by Capt. Brent Bensmiller
Things are quickly heating up as we transition into spring. With above average temperatures over the last couple months, the water has been very warm, bringing plenty of bait fish and hungry predators to our area. Kayak fishing during the spring months are the best, in my opinion. The bay, inlets, and gulf, will all be productive areas to fish. Fishing the incoming tides will be very productive, as they will push in clear gulf water, bringing in loads of baitfish. You can bet the inlets will be lined with hungry game fish ready to ambush any unsuspecting bait that’s within reach. Deeper water, with any type of structure, should be the first place you pitch a bait.
If it’s snook you’re after, look no further than the inlets. Using pilchards, mullet, or pinfish will be the best bet. Drift these baits, with a little weight on your leader, right along the edge of the channel. If there are fish in the area it shouldn’t take long to get a strike. Casting closer to the edge will yield greater results and plan on getting snagged a bunch and breaking off. As always, if you’re not getting hung up then you’re probably not fishing close enough to where the fish are at.
The silver kings will be showing up throughout the month of April in large numbers. If you want to have your shot at the fish of a lifetime and go for a sleigh ride, the time has come. Tarpon will be cruising the beaches and hanging around inlets, feeding on pass crabs and schools of menhaden. Make sure to get on the water by sunrise for a better shot at hooking one of these prehistoric monsters. They usually feed heavy from sunrise until just a few hours after. It’s a short window to fish for these guys, but definitely worth waking up for. There will be plenty of action from sunrise to sunset during April, so get out there and take advantage of the spring bite!
Brent Bensmiller, the owner of Paddle Naples, is an expert at kayak fishing the local waters. He is available for kayak fishing charters and lessons, as well as guided kayak and paddleboard tours. You can reach Brent by email at brent@paddlenaples.com or by phone at 239-301-8888. Check out www.PaddleNaples.com and our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/paddlenaples/ for more information.
