My fam will be taking a quick trip to the Marco Island area. I have one day booked to fish in 10,000 islands with my dad and 3 boys, but I am also looking at renting a kayak or two to drop a line with some live or frozen shrimp in the channels / under the bridges. Will also be casting from the surf in early a.m. / later p.m.

Any lure recommendations from your typical freshwater tackle that would crossover nicely? Also, I would welcome any contact from anyone with specific information on the island's tackle shops, bait to use, areas to fish, best times of tide, etc.

My middle son, 11 years old, has been talking fishing non-stop for the last 4 weeks. As a matter of fact, this was part of the deciding factor to make the trip south. Hoping to get each of them hooked up with some fish that fight substantially harder than the average Indiana bass! I think they'll be shocked.

Do not waste your time with frozen shrimp. Fresh shrimp around Marco will be at a premium and you should expect to set aside a healthy amount of $$$ to keep you in business. I prefer to purchase in lots of at least 100 (yes, they do count them out). Do not be overly concerned about size as fish eat shrimp regardless the size.

I am a strong believer in Hank Browns hook up jigs with pink or glo heads in 1/4 oz. hook your shrimp up through the head near their horn avaoiding the black dot which is their brain.

You can also do very well with the DOA plastic shrimp or the Savage gear shrimp imitations.

Braid with 30lb fluorocarbon leaders tied via an FG knot and a perfection loop at the lure is the ticket. The 30 will help greatly should you get a snook.

Fish plain or with a popping cork.

If you have any questions about specifics ask away. This was my backyard for a couple of decades.

Appreciate the reply, MT. I'll look into those jigs. Also, I'll shoot you an email with a few more specific questions. Thanks.

Yo-zuri crystal minnows reeled fairly slow will trigger some of those fish to hit. Blue and silver or black and silver are good basic colors to use.

QueticoMike: "Yo-zuri crystal minnows reeled fairly slow will trigger some of those fish to hit. Blue and silver or black and silver are good basic colors to use."

Thanks, Mike. Have you ever used the Yo-zuri lures with success in freshwater, in place of a floating Rapala, etc.?

Bumstead: "

QueticoMike: "Yo-zuri crystal minnows reeled fairly slow will trigger some of those fish to hit. Blue and silver or black and silver are good basic colors to use."

Thanks, Mike. Have you ever used the Yo-zuri lures with success in freshwater, in place of a floating Rapala, etc.?"

I don't use them too often, but I do troll one every now and then up in Quetico. Mostly pike were caught. Oh course pike will hit about anything. I'm sure if I twitched them on the surface or slowly move them on a surface like a wake bait them would attract smallmouth. Just never really needed to use these presentations since I have others that are productive.

QueticoMike: "Yo-zuri crystal minnows reeled fairly slow will trigger some of those fish to hit. Blue and silver or black and silver are good basic colors to use."

A good lure and the hooks are strong and well suited to salt water fish. I have had salt water fish straighten the hooks of regular rapalas out. If the water is real clear you will have a hard time getting fish to eat the Yozuri however. If you fish it in a pass or a cut with current running it becomes effective if you crank it fast......or especially deadly is at night cranked very slowly. But on a flat with clear water there are better options. The more off color the water the better it is for the Yuzuri during the day........fish it slowly as per Mikes suggestion but only use it IMO if the water has a bit of color to it.

I have not used QM's Zulus on the flats but an 8" Bass Assasian in silver flake was VERY productive especially on the flats with clear water. Very much like a Zulu but bigger. A stronger larger hook is required than what Mike uses for smallies. Do not use thin wire hooks, rather a worm hook like what one would use for flipping for bass in cover. The larger Bass Assasin type slug will cast a mile. A requirement if the water is clear. Braid is helpful but fluorocarbon leaders are not optional. From far away a strike is merely a tick......pause one second and set up hard, they will be there.

Here's just a thought. Don't you have to rinse, in fresh water your rods,reels and tackle after you use it in salt water??? Hopefully MT or QM will give their ideas. FRED

FOG51: "Here's just a thought. Don't you have to rinse, in fresh water your rods,reels and tackle after you use it in salt water??? Hopefully MT or QM will give their ideas. FRED"

You certainly should within 24 hours, 12 is better.......however many make the mistake of using a hose and pressurized water to do the job. Generally speaking its not such a good idea as you can force salt deeper into the reel. I like to take my reels off my rods and run them gently under warm water in a kitchen sink. Only back the drags off after rinsing. Do not use soap.

I will use a hose to rinse the rods however. Use a Q-tip dipped in a little wd40 and dab at the base of each eyelet as corrosion tends to attack the micro cracks at the base of the rod. Then I like to take some furniture polish and coat the rod and wipe it down. I do this in anticipation of storing the rod.