Fishing Reports by Captain Tim Rushing
About The Author: Captain
Company: Southern Gentlemen Fishing
Area Reporting: Naples, Marco Island, Ten Thousand Islands
Bio: As a Fourth-generation native Floridian, I have spent more than 30 years soaking up the unrivaled fishery that is Southwest Florida. I spent much of my youth fishing everywhere for everything that could be caught in fresh or saltwater in this state. As a true Florida “Native” that has fished every single corner of the state for every single species of fish this great state offers, I knew this region was special the first time I laid eyes on her upon moving here after graduating from the University of Florida. Every time I go out on the water, whether it is the mystery and allure of the 10,000 islands and Everglades, the beautiful beaches of Naples and Marco or the grandeur of the Pine Island Sound Islands I feel like I am stealing something wonderful from the rest of the world! For the past 30 years I have studied, mastered, and observed the awesome gamefish and wildlife with the eye of a Florida native, and the excitement of kid at the beach for the first time in his life.
[Naples,FL] Kids catching snook, redfish, snapper, parents and kids laughing, and grown ups muscling in multiple permit a trip out on the shallow wrecks have been making these busy first two weeks of July exciting!
[Naples,FL] Tarpon, snook and mangrove snapper fishing in Naples and Marco Island has been on fire the past week! The rains have cooled the waters a bit, and the fish are eating!
[Naples,FL] The heavy rains this week have fired up the fun sized tarpon and snook bite in all the backcountry bays and creeks, as well as the passes. The fish are feeding on shrimp as the fresh water flushes them out of hiding in search of saltier surroundings.
[Naples,FL] It has been a very busy several weeks with charters in the Naples Marco Island Area, with lots of folks booking charters in Naples and Marco Island, and enjoying some of the great fishing action we have been having...
[Marco Island,FL] Art , Bob, their 86 year old dad, Art, and Brother in law Matt grinded out a hard working windy morning beating up the little snook, reds, and big mangrove snapper.
[Naples,FL] If you have ever wanted to get in some good fishing in SW Florida, September is always a good month because we start to feel the breezes cool us a little, and the angle of the sun starts to wane, but the water is hot, and the fish are still all over the place
[Naples,FL] As August has settled into the full fledged dog days of hot muggy weather mixed with rain, the traditional Southwest Florida fishing patterns have settled in as well. The bait is still readily available to get, but has gotten smaller, and we are getting it along the beaches. In spite of my normal instincts to go out to the bait wrecks and get the bigger baits, the old adage 'Elephants like peanuts' has seemed to become the norm on our trips the past few weeks.
[Naples,FL] I hope everyone had a great 4th of July last week! After starting the week red hot, the fireworks continued all week and right on through the 4th on the water…It’s been a Southern Gentlemen style start to the month!
[Marco Island,FL] This is the time of the year when SW Fla fishing is at a peak for just about every species of fish you can imagine yourself catching! The bait is plentiful, as are the tarpon, snook, redfish, trout, permit, cobia, jack crevalle, and snapper.