Fishin’ Frank’s fishing report for January

Black Sea Bass have not been plentiful in Southwest Florida for several years but winter this year has brought this fish back to us! Right now if you are fishing from the beaches or off of a dock or old pier, you’re most likely to hook this rare fish by using a shrimp as bait. Sheep head are also picking up and the colder waters are bringing on a better bite at Placida or Tom Adams but be sure to get out there before we return to our usual warm weather.

Read more “Fishin’ Frank’s fishing report for January”

Captain Terry’s SW Florida Christmas Time Fishing Report

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)

Christmas and the New Year Holiday brought good weather and lots of opportunities to accommodate a number of charter requests from locals and visitors alike. Fishing was ‘spotty’ during the Christmas break but still produced a number of great trips with sufficient catches of Grouper, Seatrout, Mangrove Snapper and Spanish Mackerel to satisfy most.

Read more “Captain Terry’s SW Florida Christmas Time Fishing Report”

Captain Terry’s SW Florida Holiday Fishing Report

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)

This is the time of the year when many come from the frigid areas of the north to enjoy the holidays of Christmas and the New Year. The last few charters have delivered some nice catches for my young anglers. The catches were from the southern end of Pine Island Sound all the way north to Charlotte Harbor. Due to the lower winter tides, most of the game fish were caught south of the power lines in open water, around mangrove islands with oyster clusters and dead wood. The water is clearing up around the mouth of the Caloosahatchee since the Corps of Engineers have quit sending fresh water to us from Lake O. Seatrout, Redfish, Snook, Mangrove Snapper, Spanish Mackerel and small shark made up most of the ‘bounty’.

Read more “Captain Terry’s SW Florida Holiday Fishing Report”

Captain Terry says “October finished strong for most inshore species”

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)

October finished strong for most inshore species, including Flounder, Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper and decent size Seatrout joining the ‘party’. Pictured here is Dave Anderson of Lake St. Louis, Missouri holding a nice Flounder he caught around Cabbage Key while ‘free-lining’ a shrimp under a cork along mangrove trees. I was ‘Captain for Hire’ on Dave’s new 24ft. Boston Whaler Bay Boat. Dave and his wife Barbara learned some fishing locations, strategies and techniques that yielded each of them a Redfish along with a number of other species, including Snook.

Read more “Captain Terry says “October finished strong for most inshore species””

Captain Terry’s October 24th Fishing Report

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)
October 24th, 2016

Fishing has been very good north of the power lines in Pine Island Sound (‘Sound’) for species such as Snook, Redfish, Seatrout and Mangrove Snappers. South of them, the water is ‘coffee’ color due to the excess releases by the Corps of Engineers from Lake O. Red Tide seems to linger in specific areas from time to time. The Punta Rassa launch ramp is slow with few charters going out as of last week, due mostly to that. I run most of my charters out of Pineland Marina and Matlacha when possible, even though water levels are higher at the southern end of the Sound’, allowing good access to more remote areas.

Read more “Captain Terry’s October 24th Fishing Report”

Captain Terry Fisher’s SW Florida Fishing Report for September 26, 2016

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)

Last week produced good fishing offshore as well as inshore. Red Grouper, Lane Snapper, Permit, Gray Snappers and a few Cobia were caught on live Pinfish, shrimp, squid and crabs. Many fisherman and guides enjoyed a good bite anywhere from 3 to 30 miles offshore.

Read more “Captain Terry Fisher’s SW Florida Fishing Report for September 26, 2016”

“Full Moon Rising!” Says Captain Terry

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)

Full Moon Rising! It appears that the next number of days will provide great fishing accompanied by good weather and good tides. Last week the tropical storm prevented fishing, but as of last Saturday (September 3rd) everything seemed to be returning to normal, including the fish bite. Captain Davey Dunlap and I fished the Redfish Flats Invitational (Ronald McDonald Sponsorship) out of Cape Harbour in Cape Coral. We finished in the money with two Redfish weighing in at approximately 10lbs. 9 oz.

Read more ““Full Moon Rising!” Says Captain Terry”

Captain Terry says “Fishing remains good inshore”

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)
August 17, 2016

Fishing remains good inshore, especially early mornings on high incoming or outgoing tides for Seatrout on the flats. Troll for Spanish Mackerel around Sanibel Lighthouse, in Redfish, N. Captiva and Boca Grande Passes, using spoons with swivels and 40lb monofilament leaders. Fish for large, Mangrove Snappers in the passes using small circle hooks, 3oz. lead weights with shrimps or small Pinfish for bait.

Read more “Captain Terry says “Fishing remains good inshore””