The fishing has been fantastic over the past month. This years October catches have been better than some previous seasons over the last several years. Only a few reports regarding Algae Blooms and Red Tide exists compared to a year ago. SW Florida waters are clean. The inshore and offshore waters of SW Florida are full of hungry fish again, with lots of different species for anglers to target.
by Bruce Longman
Pam & Armond Sikes’ objective this year was perfect weather, calm seas and no major boat problems. 9 boats arrived safely to enjoy the beautiful Naples Boat Club on Naples Bay September 17 – 20. The trip down bound from Sanibel was glass calm.
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.
Balmy mornings and thundery afternoons can only mean one thing: hurricane season has arrived. As with all things in boating, preparedness is key. Watching the local news report of a CAT 2 swirling in the Gulf is not the time to start figuring out what to do with your boat. Having a plan in place will give your boat its best chance to weather the storm.
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.