By Captain Mike Hatcher:
By Captain Mike Hatcher:Fishing at night can be an exhilarating and bountiful experience and is something that I look forward to, especially in the early summer months in Southwest Florida. Night fishing is one of my favorite trips to do with anglers because not only are we free from the scorching sun, but the evening temperatures help to keep us cool. There is also less boat congestion, making it easier to navigate the waters and popular fishing spots.
Night fishing, of course, comes with some challenges and in Southwest Florida, that includes our biting insects like No-See-Ums and mosquitoes. These pests are found more frequently at night, especially in mangrove areas, so be sure to wear protective clothing or spray so that you can focus on the task at hand.
Safety is always a priority, but taking necessary precautions is particularly 
important when under dimly lit conditions. Make sure your vessel is well-equipped with reflective lifejackets and proper internal and external lighting so that you can navigate the boat with ease at all times. Be sure to inspect external and stern boat lights before your trip, and consider bringing stationary lamps and flashlights as a backup.
When fishing at night, anglers can expect to catch fish like snook, tarpon, yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper and many other varieties. Grouper can be caught year-round in the Gulf of Mexico. There certainly is not a shortage of fish, you just need to know where to look and what will bring them to your boat.
The key to fishing at night is to have the right set-up for the fish you are targeting. It is helpful to pay attention to the species of fish you are trying to catch and what they are feeding on, so that you can use that as bait. A helpful tip for determining the right bait is to simply observe your surroundings. Notice what is swimming around you to see what they are feeding on.
Certain fish, like snook and tarpon, can be particularly picky on what they choose to eat, whereas some night-feeding fish will eat just about anything. If you find that fish aren’t biting, techniques like flatlining (also known as trolling) snapper off the surface or bottom fishing for shark can be very useful for night fishing. I recommend flatlining pinfish or live threads in order to tempt them to bite. Remember, you don’t always need big bait to catch a big fish. Shrimp is always a good go-to option for reeling in a big one.
If you’re interested in the expert guidance of a captain to lead your night fishing trip, contact Pure Florida to learn more about an overnight fishing charter and get ready to add a whole new meaning to “sleeping with the fishes.”
Capt. Mike is a captain for Pure Florida. He was born in raised in Naples, FL. He is a Certified 100-Ton Captain.
