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Last Updated on Friday, 26 March 2010 10:05 Written by Captain Pete Rapps Thursday, 25 March 2010 13:22

Forecast by Captain Pete Rapps published in Coastal Anger Magazine Naples, Marco Island, Everglades Edition April 2010

 

 

 

April Forecast: 10,000 Islands, Everglades City, Chokoloskee (Everglades National Park)

In like a lion and out like a lamb….. March is over and spring fishing is finally among us. Air temperature averages in April are about 4 degrees higher than March, and will range between 61 and 86 degrees. This in turn gives us an average water temperature of 77 degrees this month.

Tarpon are beginning to show on the shallow flats. Although not the “peak” month for Tarpon, April is the month you can catch a few on their annual migration through the area. They are on the move and are feeding on many things like Thread Herring, Pilchards, Ladyfish, and crabs. Rig a good rod with a 6/0 circle hook, tied to 4’ of 60lb Fluorocarbon leader, on a baitrunner reel filled with 30 lb braid. Stick it in your stern rod holder and wait for a Silver king to start peeling line off. Click the bait runner into gear and point the tip of the rod at the Tarpon during the first run. The circle hook will work it’s way into position for a solid hookup. After that first run, get that rod tip up and let the circle hook do it’s job to drive the hook home.… don’t forget to bow to the king and point your rod tip at him each and every time he jumps so that he can take drag easier. In the flats between Lumber Key and Pavillion Key, you can find areas where you have grass on one side of the boat, and sand on the other. Here you can fish the same flats for a Tarpon, Speckled Trout, and Pompano.

While that Tarpon rod is set off the back of the boat, you can cast out 3/8 oz jigs tipped with fresh shrimp pieces. You can use green, red, silver, or red headed jigs with a little flash in the tail. The Trout will be in 3-5 feet of water in the grass, and the pompano will be in the same depth of water in the sandy area. Let the jig bounce in the sand a little to get the Pompano interested.

Forecast By:

Captain Pete Rapps

Hailing out of Chokoloskee Island Park Marina, Chokoloskee, FL

I offer expert guided, light tackle, near shore and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Pak. I am happy to accommodate anyone from novice to hardcore seasoned pro. See online availability calendar and booking info at www.CaptainRapps.com