Florida South West Gulf Cost.....Looking for some Advice

[Fridge]

This is a little off topic right now....but I'm hoping to get a little advice.  I'm heading down to Marco Island in Florida in mid April with my family. I have never fished in that area and want to go on a guided fishing day trip.  In looking around there seems to be a number of different choices of fish and fishing styles where the fishing should be pretty good in April.  I could fish back water island areas on a smaller boat or I could fish out in the gulf on a larger boat.  I could fish for trout, red fish, grouper, tarpon, shark, permit, and the list goes on and on. Any recommendations that anyone could give would be appreciated.  I just cant figure out what I would enjoy the most and I would like to try and get as much education as I can on this before I decide.  I trust my fellow NY Ice Fisherman may have some words of wisdom for me. Thanks.

[ship of fools]

This is a little off topic right now....but I'm hoping to get a little advice.  I'm heading down to Marco Island in Florida in mid April with my family. I have never fished in that area and want to go on a guided fishing day trip.  In looking around there seems to be a number of different choices of fish and fishing styles where the fishing should be pretty good in April.  I could fish back water island areas on a smaller boat or I could fish out in the gulf on a larger boat.  I could fish for trout, red fish, grouper, tarpon, shark, permit, and the list goes on and on. Any recommendations that anyone could give would be appreciated.  I just cant figure out what I would enjoy the most and I would like to try and get as much education as I can on this before I decide.  I trust my fellow NY Ice Fisherman may have some words of wisdom for me. Thanks.

TARPON 

If it was me i would do a backcountry trip for tarpon and snook  ........  it might be just a touch early for the main tarpon run but there will be a bunch around and they are the sickest fish going. I did a trip in October up a little backcountry river that very few people ever fish and we hooked poon after poon. As soon as you hook them they skyrocket out of the water and spit the lure since their mouths are as tough as metal. I landed one out of five but had violent strikes by all and then the acrobatics. I ended up landing a bunch too. That time of year you will get into snook as well.

Sharks are around too but i have fallen in love with the tarpon experience 

[Fridge]

Thanks for the input Ship.  I have watched quite a few shows on Tarpon fishing and it looks awesome.  I wasn't sure what kind of action I could expect.  Obviously there are a lot of factors but it sounds like a few hook ups in a day isn't out of the question.  I would love to wrestle one of those snorting beasts. Good info....thanks

[ship of fools]

Thanks for the input Ship.  I have watched quite a few shows on Tarpon fishing and it looks awesome.  I wasn't sure what kind of action I could expect.  Obviously there are a lot of factors but it sounds like a few hook ups in a day isn't out of the question.  I would love to wrestle one of those snorting beasts. Good info....thanks

i bet i hooked 35 one day  ......  you just need to be able to laugh when they spit the hook     ... if you look you can see the lure after he spit it



here is one i landed



if you take a run to the keys you can hand feed em 



here is a taste of the river



and my catch of the trip


pushed it through .... flattened the barb, reversed it and went fishing!

[the Wizard]

I lived by Boca Grand when I was in Fla. ,[that's where you see the Tarpon tourneys on TV.]  They are fun , Even the little ones , you can feed them in Englewood at the marinas without going all the way to the keys. 
Lots of good fishing in the Tampa to Fort Myers stretch.   I'll bet the whole coast is good .

[slabcommander]

Hey Fridge,

My old man is a charter guy down there all winter and early spring. Check him out, he is in FT. MYERs and he's been pounding lots of different species out on the reefs. Check out FT. MYERS FISHING ADVENTURES. April is a great time of year for many species back bay and out in the big water. Good luck!

[Fridge]

Thanks for all of the input guys.  I appreciate it. 

[Raquettedacker]

My advise is bring a lot of sun tan lotion...   
I hope you have a great trip...  I'm jealous.... 

[toydevil48]

I go to marco every year and I would always take charters a few days every time out of Naples (north) and ft Myers (a little more north) but i stopped because shore fishing was just as good or better, Naples pier is great and I've landed 2 tiger sharks off marco beach over 10ft and countless black tips and other sharks...pm me I know the island well if u want detailed info

[toydevil48]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aQPDE5KPsfY

This is some random girls video of my tiger off Marco beach