfeiffer

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This week redfish and the jerk shad is the topic. I like using these soft baits when the water is a bit murky. I like the contrast of a darker color in murky water. Redfish on the jerk shad is the way to find reds along with other species. The Zman product is used by savvy anglers as the durability can sustain the lure after many bites from other critters.

Scented Jerk ShadZ™

Lady fish are notorious lure destroyers. Their sand paper mouth and wild antics rip up your presentation. Always check your leader after lady fish.

Using the jerk shad for redfish gives you the search ability you need. Since the water color does not always allow sight casting using a search bait gives you an advantage additionally I look for mangrove shorelines with structure. Oyster clumps and points are a good bet. Deeper bottom adjacent to flats and oyster bars are other areas. Redfish patrol. They are not an ambush predator like snook or sea trout. They roam these areas for baitfish, small crabs, shrimp, sea worms or anything that moves.

Make the move

Let’s get to the presentation. Just like anything that breaths, colder condition slow the organism down. Redfish are the same. Colder water you slow down. Easy slow retrieve with smooth tip action. Just small pops of the tip and don’t stop the motion. I have found this to be very productive but it’s ok to experiment and in a bit deeper water let it drop for 1 second. Remember first day after a cold front may not be best fishing. Either wait a day or postpone to later in the day especially if sun is out. It’s ok. Go have breakfast but leave at 10 or 11 if the tide works.

Don’t be afraid of changing colors. Firstly, the old adage about color selection is not always true.I like a purple color especially in off color water. The profile will stand out and the dented Zman jerk shad adds that little edge.

Capt. John

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Ok let’s get started on the Marco Island Inshore Fishing Report from Marco Island south to Everglades City. The cooler water temperatures and windy conditions has made a change in habits but that’s not all bad. The red fishing has still been productive and the snook fishing has been good on the sunny days. Speckled Seatrout fishing continues strong. Seatrout have taken up residence in their usual areas. The larger Seatrout can be found on sunny days out on the grass flats 1 to 3 foot deep. These darker areas will warm up a bit and attract activity. Take your time approaching these areas. Long casts are important. I use Zman jerk shads or Gulp swimming mullet and they will search well for you but don’t forget a jig tipped with a small piece of shrimp. You’ll find larger ladyfish and jacks there too to keep the action going. When fish with Snookhookerfishing.com we like the action.

When you start your trip for Marco Island inshore fishing be aware of the tides and wind direction. Blow out tides are normal during winter. Also wind will increase duration of the flood or ebb and amount of water on each tidal flow. I recommend going out on those negative tides just to put in memory where deeper water is adjacent to flats or mangrove points.

when I have a day to go myself I take advantage of this time. I search out new areas and I try new presentations, lures and leader size. Don’t spend all your time in areas you a familiar with. I like finding areas keeping different wind scenarios and conditions in mind. We all want to catch but you must put in time and be flexible. Don’t get stuck in that rut of same places every trip.

During winter month it is fishing the tides and using the warmth of the sun to your advantage. Focus on the hour bite and you’ll find the frustration level will decrease.

My next post will be about when to make that hard decision to go or not. There is times when you just have to say you are weathered out.

Capt. John

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This time of year Marco Island Inshore fishing has many advantages. With the usual winter weather comes wind but fishing Marco Island inshore around the mangrove islands you can find protection. When the cold fronts come through seek calmer water out of the wind. First the water will be a degree or 2 warmer there. This is due to less heat transfer. Wave create more surface area allowing the water to cool quicker.

Marco Island has great inshore opportunities and moving south from there to Everglades City is the direction you want to head. Snook fishing and red fishing opportunities increase as you get further back in the mangroves. Use Windy.com to see wind predictions. Go to my journal page at snookhookerfishing.com for updates.

so now to what you should be presenting. Using small plastics like Zman Jerk Shads or Gulp swimming mullet is an effective way to test each area. Sun and dark bottom create a warmer environment but don’t over look Sandy bottom with grass patches.

let’s talk about time. Well in winter the savvy angler leave later in the morning when it’s 46 degrees at 7 am. Yeah let the sun warm up the water. 1 or 2 degrees can spark a bite. Low and slow retrieve is best. Marco Island and south has some nice dark bottom flats. These warm up quicker than white sand bottom. Also oyster bars and grass. Snook fushing can be tough during prolonged fronts but they are there. Red fishing and sea trout are always there. Just keep the faith.

so it’s good to keep in touch with your favorite guide, me, to give updates. Marco Island charter fishing guides ii always here to help. Even if you just need info on shore fishing and what you should bring. I’m happy to help. Naples Fishing Guide and Marco Island Inshore fishing and Capt. John Pfeiffer are always here.

Great release of redfish. Light tackle fun.

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During the winter we target Speckled Trout and Redfish along with laid up snook. When a cold front is a day or two out, prefrontal fishing can be very active. Savvy anglers learn that watching the weather this time of year is just as important as knowing tide movement and moon phase. With winds at higher velocity this time of year you must learn the affect it has on tide length, the flood and Eb tide and what that means. Here are some insights.

Winds affect the turn and duration of the tide. With an east wind and falling tide in the Glades and Ten Thousand Islands we can have a longer duration falling tide and as much as a foot or more less water than your chart says for that day. The wind will add time to the falling tide and will delay the turn to begin the flood cycle. Another factor is atmospheric pressure. High pressure will ad surface pressure and can affect both tides enhance the wind affect more. Where the inverse, low pressure allows more water to stay and give you a higher flood tide.

Use the Knowledge

Taking in those factors, Speckled Trout and Redfish targeting in winter has some science and planning involved. Along with snook they will be searching those flats on flood tide. Search the mangrove shore line, oyster bars and deep edges on the falling tide for a morsel or two. Take your time approaching a flat or target area. Don’t run full speed instead stop a few hundred feet away and work a search bait like a Zman Jerk Shad or paddle tail. Once you get to your area give it 10-15 minutes. If you’re not at least catching ladyfish or other critters, move on. Have a plan to follow the tide. Don’t just go to areas you have had success before.
In the next blog I will talk about post front. Know when the temps drop and the cold wind is cranking.

Capt. John Pfeiffer

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