I always love fishing the flats and backwaters of Punta Rassa, Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor and Matlacha Pass; particularly this time of year. The tides are accommodating and the fishing is good. Lots of nice baits available at the bait shops as well as in the water for those wanting to try their skills with cast nets.
Most boat owners will tell you that it’s far cheaper to keep your vessel in good condition than to fix things when they break. But what are the most common problems that strike boaters in our area? We asked the experts at MarineMax and The Boat House what boat repair or service issues they see most often here in Southwest Florida. They identified five common culprits and, even more importantly, what you can do to avoid costly repairs.
Read more “EXPERT ADVICE: HOW TO AVOID 5 COMMON BOAT REPAIRS”
A cleaner hull, immediate access to the water, no more towing or boat ramp drama, safety from fluctuating water levels. There are a lot of reasons why so many boaters in Southwest Florida choose to keep their vessels above the water using a number of boat lift options available. As with anything in boating, tips from industry experts can help make sure you get it right.
I love ‘Summer-Time’ fishing in our estuaries with the high summer tides and southerly winds. The waters have been very clean and clear this month, especially in the northern half of Pine Island Sound and Matlacha pass. The passes are always beautiful on the incoming tide which forces the fresh rainwater back up the creeks and rivers for 3 to 4 hours, twice a day. Our waters are unique in as much as we have Diurnal Tide Flows, allowing two high tides and two low tides a day. Every 12 hours the tide rises and falls providing opportunity to fish shallow haunts on the 2 incoming tides as well as providing plenty of oxygen on the outgoing 2 tides to fish the passes and flats.
July fishing has been really good with the advent of clean water, no Red Tide and beautiful hot Florida sunshine. Pictured her are two of my favorite fishing families, both with extensive military backgrounds.
Every 4th of July finds me taking out past clients and new clients to enjoy the holiday of ‘our country’s independence’. Fishing has picked up with the advent of cleaner, clearer water from the gulf, rivers and creeks. This has been a blessing to our estuary and the environment. Bait fish are abound with other species such as Seatrouts, Jacks, Redfish, Snook, Spanish Mackerel and Ladyfish again gracing the waters of Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass and Charlotte Harbor in good numbers.
Springtime and early summer boating brings out the best in family and friends. Recently I had the pleasure of taking one of my daughters and her family out for fishing, fun and frolic while they visited North Captiva Island during their vacation.
We may be biased, but Independence Day is a holiday best enjoyed on the water. Not only does catching a firework show by boat help you avoid traffic and parking hassles, but those dazzling colors in the sky sparkle even more when they’re reflected on the water. Motor on over to one of these boat-friendly 4th of July displays happening all down our coast and be sure to watch for the ultimate firework courtesy of Mother Nature, the green flash!
By Captain Terry Fisher
This writing features some really great times and moments with clients fishing with their families as well as boating and fishing with my family. This all came about after the successful Bonita Boat Show that Vicki and I attended at the Grey Hound Race Track in early March. Exhibitors featured a diversity of marine products, including fishing seminars to wet any angler’s appetite. It is also a time when Vicki and I have a few days together enjoying the industry that we represent while having the opportunity to spend one on one time with friends and clients, sharing fishing and boating experiences. I am pictured in a booth representing our company, FISH FACE CHARTERS LLC.
Boating isn’t just our favorite pastime, it’s a major—we’re talking billions of dollars—economic engine for Southwest Florida. And a lot of effort is required to keep our waterways navigable for us boaters. That’s where the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) comes in, with their mission to preserve and enhance the commercial, recreational, and ecological values of District waterways. We recently sat down with WCIND Executive Director Justin McBride to get the inside scoop.
Read more “Meet WCIND: Boaters’ Best Friend”