Captain Terry says “The better fishing for the balance of December will probably be from Christmas Eve through the weekend…”

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) The holidays are here and are in full swing on the water. Lots of residents/visitors and boats enjoying area activities as Santa prepares to come with love for everyone. Last week has been good fishing. The approaching cool front from the Northwest has provided southerly winds over the last couple of days allowing access to Redfish in the back country areas around Punta Rassa, Matlacha Pass and the Pine Island Sound locations, south of the power lines off Sanibel and Pine Islands. My friend and client, Mr. Joe Garbus of Gator Printing in Cape Coral, is holding one of his many Redfish. His brother Jeffrey of Detroit had a good Redfish day as well.

Joe-Garbus-RedfishJeff-Garbus-Redfish

The Snook bite is fantastic but is best on the outgoing tides with pilchards. The smaller Snook will bite on the incoming. The Garbus ‘boys’ caught a good number of them.

Seatrout sizes are still small but the bite is good. Spanish Mackerel and Pompano are here and taking shrimps under a cork all throughout the area. Watch for diving birds. Pictured here is a client/friend of mine, Ms. Shelly Briscoe of Wylie, Texas showing her last fish of the day; a POMPANO! Great Job Shelly. Shelly also had a good day catching a number of Seatrouts.

Sherry's-PompamoSherry's-Seatrout

The better fishing for the balance of December will probably be from Christmas Eve through the weekend, especially if the southerly winds continue to support higher and stronger tides. Otherwise, work the creeks and tidal cuts around the islands for best opportunities, especially for Snook.

This is Captain Terry Fisher and 1st Mate Vicki, wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and ‘tight lines’! Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for more articles and charter information. I may be reached via email at [email protected] or by phone 239-357-6829 for immediate assistance.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

“The Spanish Mackerel and Pompano bites are picking up.” Says Captain Terry

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Last week’s fishing continued to produce some decent back-country fishing for all of my clients. Some bait fish remained in the area allowing me to throw the cast net for baits to feed the Snook and Redfish. Pictured here is Mr. Blaine Duncan of Saskatoon, SK. (Canada) holding his first Redfish catch here in SW Florida.

Blaine's-Redfish

The Seatrout bite is good, but I am still looking for some bigger ones which become more plentiful on the flats during the winter months. Mr. David Whitaker of Tennessee is pictured holding a nice Seatrout caught under a cork with live shrimp while here at a corporate sponsored ‘outing’ with the Vantacore group, based in Philadelphia.

Dave's-Seatrout

The Spanish Mackerel and Pompano bites are picking up. Mr. Barry Fink of Pittsburgh, PA is pictured holding his first Spanish Mackerel. His friend Jason Jumonville, of Baton Rouge, LA., is holding a large Pompano that he had the pleasure to fight and land on light tackle. Both Barry and Jason were with the Vantacore group as well.

Barry's-Spanish-MackerelJason's-Pompano

Sheepshead, Flounder and Mangrove Snappers will round out the balance of the back-country species. Recent, cooler water temps will attract the bigger Sheepshead and small pieces of shrimps or fiddler crabs will be the key to catching these fighting, tasty morsels, sometimes referred to as ‘poor man(s) lobster’.

Offshore, the King Mackerel bite is on as well as good bottom fishing for grouper and Snappers. Grouper should begin coming into the back- country pot holes, since the water temperature is rapidly dropping due to the early cold fronts this year.

Warmer forecasts for the coming week should provide lots of opportunity to get on the water and fish. Fishing should remain good for the species mentioned above. Until the next report this is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone ‘tight lines’! Charter information may be obtained on line at www.fishfacecharters.com or by calling or emailing me directly at 239-357-6829 or [email protected]. Those wanting boating and/or fishing instructions, feel free to inquire as to ‘special’ hourly rates on your vessel. This will help you to have more relaxed and confidence when boating or fishing.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

“The Redfish ‘bite’ has been good on large shrimps” says Captain Terry

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Last week’s ‘full moon’ cycle produced some good fishing for most species. Notwithstanding that Snook season closed, many of my charter clients hooked and landed a number of them in our search for Redfish. Bait fish remained in the area and the Snook took advantage of several ‘free-line’ presentations. I am pictured with one of the Snook I caught on one of my ‘off’ days while in search of new locations. Needless to say, I found a good ‘spot’.

Terry's Tide Snook

The Redfish ‘bite’ has been good on large shrimps and cut pinfish as well as soft artificial presentations for clients able to cast under the mangroves. Pictured here is Tom Moslander of Illinois and his daughter, Maria of Cape Coral. Both fish were caught in the ‘back country’ on a jig head loaded with large shrimp on an outgoing tide.

Tom's RedfishMaria's Redfish

Fishing this week may slow a bit as the cool front arrives. My advice is to get out early in the week, work the tides with moving water (either incoming or outgoing). Cooler water should start producing bigger Seatrout on the ‘flats’ and bigger Sheepshead on structures.

Until next report, this is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone, ‘tight lines’. Charter information may be obtained by calling me at 239-357-6829 or email; [email protected]. Check out my website; www.fishfacecharters.com for more information, articles and fishing tips!

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

“The canals are full of Snook and they are biting!” Says Fishin’ Frank

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Several people are saying thanks for the Snook fishing over the last few nights. Just when you think you know the rules about fishing, something new comes along. Did you know that right after a front, the bite should shut off for a while? This last front was a good one. I would have thought the fishing would have been slow for at least 2 days, however it was slow for about 5 hours and then the darkness came and the Snook bite was back on.

The canals are full of Snook and they are biting! I caught four on the light Pink Rock port head with a Crème tail White or Chartruse, 20 pound floro leader.

I hope you enjoyed the day with your family! A little exercise is good after a big meal, so hopefully you were able to walk the piers with your rod and catch a few Snook. This will help your heart rate, and then you can say ‘Honey, I am doing this for my health’!

Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Fishin Frank

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Captain Terry Says “I am forecasting a good week of fishing due to warm temperatures and full moon cycle.”

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Last week and prior to the cold front of Thanksgiving Day my charters produced a number of catches, including big Snook, Seatrout, Jack Crevalle and Redfish. The Snook and Jack Crevalle preferred the white baits over Pinfish and Shrimps, while the Redfish chose the opposite. With the water temperatures cooling, the opportunity to cast nets for white bait and greenies will begin to diminish. Hopefully, the cooler temperatures we are experiencing over the Thanksgiving weekend, will not push these bait fish farther south before the new year, but that is being very optimistic. The good news is that rising temperatures are forecasted and a full moon phase approaches. I plan on remaining steadfast in my approach over the next few days, so long as the bait fish remain.

Pictured here is one of my favorite ‘junior’ anglers, Nick Addy (12) of Clinton Township, Michigan, holding one of many Snook he caught. I recently had the pleasure of taking Nick, his father (Steve) and his grandfather (Jim), out to catch a number of large Snook, huge Jack Crevalles and Mangrove Snappers. Our method was free-lining the bait fishes on circle hooks and all three anglers boated their share of the bounty. Great job gentlemen. Iook forward to a repeat next season!

IMG_7541

I am forecasting a good week of fishing due to warm temperatures and full moon cycle. Remember to work the tides on the top half of the incoming and outgoing for best results.

This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters, hoping everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and ‘tight lines’! Charter information may be obtained at www.fishfacecharters.com or via email to [email protected]. My cell number is 239-357-6829 for those wanting immediate assistance.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports