Naples Canals

I met up with Doug Stamm and Brad Hole at a Naples canal to search for peacock bass, largemouth and freshwater snook. It was a chilly morning as we launched into the Golden Gate canal just as the sun rose. Peacock bass are cold water sensitive so we worked topwater lures for largemouth while we waited for the sun to warm things up a bit.

Morning Commute
Photo by Brad Hole

We didn’t have to wait long as I had my custom painted peacock colored spook crushed by a largemouth bass. I had barely released my bass when Brad hooked up nearby. He landed his largemouth bass and after a few pictures taken by Doug, he released it.

Work being done

 

Doug doing his thing

 

Brad's largemouth

Photo by Doug Stamm

The sun was warming up the air nicely as we entered the lake area and it looked promising. The water was nice and calm and the area looked fishy. We kept at it with our topwater lures when Brad’s was slammed by a nice snook. The fish stayed deep and tried to pull Brad and his Revo around the lake. He eventually tired and Brad landed it.

Brad's Morning snook

We worked around the edges of the lake unsuccessfully and concentrated on a little canal with some good weed cover. It was there I landed the best largemouth of the day from under a submerged branch. Although not one of the giant bass that inhabit these canals, it was a decent fish for the day.

 

The water had warmed up by now, so we began retracing our route looking for peacocks. We searched everywhere they should be, around pilings, branches and rocks, but found none. We ended up back in the main canal and our prospects were looking weaker. I saw a few peacocks holding close to a dock piling, but they saw me too.

Then, Brad and Doug called over and alerted me to a peacock they saw hiding under a submerged palm frond. Brad had already casted to it with no luck. I tossed my bait near the structure and was immediately rewarded with a drag screaming surprise. It was a nice male peacock bass with a grudge and he pulled me right into the brush. I regained my composure and the upper hand, and landed him soon after.

Male Peacock Bass

Photo by Doug Stamm

 

Soon, we found ourselves back at the launch. Even though the day started a little cool, it turned out to be sunny and warm. By the end of our day, we had managed to catch all the species we came for, and everyone had fun. As always, I look forward to the next adventure.

Winter Redfishing in Pine Island Sound

Pine Island Sound anglers have had one thing on the mind all winter long. REDFISH!! They have been everywhere this season and they’ve been big. We’ve been having a tough time finding fish in the slot for the grill. They’ve been taking a variety of baits but the Riptide 4" Mullet in the white, opening night and shadflash colors have been producing the best results. We’ve had our best results on the beginning of the incoming and end of the outgoing tides. I’ve been looking for lots of water movement and negative tides to help me search out tailing fish. I’ve found that if a tailing redfish won’t take your artificial than a well-placed piece of frozen shrimp on a 2/0 circle hook is your best bet for a hookup.

Gator trout have been around all winter long as well and have been hitting a variety of baits. Riptide 4" Mullet in the shadflash and new penny/chartreuse color have been producing the biggest fish. The smaller fish have been concentrated in the numerous potholes throughout the flats whereas the bigger fish have been in the shallower 2-3ft areas covered in thick grass.

Snook and tarpon have also been hanging around this season due to the warm summer we’ve had. They’ve been hanging in a lot of the residential canals and both large handpicked shrimp and Riptide Shrimp in gold/glow and white have been working equally well to produce quality fish. 

Having Fun with Friends

I had the good fortune recently to fish with good friends Doug Stamm and Rich Jones, and brother-in-law and fishing buddy Joe Jones in Everglades City. It was a chilly windy morning as we launched into the Barron River on the top end of the incoming tide. The foggy air limited our visibility as we began to make our way deep inland in search of wintering snook.

It was very early and quiet, despite the windy conditions, as the tide carried us into the backwater. I began with a topwater bait and everyone else with various jigs. For the first hour or so, there was no sign of life except a good hit and miss on Doug’s jig that caused me to switch baits. We had split up somewhat with Joe taking a detour over a grassy flat, Rich heading deeper in the backwater with the tide, and Doug and I working the edges and bays.

Finally, the snook bite began with Doug landing the first of many small aggressive fish. These were not the bigger wintering snook we were looking for, but there were plenty of them. In addition, we were catching big ladyfish and slot trout. The tide began flowing out, so we changed directions and started our way back. Fishing gave way to lazily drifting with the tide as we talked about everything outdoors.

Photo by Doug Stamm

 

At some point during the drift back I realized just how fortunate I was. I was chatting with Doug Stamm, an award winning outdoor photographer and writer, and Rich Jones, a renowned Everglades fishing guide about fishing stories and everything else. How lucky is that?

Photo by Doug Stamm

 



 

We loaded up our gear and made plans for the next trip. On the way home I reflected on the day and thought about what a good morning it was. I am indeed a fortunate man.