Fishing here in Naples has been up and down with the fronts that have been cooling off the water. The water temps are plunging into the lower 60's. Look for troughs along mangrove shorelines and deep holes in the backcountry. Jigs tipped with shrimp are still producing as well as gulp 3inch new penny shrimp. When you find the fish just don't want to bite change up your speeds and also your jigs. I find throwing a variety of baits will help find the good fish. Look for fishing to remain challenging with two cold fronts coming through this week.


Capt. Joey Benko
Naples Fishing Guide

Fishing here in Naples has been up and down between cold fronts. The water temps have been fluctuating between 68-71 degrees. Baits of choice this time of year have been jigs tipped with shrimp and live shrimp. I've been working with Capt. Roan at Mikes Bait House to develop a series of jigs for the winter time species. The jigs range from 1/8oz,1/4oz and 3/8oz  tipped with a piece of shrimp you will find steady winter time action. Here is Gary with a beautiful redfish caught on the 1/8oz custom jig. Look for fishing to continue to fluctuate with cold fronts moving through the area.

Capt. Joey
Naples Florida Fishing Guide

Fishing in the Naples area has been very good with lots of small redfish to found. The waters are starting to warm up so bait could be showing up soon. Shrimp and jigs have still been the best bets for success on the waters. Checkout the new jig at Mikes Bait House. Here is Little Connor with a nice redfish one of many he managed this week.

Capt. Joey Benko
Naples Fishing Guide

Fishing in Naples has still remained consistent catching redfish, snook, pompano and lots of other species in the backwaters. Shrimp and jigs have been the main players and for the fly fisherman now is the time to get out and play the low winter time tides. Look for the fish to get a little more sluggish with the cooler water temps with a midweek front pushing through. Here is the O’Conner family with some nice winter time snook action.

Capt. Joey
Naples Fishing Guide

Fishing has been very active here in the Naples area.  We have had to change up our approach to fishing using shrimp and jigs but the snook and redfish are keeping anglers very busy.  Look for this pattern to hold and focus on the higher stages of the tide.  Here is Carol with one of many redfish she caught using a gulp shrimp.

Capt. Joey Benko
Naples Backcountry Fishing Charters

Fishing here in Naples has been challenging with all the dead fish that have been washing a shore.  With the east winds we have had the last couple of days it has helped blow out the dead fish and the red tide that was lingering in the area.  Fishing has been really good from Naples to Everglade City.  Bait on the gulf has been challenging but stay with it throwing a 1/2 mesh or 3/8 mesh net and you will get them.  I've been finding big snook holding in the 5-7ft water depths.  Trout and redfish can be found working the points and structure throwing live baits and artificial.  Here is Mike Bishop with a beautiful snook that has been surviving the elements. 

Fishing in the area has been very rewarding for those that get out early to beat the heat. This past weeks catches allowed some new anglers into the 40inch club. Big snook can be found in the passes and roaming the beaches. Big trout can also be found in these same areas. Tarpon have been cruising the beaches early.  Look for this weeks action to be a little slower coming off a full moon. Bait has been tough to come by with all the recent rains and the spotty redtide.  But as the saying goes “You don’t know if you don’t go” so get out and do some fishing.

Capt. Joey Benko
Inshore Fishing Charters Naples, FL