April and may Fishing is Awesome in Naples and Marco

April Fishing has been pretty darn good.  You can pretty much name the fish and we are catching them somewhere.  Catches this month have included Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Large Trout,  among a host of other species.  Not every day has it been fantastic but most days have been very good.  Large Tarpon have been in there haunts in Rookery, and Johnson, some small tarpon are showing in the creeks, not in large numbers but enough for some good shots.  Snook have been scattered from the outside beaches to the inside creeks.  I cannot tell you where they have been fishing the best because one area has not been shinning over the other, both have been good.  Some Large ones have started showing up around the end of Keeywaydin also.  Redfish have been in good numbers on the flats fishing on a low rising tide for the fly fisherman have been the ticket finding quite a few tailers.  One fish of note last week was a whopper 35 inch fish caught on fly.  Great fish for our waters.  Great job Chris O’Neil did on her.  The passes are holding good numbers of Snook but it is an early and late evening game.  You have a 30 or 40 minute window either way but there are some big ones out there.  The migratory Tarpon are starting to show on the beaches also, they are hit and miss so you might find them if you run the beach or you might not, but when you do find them there are some pretty big numbers traveling North.  Bass fishing in the glades has been good except for today, not sure what happened but the fish just weren’t hitting.  Saw lots of fish laying in the right areas but they just would not hit a fly.  Tried a little bit of every flavor but nothing turned them on.  Even  the bluegills and warmouth were slow to hit.  But we are back at them tomorrow. 

The fishing in May should be excellent this year as warm as it is it will probably be even better than June.  I would expect a Tarpon Bonanza in May along with Snookapalooza.  They should be everywhere you go.  Beaches, Bays, and Creeks will be teeming with fish in May.  Don’t miss the festivities anglers.  Thanks Good Fishing Roan z.

 

Naples and Marco Fishing Report For February/March

Great News so far, no cold weather to kill fish this year.  The only down side, it  has been a little too warm for this time of the year.  Why I say this is not that we aren’t experiencing great fishing now but it might throw our whole fishing calendars off for the spring summer fish runs that everyone comes for.  Well we will just have to see.  This month’s fishing has been fantastic.  Bait fishing has been good with lots of bait available on the outside(unusual).  Trout and Redfish have been found in there spring time locations more than there winter locals.  Many out on the flats and to the outside. Rather than the deep cuts and channels in the inside.  Snook fishing has been excellent from North Naples down to the Everglades.  Not typical fishing, they have been roaming the inside and outside Islands not just inside.  Even the passes are holding fish this year.  If the weather stays the same we will be Tarpon fishing and Snook Fishing like Spring before the end of February.  I am seeing some Tarpon show in places they should not be yet, but we could still have a cool month and I have seen a March in the past that was cooler than normal.  The one part of our fishing that is still slow is the Bass fishing in the Glades, still too much water out there and they are scattered.  The peacocks are moving around in the Canals but if the water Management people do not get to work and clean some of the grass out of the canals the fishing will be poor.  It is amazing what great potential we have in our canal fisheries and for lack of Management it could be all lost.  My forecast for March Fishing is going to be a guess at best.  If weather continues to stay warm I would expect march to fish like April and see a fishery more based toward the outside areas rather than inside fishing.  I just do not know yet.  I kind of hope temps stay a little cooler for the rest of February so that we have a more typical March.  His will make our May/June fishing a little more normal.  If we keep going on the warmer trend then we might have a tough summer fishery especially for Tarpon.  Keep looking toward the outside if the water temps stay in the 70’s and expect to see the Big tarpon show up in all the bays.  Bass fishing in the Glades should get much better with the water levels lowering.  Bait fishing will continue strong and probably get better as we enter March.  Here is a shameless plug now!  Come visit Indian Pass Outfitters in the Ships Store at Naples Bay Resort just down form Bonefish Grill.  We have a full complement of TFO Spinning and Fly Rods along with the new BVK series reels.  You can also find them on line at www.indianpassoutfitters.com

Thanks and good fishing Roan z

FW: Snook trip

 

 

From: Edward Higgins [mailto:easyedh@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 11, 2012 12:10 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Snook trip

 

Hi:

 

Had a great trip with Guide Roan Zumfelde around Marco Island.

 

Four hour trip 6:00PM till 10:00PM...about 15 snook & numerous lady fish.

 

Ed

I had a great time fishing with ED,  Started off in a fog but ended up as a beautiful night.  I was highly impressed at his fishing skills pulling quite a number of fish out of the docks.

Fishing in the Jungle out of My Specialty candy White

Sent from my iPhone-----Original Message-----
From: Roan Zumfelde [mailto:roanz@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2012 4:25 PM
To: richard99@comcast.net
Cc: Roan
Subject:

Naples and Marco Holiday Fishing Report from Capt. Roan z.

Let us start by saying I hope everyone is having a great Holiday season.  The weather in Naples and Marco has been nothing short of spectacular which has made the fishing much the same.  I know everyone likes a white Christmas but I am happy when we can catch Tarpon and Snook late into December.  Awesome! 

 

Fishing in December has been nothing short of phenomenal.  It seems as if we have been having the best of both worlds winter species like Pompano, Trout, and Redfish creating a mixed bag with Snook and Tarpon, wow can you believe it.  The only bummer has been some sporadic patches of Red Tide.  It really hasn’t affected the fishing much but you can tell it is there on occasion.  Let us start with the winter species.  The Pompano have been excellent especially down toward Marco.  The passes and the flats near the passes have been the best places.  The early morning incoming tides have been bringing them in.  Tipped jigs and sinking flies have been banging them along with Trout and a fair amount of Sheepshead.  The Reds are scattered just about everywhere.  We are sight fishing them on all the flats and they are crushing some small shrimp like patterns.  Especially a new one that we came up with this year.  CJ super shrimp.  Available at the new store at Naples Bayfront.  It doesn’t seem to matter what color, they come in four.  Along with the Reds the flats from Naples to Marco are also producing nice Sheephead and some scattered Trout and even a few Snookies. The fish just seem to be lost I am sure it is due to the unseasonably warm water temps.  Fisherman that are venturing into the Backcountry Creeks around Naples and Marco are finding some great Snook and even some small Tarpon are still showing themselves.  Strikes for the Tarpon are at a premium but keeping the fly in front of them will get them to bite.  Snook are a little finicky on the fly except under the lights which are out of sight.  The Snook in the backcountry creeks are biting but like I said a little confused, they are moving around a lot because I think they are wondering where the colder water is.  There are even a scattering of Reds back there along with some nice Snapper.  Bass Fishing in the canals have been sporadic.  Interceptor has been the best, along with the Golden Gate.  Still some Peacocks hitting there.  I cannot say enough about the beautiful weather we are having let us hope it continues.  

 

Here comes the New Year, and what should we see for fishing in January for Naples and Marco.  Well, this is a good question and one that will be hard as heck to answer.  If the weather holds and we have mild temperatures it should be the same.  I would not bet on this though.  Sooner or later these fronts are going to start streaming this way and we will be into full bloom winter fishing, MAYBE.  Let us hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.  I think it will be a wormer than normal winter but we are still going to see some cold.  If we get cold the most important thing to remember and I believe I say this every year is to just slow down and keep your offerings close to the bottom.  That is where everything will be.  Sinking lines for fly anglers and weighted flies, and for conventional tackle the jigs will be king.   One last thing,  just wanted to let you know we have opened and Indian Pass Outfitters South location.  It is at Naples Bay Resort on the Gordon River in partnership with the Ships Store.  We will be carrying most of the TFO Fly product line including specialty flies tied by local fly tiers.  We also will have the new Spinning and Baitcasting Rods by TFO and Gary Loomis.  Please come by and check it out.  We are almost completely stocked with gear so come on by after the Holiday and check it out.  Well I hope all are having a great Holiday and hope to see you after the 1^st of the year.  Merry Christmas Roan z.

 

Naples and Marco Fishing Report and Redsnook Tournament

Well, October is about over and the Long awaited RedSnook Tournament is over.  Two days of fishing as hard as anyone can.  Just want to congratulate the Tournament committee that really did a wonderful job putting on the tournament and a special thanks to all the contributors to the tournament.  They raised over $100,000 Dollars this year.  To all the Tournament competitors that participated congratulations and great job at all the fish everyone landed.  Congrats to the Cabada team for the 41 inch Snook and the Capt. Root Team for the 28 inch Redfish.  Congratulations for all the division Team winners.  Capt. Bruce Jackmack, Capt. Bill Faulkner, Capt. Kevin Mihaloff.  I also have a very special congratulations to my young team of anglers.  Even though they finished second overall and first in Junior Division they fished their butts off for two days.  The two Brothers overcame a tough first day to pull out the second place finish the second day.  They did not get down they just fished harder and landed some beauties the second day.  Congrats Oliver and Alex.

 

The fishing for the end of October is about on course for a regular year.  We have some Tarpon still migrating back south, lots of bait on the inside and outside with lots of ladyfish and Mackerel showing in the passes and along the beaches.  Snook are scattered a little bit of everywhere.  The last couple of days my anglers have caught Snook in the Passes all the way back to the farthest creeks.  Redfish have been in most of the bays and some nice tailers on the low rising tides.  Check out Cannon Bay it has been red hot on the low tide.  Jig fisherman are picking up a few pompano along with a trout or two.  The passes have Tarpon early and late.  Sound pretty good, Huh.  My guides that Are running some bass trips are starting to catch them pretty good in Okeechobee and in the Interceptor Canal.  The water along 75 is still a little High.

 

I hope everyone is ready for November.  It looks like it is going to be pretty good.  If we can get this Tropical stuff out of here and figure out what the Cold fronts are going to do.  November is a weather related month.  What I mean is good weather good fishing, bad weather bad fishing.  Forecast looks for a little cooler than normal.  This would suggest our winter type species should become more prevalent like Trout, Pompano, Ladyfish, Jacks, Sheepshead, and Redfish should be picking up the pace.  Tarpon, Snook will be getting more difficult to target.  If the cooler weather does not materialize then we should still be in a late summer pattern with lots of bait and loads of Snook and Tarpon around, only time and the weather will tell us.  No Albacore coming though yet but I would expect it at any time.  Bass Fishing will be good all month.  This is also a pretty good month for Peacocks in the Golden Gate.  Hopefully they will do some work on the Hydrilla this year.  Good luck and Good Fishing.

 

 

Pictures of Hal Rosen with a nice 32inch Redfish and Large Sheepshead he caught on his new TFO MiniMagnum Fly Rod.

New Naples and Marco Island and Everglades Bass Fishng Report for October

Fishing at the end of September was wonderful.  Few boats and lots of fish to catch.  Weather was a little moist but in between the rain drops the fishing was fabulous.  I would expect continued good fishing through October and into November. 

 

Snook, Tarpon, and Redfish  should be plentiful from the passes into the deepest regions of out back country.  Red fishing especially in the bays and along Oyster points nearer to the outside passes should be spectacular,  We have seen much greater numbers of redfish this year since the Snook die off a year ago.  I would expect to have a banner Redfish year this fall with large schools sticking around longer than they used too.  Snook fishing around Naples and Marco is still awesome.  Large numbers of small Snook and some larger ones thrown in for good measure.  The Snook fishing to our south and North a little bit worse.  Still trouble for the fish to our south and to the north.  Catching Snook South of marco and through the Glades is not impossible you have to work hard for what you get.  We will have to see this Fall how many fish show up in the backs of the bays in the Ten t and the Everglades.  Still many of the fish down there are staying in the offshore waters.  Tarpon  have been in most of the passes along with the other species that move in this time of the year.  Big fish on the outside and smaller fish in the backcountry creeks.  Although we boated a 50 lb. fish in the back of a creek this morning.  I would expect the fish to be here all this month and most likely most of next month as long as the water temps stay up. 

 

This is the time of the year that a lot of species are moving around,  You will get the fall migrations of fish like Mackerel and Ladyfish.  The Cobia and Kingfish will be showing too.  Sometime near the end of the month into November we will have out three week run of False Albacore.  Great fighter and they will be as close as 100 to 200 yards off our beaches.  Look for the large flocks of birds and mackerel and the Albies should be there. 

 

If freshwater is your game then you need to start fishing, as the water cools the bass in the Glades canals will be hitting with reckless abandon to feed up before the temps cool down.  Top waters should be the ticket.  Good luck and Good fishing  Roan z.