A great way to beat the dead-of-summer boredom is to take your boat to spots you’ve never explored! If you usually keep to the waterways instead of the roadways, make sure you’re not the one committing these common mistakes when towing your boat.
By Captain Terry Fisher
Regardless of the negative publicity about the ongoing saga of excessive water releases from Lake O and red tide reports, my charters have been very successful recently. The only fish that have been hard to locate over the past number of days are Seatrout. I believe the heat and 90° water temps have moved the fish from their traditional haunts to deeper water. Nonetheless, I am finding them. Other species such as Spanish Mackerel and Redfish are very active.
Law enforcement is beginning to hand out warnings and tickets to boaters who do not have proper discharge systems or are not properly securing them. Make sure you’re in full compliance by reviewing these important regulations courtesy of “The Florida Boaters Guide: A Handbook of Boating Laws and Responsibilities”:
By Captain Terry Fisher
All good when it comes to catching fish during the summer months, along the Gulf Coast of SW Florida. Many fond memories have been made this year. Earlier in the season I had lots of success while fishing with one of my favorite family clients, Dr. Tom O’Connor for whom I write of frequently. This time Tom is pictured with another of his three sons, William O’Connor, holding a Sheepshead he landed during a short visit to Bokeelia, Florida.
Read more “June 2018 Fishing Report”
Our name may say Go Boating Florida but that’s mainly because “Go Water Activities Florida” doesn’t quite have that same ring to it. The truth is, we’re big fans of all kinds of recreational water activities, not just boating alone! The Sunshine State provides limitless opportunities to spend time on the water. So if you’re looking to spice up your boating routine or your next vacation, try some of these other ways to find fun on the water.
Read more “Fun on The SWFL Water”
By Elise Lynch
Cruising in Southwest Florida is fun, but not without its’ surprises. We had ordered “Chamber of Commerce” weather and received about 50% of our request. Under soggy skies, eight boaters from the Cape Coral Cruise Club ventured up the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway for our May cruise to Aquamarine Palm Harbor. Mike & Brenda Stewart, Len & Reta Grassini and cruise leaders Jon & Elise Lynch arrived by land yacht. Boaters included Lee & Brenda Jetton, Joe & Kelli Miller, Pete & Donna Oiderma, and, last but not least, Tal & Kathie Leonard. This may be one of the very few times that a CCCC cruise was led by landlubbers.
Read more “Cape Coral Cruise Club Aquamarine Palm Harbour Cruise, May 22-14, 2018”
Over the years, 1st Mate Vicki and I have several clients who have become friends. One client in particular is Dr. Tom O’ Connor, his three son’s, Dan, William, Andrew, daughter Maurine (Moe) and of course the grandchildren. I had the pleasure to take all of them fishing this year. They are perfect examples of the fun and bond that a close family can enjoy boating, dining and fishing the beautiful waters of SW Florida. Tom, his oldest son Dan O’ Connor, of Mequon, Wisconsin are pictured together holding a Redfish and Black Drum, caught on one of five ‘family’ outings last February. This ‘family’ loves to fish and good at it. Great going Tom and Dan! You guys always keep me on my ‘toes’ to try and better every fishing trip.
Some might prefer plush pillows in a hotel, but some of us prefer plush sand under a tent, right? Florida’s wild side provides great opportunities for two of our favorite things: boating and camping! If adventure with a side of untouched beauty sounds like the thing for you, check out these boater-friendly state parks along Florida’s west coast.
Read more “Boat Camping Near Southwest Florida”
It has been a while since I last wrote about fishing our beautiful waters due to my very busy schedule. After all, it is the month of February that kicks off the season with high demand for charters. Nonetheless, 1st Mate Vicki and I worked the Bonita Boat Show the first week of March to hook up with clients and vendors. Once again and as always, the Boat Show was a huge success for many of us vendors, with lots of people in attendance. I especially enjoy the opportunity to do some of the fishing seminars at Fishin’ Franks’ Fishing Village. The boat shows give me an opportunity to exchange fishing reports and stories with other guides, as well as new and old clients alike. Read more “Springtime Fishing with Captain Terry”
We often get asked what’s the best boat to buy. Some may jokingly say the best kind is the one you can enjoy without owning! But in all seriousness, we think the best kind of boat for you will depend on what you’re looking to get out of it. With so many options, this can be hard for new boat buyers to navigate, so we’ve gathered some of the most popular boat types in SWFL to give you a head start.