BOATER ALERT: The USCG is surveying the boating community to see what impact a change in bridge opening schedules will have on boaters. This is being driven by All Aboard Florida which is a public/private passenger rail project (Florida East Coast Industries) that connects Miami with Orlando in three hours. Several waterways are impacted, including New River in Ft. Lauderdale, Loxahatchee River in Jupiter and St. Lucie River in Stuart. Trains are stated to be less than 1,000 feet long and capable of crossing each waterway in less than 60 seconds, but it will result in the train bridges being closed over ten hours a day, with most of the rail traffic taking place when boating is also at its peak traffic hours. This does not include the existing commercial rail traffic.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club, founded in 1963, is unique among S.W. Florida boat clubs in that it owns a portion of a private island on the Caloosahatchee River east of the Franklin Lock. Over the years a covered pavilion has been built where the members enjoy monthly picnics. The facility also has four docks with both 50amp and 30amp power that can accommodate up to sixteen member boats for a weekend.
CCCC is a group of active cruisers. Monthly cruises are planned for September through June each season. If you have a boat with overnight accommodations, reside in the Cape Coral – Ft. Myers area, and would like to get out on your boat with fellow boating enthusiasts, take a look at the destinations of past CCCC organized cruises.
We visit South Seas Resort and ‘Tween Waters resort on Captiva Island; Pink Shell Resort and Snook Bight Marina on Ft. Myers Beach; Boca Grande Marina, Uncle Henry’s Marina, Burnt Store Marina, and Fisherman’s Village in Charlotte harbor.
Going further north on the GICW we’ve visited both Palm Island Marina and Gasparilla Marina, as well as attractive locations in Sarasota and Longboat Key. There is a 2015 trip in the works for a cruise further north to Tarpon Springs.
Local short cruises include Tarpon Point and Cape Harbour in Cape Coral, and Legacy Harbor in downtown Ft. Myers. Naples is an annual tradition with the Naples Boat Club, City Dock at Crayton Cove, or Pelican Isle Marina as destinations.
Venturing further south the Club has visited Marco Island, Everglades City, Marathon, Key Biscayne and Key West.
Each year an extended cruise is planned. In 2014 that destination was first to the South Georgia Isles and beaches with stops in Stuart, New Smyrna, St Augustine and Fernandina Beach. Other members elected to do the second extended cruise to the Bahamas with stops in Clewiston, West Palm Beach and the Club owned Hidden Island on the Caloosahatchee Waterway.
For those interested in extending their local boating distances, or who may be new to the area and are looking for an active boating group, the Cape Coral Cruise Club will have a booth at the Ft. Myers Boat Show November 13 -16 at the Harborside Event Center & City Yacht Basin. We look forward to talking with you about local boating!
Stop by and meet Club members and a view short video of Club cruise activities, and obtain membership information. Or contact Larry Mitchell, CCCC membership chairman at 239-560-2823. Additional information is posted on the Club website, www.c-c-c-c.org. Also “Like” us on our Facebook page.
GoBoaters, please take a few minutes out of your day to watch this. Incredibly moving story about the heroic efforts of boaters on 9/11.
The Great Boat Lift of 9/11 became the largest sea evacuation . . . in history! Larger than the evacuation of Dunkirk in WWII, where 339,000 British and French soldiers were rescued over the course of 9 days. On 9/11, nearly half a million civilians were rescued from Manhattan by boat. It took less than 9 hours.
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) This time of the month should produce great action as the full moon cycle takes its course. Migratory species, such as King Fish and Spanish Mackerel will only add to the grouper and snapper action for off-shore anglers. Inshore should produce plenty of Snook, Redfish, Seatrouts and Mangrove Snappers to round out the flats and back country opportunities. Pictured here is Mr. Werner Baumgartner of Germany holding a 28″ Redfish that he caught in the back water areas of Punta Rassa Bay. Prior to that he landed a nice 17″ Permit on a shrimp under a cork in Pine Island Sound.
During this month, my 1st Mate and I are headed to Europe to fly-fish the Italian rivers of Tuscany and experience salt water fishing on the northern Mediterranean Sea around southern France. We are hoping to catch trout and Grayling in the rivers and salt water game fish in France. I am looking forward to writing about these experiences to share with our fishing friends so as to compare those experiences with our own back here in beautiful SW Florida.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters saying Bon Voyage and ‘tight lines’ to all of my weekly readers. Additional articles and charter information may be obtained by checking out my website; www.fishfacecharters.com or by emailing me at [email protected].
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Last week’s southerly winds, good weather and high tides provided ‘prime-time’ for catching numerous species for off-shore and in-shore fishing alike. Reports of Spanish Mackerels, Triple Tails, Cobia, Snapper and Grouper catches were good. Inshore provided some of the best action of the summer as we came off the backside of a new moon.
One of my better and most experience Junior Anglers, Jack Robert of Blaine, Minnesota, is pictured with his first Redfish. Jack has a natural ability to catch almost any fish that takes his presentation. Watching this 9 year old handle a fish is quite impressive. Every year, Jack’s grandparents, Vicki and Charlie Lundgren of Minnesota, go all out to make sure Jack gets the opportunity to nurture his youthful skills, since he loves to fish. Jack has fished with me now for over two years and I was thrilled when he proved that he was ready to fish with the adults in the back country by landing the 23″ Redfish mentioned above. I have also included a picture of Jack and I together as he proudly displays another of the day’s fine catches, a 23″ Seatrout.
A full moon is ‘on the horizon’ and subject to weather should bring with it strong tides and more opportunity. Snook season is open. Early morning or late evenings are good times to target these nocturnal feeders. However, during tide movements, they will prey on live or cut baits properly placed along or into the mangroves. Redfish, Seatrouts, Spanish Mackerels and Mangrove Snappers are all too eager to eat as well.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone great success and ‘tight lines’! Charter information may be obtained by emailing me at [email protected] or via the website www.fishfacecharters.com or call me at 239-357-6829.
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Offshore; Spanish Mackerel are being reported in the passes and just off the beaches. The Kingfish migration has begun on the east coast and the west coast migration should follow suit. Groupers, Snappers, Cobia, Tripletail and other species are all being caught off shore off the wrecks and reefs from 20 to 80 ft. of water. The baits of choice (depending on the species) will range from artificial presentations (top water and weighted jigs) to live and cut baits, including but not limited to squid, squid wings, finger mullet, pinfish, squirrelfish and shrimps. Look on the website for reef coordinates in our area and use them or simply drift until you find a change in the bottom structure, then anchor down.
Inshore; focus has been on Redfish (‘Reds’), Seatrout or nice size Mangrove Snappers. Snook are plentiful, but the season will not open until a week from now (September 1st). The Redfish and big bull ‘Reds’ are here in good numbers off the flats, oyster beds and off of back country channels in the shallows with mangrove protection (I am pictured here with a nice Redfish caught along the mangroves with a cut pinfish on a weighted jig head). Cut Pinfish, Ladyfish and Shrimps are the order of the day for those anglers wishing to ‘cash in’ on the next few days during the back half of the new moon phase. However, I recommend fishing earlier this week!. The tides will be good enough around Punta Rassa all week, but will begin to weaken as Labor Day Weekend draws near, offering much less in the way of higher tides. The tides on the northern end of Pine Island Sound will tend to be even lower, restricting access to shallow areas for both boaters and the fish alike. Weather forecasts call for hot and humid. Fish will move with the tide, but when tides are low they will ‘hold up’ in deeper water. Move around until you find them.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone, ‘tight lines’! To book a charter and get in on some great Redfish or Snook action call me at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my website; www.fishfacecharters.com for more articles and fishing tips.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club, founded in 1963, is unique among S.W. Florida boat clubs in that it owns a portion of a private island on the Caloosahatchee River east of the Franklin Lock near Alva. Over the years a covered pavilion has been built where the members enjoy monthly picnics, bocce, horseshoes and other relaxing activities.
A major advantage for members is that the Island has ample dockage for member’s boats. Over the years, four docks have been installed on an inside oxbow off the ICW with both 30amp and 50amp electric service. This allows docking for as many as 16 boats up to 45′ in length. Ferry service across the ICW aboard the club’s 24′ pontoon boat is provided for members & guests who drive up for the monthly picnic.
Because the Club is a cruising organization, in addition to the Island picnics, members can participate in monthly cruises to local destinations. Fall 2014 cruises include:
September destination: The Naples Boat Club has become one of the most popular Club cruise destinations. With a first class onsite restaurant, beautiful pool and outstanding docking facilities this cruise is always full. Cruise leaders have been known to plan very interesting and different activities and Naples dining adventures.
October destination: Once again the Club returns to Fisherman’s Village Marina on Charlotte Harbor. With abundant shopping on Fisherman’s pier and the close proximity to activities in downtown Punta Gorda, this is a very well attended cruise.
November destination: For a quiet and laid back cruise the Club returns to ‘Tween Waters on Captiva for the late fall cruise. With fine dining and the beaches of Captiva close by, along with outstanding sunsets, this cruise is always a popular event. Also in November the Club hosts a booth at the Ft. Myers Boat Show. Members are present to answer questions on membership and point out many other fun Club functions.
December: Traditionally no cruise is planned for December as the Club holds a formal “Change of Watch dinner where past Club officers are recognized for their achievements and officers for the coming year are installed. This is the only annual Club “Coat & Tie” event.
Several other destinations, including South Seas Resort, Palm Island, Pink Shell Resort, Legacy Harbor, and Marco Island are in the works for the spring of 2015.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Larry Mitchell at 239-560-2823. View a short picture video of recent Club activities and read additional Club information on its website, www.c-c-c-c.org.
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- With so many boats around, criminals are always close-by. From brazen boat burglars in Sarasota, just hooking up a truck to a trailer and taking off with a 29 footer. To kayak thieves in Naples, loading a 13 foot kayak into a truck on Gulfshore Boulevard South, police say you’re a target. Not just the boat, but what you own on it.
“The criminal knows what it’s coming for, it’s like shopping.”
Electronics and other valuables on board are particularly appealing. Tuesady night the Marine Industry Association of Collier County and other law enforcement and business groups tried to get the word out about the thefts.
“Take pictures of your equipment, put a name or a code on it, record the serial numbers, basic crime prevention techniques.”
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Last week was fantastic fishing with the full moon and southern breezes providing plenty of current and water from the Gulf of Mexico. Pictured here is one of my favorite junior anglers, Wyatt Day (11yrs young) of Cheyenne, Wyoming together with his cousins, Cameron Marrs (13yrs) and Christian Marrs (only 7) each holding one of the many fish that they caught on a 6 hour charter early this week. Cameron, is shown with a nice Redfish he caught while in the backcountry. Wyatt had his share of Redfish and Snook action as well. The lads did well when changing over from fishing for Seatrout in an effort to look for the big, backcountry game fishes. These junior anglers are good fishermen and are looking forward to a shot at Redfish and Snook again next year!
Fishing was good all week from the Punta Rassa area to Charlotte Harbor for most species, especially, Redfish, Snook and Seatrouts. My1st Mate, Vicki is pictured here with a huge Super Snook that she masterfully handled out of the deep mangroves at the top of an incoming tide around Punta Rassa Bay. I am forecasting great backcountry opportunities over the next week, especially in the southern end of Pine Island Sound (‘Sound’), around the Punta Rassa Bay areas, as the tides will continue to be higher and the currents stronger over the northern half of the ‘Sound’.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters, wishing everyone ‘tight lines’! Information regarding charters may be obtained by calling me at 239-357-6829 or email [email protected]. Check out our website at www.fishfacecharters.com for more articles and fishing tips.
Near perfect weather conditions on the ocean for this year’s mini-season, found many divers out on the water in southeast Florida. This year mini-season fell on July 30th & 31st, the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July.
This tradition was started in 1975 allowing only recreational divers to harvest spiny lobster during this two day period before the regular season begins August 6th through March 31st. And in this area of Broward and Palm Beach Counties, we are allowed to catch twice the normal limit of six lobsters during mini-season. So the hunt is on to Catch the BUG!
The Chiefy crew left the dock at 5:30 am and ventured out of the Boca Raton Inlet to a spot in 35 feet of water. The good news is we are only a few hundred feet off shore, well within sight of the coastline. After getting some spiny lobster, we then jumped in to a few spots in 45 feet of water, off of Deerfield Beach and Hillsboro Beach. These were very productive as we finished getting our double limit by 11am.
So the final count for the Chiefy crew was 5 divers catching 60 spiny lobsters. Not a bad day out on the water.
Chiefy
Jim “Chiefy” Mathie is a known lobster slayer for more than 25 years and author of “Catching the Bug, The Comprehensive Guide to Catching the Florida Spiny Lobster.” Jim was given his Chiefy nickname by his dive buddies while spear fishing off South Florida in 2004 after he encountered and survived a shark frenzy witnessed by his friends. Later that evening, for entertainment, they watched “Jaws.” During the movie, boat captain Robert Shaw, who later gets eaten by the Great White, nicknames Police Chief Roy Scheider Chiefy. It is Chiefy who ends up killing the shark. At the time, Jim was a fire chief, so a new Chiefy legend began. The web site www.chiefy.net was established to showcase numerous Chiefy adventures, keeping the legend alive!
