Sunday – We unloaded the dinghy and used it to head to Moxeytown to make dinner reservations at Mr. Greens restaurant and drop off some trash. Dave had stayed with the boat, a theme common to travelling with him. It is his baby and he likes to spend time making sure she is just right. We headed over to Gibson Cay, which had a blue hole in the middle of it. Em dropped back to walk the beach as The Squirrel and I worked our way over the karst, in our flip flops. It was a typical first day mistake for walking gear but we were careful. We got to the blue hole, which was probably 400’ wide. I could not see the bottom except at the edges, which I estimated to be 30’ deep. I paused long enough to drink the Gold Kalik I had nurtured in my back pocket, then we picked our way carefully back to the shoreline. Eventually we found Em and headed back to the boat.
Dave and The Squirrel did some scouting of the Middle Bight since we were mixing routes between the waterway guide and GPS points Charlie Bethel gave us. Charlie Bethel owns the Flamingo Cay Rod and Gun Club and makes the trek across the island on a regular basis, providing supplies to his resort. The boys stopped in to see Crazy Charlie (not Bethel) who was living out his life in a run down resort famously known as the Bang Bang Club. Charlie tied bonefish flies, drank his homemade Sapodilla wine, and told the boys stories of his time running the club.
Meantime Em and I stayed on the boat and I actually did some work for the business. As time got on we started to worry a little since the boys didn’t respond to our hail on Channel 14, the agreed channel to monitor on the VHF. Turns out when they arrived and checked in, Dave handed the radio over to The Squirrel, who inadvertently switched the radio to channel 16 instead of 14, doing his best distress impression for Em and I, only to broadcast to the world instead. I guess I am sorry I missed it, maybe not.
They finally got back to they boat for our dinner reservations. The wind was howling out of the east, probably 10 to 15 mph, and the dinghy ride was pretty far for a late night run back to the boat. Dave made the call to relocate the boat closer to Moxeytown on the south side of the bight so we had a short dinghy ride to the restaurant.
The Green’s restaurant was basically a tiki hut with bar, some plumbing, a sand floor and a kitchen in the back. The Squirrel put in an order for a seafood mix for all, except no conch for Em, and Mr. Green refreshed the vodka drinks we brought with us to the restaurant. We chatted with the locals, met Mike, a retired special forces guy (we later learned) and got some good information on the tides and the “wheel channel” that Mike admonished us to stay in as we trekked across the Middle Bight to the west side of Andros. The conch was opened fresh by Mr. Green on the “dock” and his daughter, Anastasia, was prepping conch salad right in front of me. It was fascinating watching her chop and prep the salad, seemingly with her eyes closed. I complimented her on her abilities, as “poetry in motion” and received a big grin filled with beautiful white teeth in return. We finished our meals, dropped about $100 in the bar, then loaded up for the now short dinghy ride back to the boat. Good call Dave!
Hanging in the “restaurant” at Mr. Greens.
I retired once again to the top deck for my evening solitude, scotch tinkling in my coffee cup, and watched the starry sky. It is so beautiful in the Bahamas, with the various colors of the water, sunsets, and unadulterated starry skies. I always enjoy these trips and was happy to be relaxing.
Tarpon yes let’s talk about Florida #1 Trash fish, oppsy I meant to say Florida #1 money fish, dang scratch that, I really meant to say Florida Silver King, the #1 game fish.
Ok I guess I should explain, Tarpon is not edible, nor does it make a good mount, so what do you call a fish that you can not eat, or even mount? Trash fish? Even a sail-cat is less of a trash fish, sail-cat are really pretty tasty. So that explains my dig on the trash fish part, money fish is the most correct name as I believe Tarpon account for about 300 million a year in Florida. Game fish Silver king is only when it is on your line.. Then the 150 pounds of bright silver shinning muscle jumping and ripping line off of your reel, at that time it is the Silver king. One of the most beautiful fish there is.
Now that I over explained myself I will get to the point, If you try to remember that Tarpon are just a fish while trying to hook one, you will have much better success, Live bait, dead bait, they are just wanting a meal. If you want to play with Tarpon don’t over think it.
Last week, the storms had pushed most of them out into the gulf. Yes, they are afraid of lightening. Let’s add wuss fish to their name list. So right now during the day, best bet is out deep. But here is the weird part, tarpon are a wuss when it comes to lightening, but they are not afraid of the dark. Darkness seem to empower them. During our cat-fish, sting ray & shark tournament which is an over night tournament, lots of Tarpon were hooked. They are all through the inter coastal, around the bridges in the deep holes of the Harbor.
Last Saturday night while trying to catch sting-rays and Sharks in the middle of the Harbor several teams had to put up with these Tarpon hitting their lines and trying to get rid of them was a problem at the Pirate Harbor hole I think they had seven tarpon in their way of catching Sting rays.
A lot of Tarpon were hooked near Placida after midnight while trying to catch Cat-fish, yes dead bait, live bait did not matter. The tarpon were in the way of real fishing all night. So if you want to play with these nuisance fish try after dark, pick a bridge a hole.
Hey if a wuss like a Tarpon can be out playing in the dark, why aren’t you, what are you afraid of ??
A long winded way of saying the tarpon fishing at night is great right now. But just this sentence would have been boring 🙂
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Notwithstanding the inclement weather of Tropical Storm Andrea, the fishing has been fantastic for Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Mackerel and other species, including Flounder. Since then, I have had beautiful days on the water with valued clients looking for Tarpon. Tarpon (large ones) are abundant in Charlotte Harbor. I had the opportunity to fish successfully in Boca Grande Pass as well as the southern end of Charlotte Harbor (just off the ‘Intercoastal’) around channel markers 67 and 69 in about 9 ft. of water. Tarpon are also south of the power lines that service SanibeI from the mainland. Naturally, they are in numerous areas of Pine Island Sound, but I have seen the biggest schools in the areas mentioned above. I recommend having big Threadfins or ‘Pass’ crabs for best results. Keep a line rigged and ready for Cobia, as they are all around the schools of Tarpon and Loggerhead Turtles. Be prepared to see huge Bull and Hammerheads ready to take your trophy.
The Redfish are more active now as are the big Snook. Keep a close watch for the thunderstorms and be safe. My ‘newlywed’ clients (pictured here), Nick and Jessica Caudell of Ohio, had a great day on the water catching lots of fish including the Redfish (pictured here). His wife Jessica, also experienced the fierce fight and power of a 42 inch Snook on very light tackle for about 10 minutes until the huge fish ‘broke’ the hook off the lure just before landing it. If you have any questions or would like additional information, feel free to contact me at [email protected] or call me direct at 239-357-6829. My website www.fishfacecharters.com will provide you with additional articles and fishing updates.
Andros – April 6th to 16th. Dealing with the loss of my father and (two) one week vacations in one short month was a new one for me. My Dad was a sailor and outdoorsman and I have tried to follow in those footsteps as well. But I seldom take that much time off from work since I am the top billing guy in a marine engineering consulting firm. With some trepidation I accepted the invite from Rocky the Flying Squirrel to go explore the west side of Andros Island with Diamond Dave and the lovely Miss Em. I would be returning home and, in less than a week, would be leaving again for Costa Rica. But I couldn’t NOT go, citing the old adage “No one was ever in their death bed saying they wished they spent more time in the office”. My Dad had died in the end of March and his passing was additional impetus for me to live my life to the fullest extent possible. He would accompany me on this trip, in both ashes, and spirit.
It is a good team, with The Flying Squirrel a wiggy, lovable one. Em is a lady capable of holding her own with the guys. Diamond Dave is the consummate Bahama’s boater. Dave and The Squirrel are partners in the boat with two others. Fortunately that means the boat get’s used a lot, always better than one that sits around. A Bahama’s trip with this group is always good company, full of adventure, work, and wonder. But it is always a challenge in escaping the commitments of the work world.
This trip would be unusual in that we were going to be exploring the west side of Andros Island. This area is very remote and mostly viewed by the Squirrel from a couple of thousand feet in altitude while making his way from Florida to the islands and back. All those little dark patches in the water were something! With the wonder of Google maps, GPS, and a little luck we would find a sunken treasure ship or maybe at least a fish or two.
Three days before leaving, Robin my business partner, and I blasted down to Key West to check on the progress of one of our construction projects, Tarpon Pier replacement. She did the driving and I worked on the laptop, writing reports, and basically doing as much as I could to get caught up before I left. It also gave me time to think about my responsibilities for two meals on the trip. I knew I could whip up a decent spaghetti sauce, hey, who can’t, but the second meal was a challenge. Shell, my sweet wife, offered some solutions, the best one being sausage with onions and peppers. But I was concerned about bringing produce into the country, not wanting to start out the vacation in a Bahamian brig.
I worked my lists and resolved myself to cook spaghetti sauce on Thursday night, coming back from the Keys run. Travelling such a distance is tiring, even if I am not doing the driving. Robin and I got back into town about 6:00, time enough to get to Publix and secure the proper supplies. Sometimes it is easier to make a decision about something when you just relax and let the ideas flow. I bought into Shell’s idea of the sausages, and bought a big pack of Bratwurst. I already had Mom teed up to prepare her world famous potato salad, so I figure between the spaghetti sauce and bratwust/potato salad I would be covered for the trip.
Cooked, delicious, and cooling on the stove was my best pot of spaghetti, probably because I hadn’t made it in so long so I thought it was pretty good. Shell baked the brats on Friday and Mom delivered on the potato salad Friday night. Things were working out.
I was forsaking my Board meeting Friday night for an evening out with Shell. That was okay since she gave me the Bahama’s pass for a week. I know we had a Costa Rica vacation following the Bahama’s adventure so my husband credits were good, but never the less we had a lovely evening out. She was happy with dinner and the week ahead was looking good.
Saturday – The lists worked well, crossing off items, rethinking others, and adding those last minute items I seem to always forget. I was packing the truck for the run to Naples, grabbing last minute items like batteries out of the shop as I got ready. I made Rocky’s office at 8:00, on time, and sat in Em’s cubicle marveling at her cartoon collections as she wrapped up her business. She has a marvelously dry sense of humor and I can always count on her for an occasional email worthy of archiving. The boys had yet to arrive.
We made it to the airport and began the process of loading all the “stuff” we had. Wow, so much gear and they already had preloaded the boat over the past month. I stepped in and exercised my “stowing prowess”, getting it all packed into the back of the plane. With no room to spare we were wheels up for New Providence.
Jammed to the roof of the plane with our load of gear.
It was an effortless flight, The Flying Squirrel doing his usual stellar job of piloting with Dave by his side, and shortly we were unpacking, then packing again into a taxi at Odyseey, the private terminal in Nassau. Customs asked a question about our packages but we were innocuous enough that they didn’t check anything. I could have brought the produce, hell, Dave had a bag full but it was easier bringing a cooler with the spaghetti, brats, and potato salad chilled. Plus we had a bunch of Coors Light, Dave’s flavor of choice.
We got it all into the taxi and headed off to the marina at Old Fort Bay on Lyford Cay, stopping at the new Whole Foods store for some last minute foodstuffs and a case of Gold Kalik, my favorite beer. In spite of it now being available at Publix, it was once Coorslike unobtainium, with the occasional case provided for as a Christmas present or on a return trip from the Bahamas. So many great memories with this formerly high horsepower beer, I still drink it as my Bahamian favorite. The Squirrel scarfed up some cigars and the next thing I knew we were loading the boat direct from the taxi. Everyone hustles, it is a great team, and since we all know what to do things got stowed quickly.
We waited a while for a local friend to pick up some maps and charts that the Squirrel is currently developing. With the meeting over Dave fired up the starboard engine and then the port, but something was wrong, making a bit of noise so he shut her down. We scanned the handbooks and Dave made some calls, resulting in a delay as we pulled the valve cover off the port engine and checked the injectors. I really didn’t care if we didn’t leave right away and I enjoyed the opportunity to study the engines and help Dave with the wrenching. We checked the electrical leads to the injectors, per telephone direction from the local mechanic, and sure enough that was the problem. Disconnect and reconnect and once fired the port engine purred like a sleeping Tiger. We were into the Tongue of the Ocean headed to the Middle Bight of Andros Island.
The Flying Squirrel passed out on the back deck, letting the worries of work and flying reside elsewhere, dreaming of G4’s.
We fished a little along the way, drank cold beers (some slept) and we finally anchored a ways up the Middle Bight. The Squirrel grilled steaks and Em made a delicious salad. Everyone was finally chilling out and I finished a rather long day with my favorite scotch in a ceramic coffee cup and watched the stars. I saw two satellites and a shooting star, making a wish on my daughter’s behalf, then retired to my bunk. The wind came dashing through the forward hatch, and I slept like a baby… (to be continued)
There is a lot about fish we don’t know, but one thing I do know is that they are already wet, so rain would not make a difference to them. Let’s leave aside pressure issues with the water, and just look at why would fishing in the rain be better?
1. If you get in your car and look through the windshield easy to see everything, but when it starts to rain you can not see. Same with fish underwater when they look up through calm water it is easy to see you sitting
there in your boat.
2. Have you ever been under a aluminum roof when it starts to rain, you can’t hear each other, same with fish under water. The rain makes so much noise hitting the surface they don’t hear you.
So rain makes it easier to sneak up on the fish, they can not hear or see you as well during the rain.
Went fishin on Monday, got a 60 pound (estimated weight) Bull Shark, some Spanish, a nice Jack and not a lot else, but we had a good time. The rain surrounded us & kept pushing us farther up river, but none the less a good day. We made it to the dock as it started to rain. The first fish my grand nephew ever caught was a bull shark… not bad. I was lucky today, with all the rain & storms. I was heading towards a spot, then saw fish. The hardest thing when going fishing is to change your plan. It works for me when I have plan A, which is I am going to fish at a certain place, but now I watch for plan B, look there’s fish right here stop! I say this, but have passed by schools of fish before thinking I it was better further away. Hey I paid for the motor, and the fishin is always better on the other side of the Harbor. Glad I used plan B today. We caught fish and stayed dry.
(FT. MYERS BEACH TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR) Fishing remains good for a number of species. Tarpon are in good numbers off Ft. Myers Beach as well as in Pine Island Sound. I have not had much success off of Sanibel or Captiva, but Boca Grande Pass has been loaded with fish. Tarpon seem to prefer big Threadfins, dollar size Blue Crab and Pass Crabs. Mackerel has performed well and jigging has found success in the pass at Boca Grande. However, fishing Boca Grande Pass is not for the ‘faint of heart’ and if one has never experienced it with a professional guide and/or does not know or understand the ‘rules and procedures’ (etiquette); I would not do it until after you have hired someone to take you and ‘teach you the ropes’
Triple Tail may still be found off of the channel markers and some of the remaining crab buoys. I am pictured here with a large one I caught on the way out to bottom fish with my 1st Mate, Vicki last Sunday. She is pictured holding this nice grouper for a ‘photo-op’ caught midday in about 30ft. of water on a live Pinfish before going to Boca Grande Pass to fish Tarpon on an outgoing tide that evening.
Redfish have been fairly active on the outgoing tides off of shoal and creek cuts about anywhere you can stage your presentations. Snook are off of the beaches, in the passes, and all around the mangrove cuts on moving water. They like Pilchards, Threadfins and shrimp as well as artificial baits. ‘By-catches’ include; Spanish Mackerel, Seatrout, Pompano, Flounder and shark. The 3 foot Shovelhead Shark (pictured here) was taken on the flats on a live, Blue Crab (under a cork), by Mr. Richard Reed of Hannibal, Missouri using light tackle while vacationing with his family; Tammy, Rhet and Tara Reed in Cape Coral.
Summer time is now and the fishing should continue to provide wonderful opportunities. Stay alert as to weather conditions, fish the tides (moving water) and you too should have good success catching fish.
In closing, if you have any questions feel free to contact me at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for articles and complete charter information.
Lots of reports about the river, “Peace River” that is. It’s funny that when it gets too rough to be on the Harbor that river fishing is “rediscovered”. Try a full sized glitter Zara spook and hold on tight – the Snook are pulling the hooks straight! Cast close to the shore and try to find deeper
bends. When you cast let it sit still for about 20 seconds, then start walkin’ it back. Yes, the big ole Snook are thick in both rivers!
On the subject of harbor snappers . . . well, there are NO dog snappers in Charlotte Harbor, only Lane, Mangrove/Grey, and once in a blue moon some Yellow Tail, Mutton, or Bee liners (small vermilion snappers). So the whole Dog snapper thing is a myth / mistake/ wrong. As I have maintained for years, if you caught a small fish that looks kind of like a smallmouth bass with teeth like an ally cat, it’s a Mangrove Snapper. These are a tricky snapper with a red belly and dark back . . . how could they possibly be called a Grey Snapper? Well if you catch them out in the gulf they are completely Grey with no other color. You will not know that it is a mangrove Snapper until you put it in the ice chest and all the colors come out. This does stand to reason as a dark color fish would stand out in the clear waters of the gulf of Mexico, and would be eaten by larger fish. So, the snappers change colors to match the water they are in. Clear water they turn grey, dark waters reds, browns and black. So anyway, what I wrote before was wrong, and now I am eating Crow. I should never type anything until I check into it first. But then why should typing be different than talking? I am usually somewhat surprised by what I say, most of the time!
Like many things about fish, I continue to learn, after all the more you know about what you are trying to catch, the more successful you will be. When I think about it there are really only a couple of months in which you can catch really nice size Snapper in Charlotte Harbor over 14 inches. by far the most common are smaller fish, & the larger sizes are much more common in the deeper waters of the gulf. Maybe they should be thought of like Red fish, Tarpon, Shrimp, or Goliath & Gag grouper, only using the Harbor to get big enough to brave the adult world of the Gulf. Yes the more I look into it the more this seems true, the larger Snapper only come into the Harbor to spawn then head back out,
A really weird thing is that Snapper seem to get a secret message and all over the world they spawn, Yes from what I am learning all the Snappers in the world seem to get a signal and start spawning at nearly the same time. How weird is that?
Right now in the Harbor we are in the 2 to 3 week window of big snapper. They are being caught at the 41 bridge, the concert reef, cape haze reef and even larger sizes in the passes.
so get some shrimp and some white bait, because one day they will eat one and the next the other, and Snappers are some of the tastiest eating you will ever have, fresh snapper can be cooked any way and will come out great. Keep in mind they like to hug the bottom but you can raise them off the bottom by taking advantage of their greedy natures, yes they will follow at chum line right to the surface.
As a foot note to this, I have heard that many of the Snapper in Charlotte Harbor are mis-identified as Mangrove or Grey snapper, Same fish two names and are really Dog snappers which the only real difference is they have thicker teeth. I may have been wrong all these years, I am going to be checking this out this year.
Well have fun out there the weather is great the fishing could not be any better. Why are you sitting reading this, grab a pole and get your butt out there.
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) The last couple of weeks have been really good for all of the ‘back country’ species (Redfish, Snook, Seatrout, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, Shark, Mangroves Snappers). The Tarpon have been a little scarce this year (compared to last year) off of the outer side of Sanibel with reports of more activity and catches outside of Cayo Costa. Reports of large numbers of Tarpon are now in Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor, to which I am heading this week to practice for some Memorial Day Weekend charters.
Nonetheless, while on a ‘Combo/Shark’ charter, I had the opportunity to check out the crab buoys and spotted the nice Tripletail (pictured here). Another ‘Combo Shark/Tarpon Charter’ produced a number of small sharks for lots of ‘reel’ excitement. Mr. David Nycz II from Detroit, Michigan, is pictured holding his first small Sand Shark on light tackle. David’s fiancée, Lisa caught her own 4 ft. shark on very light tackle, showing off her angling abilities as well. Between David and Lisa, 9 sharks were caught and released, including a 6 foot Hammerhead.
My ‘First Mate’ (Vicki) and I had a wonderful day of both shark/Tarpon and ‘back-country’ fishing with these dedicated anglers (pictured together). Tarpon fishing should be good in numerous areas of the Caloosahatche River, Pine Island Sound, the passes and especially; Charlotte Harbor. All other species, both ‘in and offshore’, should be no exception and I suggest one works the incoming or outgoing tides for best results, as ‘slack tide’ is usually less productive.
If you have any questions or want help with make your fishing trips more productive, contact me at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my monthly and weekly saltwater sports articles at www.fishfacecharters.com.
