Capt. Terry says the tannin water makes it virtually impossible to see the bait fish.

(FT. MYERS BEACH TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR)  Under normal circumstances, last week and this week should have proven excellent fishing since we approached and will be coming off of the full moon that provided some of the highest and stronger tides of the year. However, with all of the rain and the water releases from Lake Okeechobee, the fishing has been and will probably prove tough over the next week or so. Captains are all reporting hard times since the water has turned dark. I too, have had my share of hard times trying to locate the fish.

Blackman Redfish2

Nonetheless, I have had my days of success as well, such as this 29” Redfish shown here with Tim Blackman and his father Dan, from Maryland. It was Tim’s first fishing experience and before the day was done he caught two of them (GREAT GOING TIM!). They are definitely around, but with all of the dark water they are very difficult to locate.

The tannin water makes it virtually impossible to see the bait fish. I have to purchase them or take my chances chumming and cast netting in the ‘blind’, but they can be had. Unfortunately, the summer shrimps are so small and their outer skin cover (‘shell’) so weak (from frequent molting), that they are virtually impossible to keep on a hook. My bait of preference, have been cut Pinfish on incoming and outgoing tides. Those wanting to use artificial, I suggest bright colored top water plugs early in the morning. The Snook, Seatrout, Crevalle Jacks, and Mackerel are plentiful but have proven to be fickle during the day. Tarpon are probably the most active fish during the day and will hit a Pinfish under a cork when working the ‘flats’ or deep holes in the ‘back country’.

‘Off-shore’; reports of Red Grouper in 45 ft. of water with Gags being caught at around 90 to 110 ft., but the weather determines whether or not the trip is worth the effort. Permit can be found at about 35 ft. on structure. Schools of Mackerel are about with some Kingfish in the mix.

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In closing, I have been telling my clients that ‘flats’ and ‘back- country’ fishing should be better as soon as the water starts clearing up. This nice 23” Seatrout, was caught by George Hammon Jr. of Cape Coral, a day or so before the water turned dark. If anyone has any questions, I am easily reached by phone at 239-357-6829 or via email at [email protected]. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for additional articles and charter information.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

“More good news… big huge giant Redfish” says Fishin’ Frank

7/29/13 

New from Charlotte Harbor fishing trip yesterday.

Hobbs Point, inside the bar – snook on top water lure at first light Pirate Harbor, east side keys – small mangrove snappers on live shrimp, with a split shot Pirate Harbor canals – snook trolling rapala XR8, silver belly, black/green body Myakka cutoff Hog Island side – 2 keeper red fish on cut frozen lady fish during rising tide in 1′ of water.

 

7/27/13

Good news… even with all the rain, red tide is not showing up. A concern every summer, but this is the current up date. Present Status; Southwest coast: Karenia Brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was detected in background concentrations in one sample collected alongshore of Pinellas County and in one sample collected inshore of Sarasota County. Other samples collected in southwest Florida this week did not contain K. brevis.

0045 bridge red Bryan

More good news… big huge giant red fish still at the 41 bridges, live shrimp or dead. Fish the bottom, don’t know whats up, just know they are there. Keeper sizes as well as the over size ones. I would not expect to catch a lot just when you do they should be BIG. That is cool enough.

Fishin’ Frank

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Fishin’ Frank says “Redfish have moved up by Hog Island”

The Steal-a-Deal Sale was a huge success! Thanks to you all, we will be
completely re-stocked with reels in the next couple weeks. I am attending 3
buying shows, Penn, Shimano, & Quantum in the next 2 weeks and the selection
& prices will be better than ever.

Thank you all, from Myself Fishin Frank, the boss lady “T”, & the Pirate
crew here at Fishin Franks.
0040 Michelle
Even better than all that the Redfish have moved up by Hog Island. Cast the
mangroves laying in the water. Shrimp, Cut bait, there are plenty of keepers
there. Pictured is Michelle with her redfish.

0041 mallry Avet
Mallory was the first person through the door the day of our Sale. After the
burglary, Mal saw the pictures of this reel, laying in the field where the
thief had stashed them. All she could think of was that poor reel with no
home & no one to love it. Just abandoned there cold and help-less & alone.
So she vowed to give this Avet a good home, to hug it and clean it. So it
will never be lonely again. Don’t worry little Avet no one will ever take
you away in the middle of the night again, you are safe now.

This has been a good week!

Thank you all.

Fishin’ Frank

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Fishin’ Frank’s Weekly Report

7-15-13 Fishin’ with Frank

0003bad fish charters 1
Red fish yes these tasty battlers are eating, cut bait seems to be the key. Wouldn’t you know it, spend all that time finding live bait only to have to cut it in pieces to get the fish to bite? Well that’s life in Charlotte Harbor right now. Your other bet – shrimp. Yes shrimp are are working well. Live or dead, with the better edge to dead. Let them get a little stinky. Red fish with this dirty water are hunting by smell.

For you Tarpon chasers, look in the inter-coastal from Sanilbel to Gasprilla Tarpon are working the inter-coastal water way, the beaches are almost as good this time of year there is so little boat traffic. You can see them roll as they go up & down the inter-coastal. Along the beaches it is a waiting game, hunting is not as effective as just sitting and waiting. If you are like me, that is almost impossible to do. So I am running the inter-coastal. Although there is one trick which does work and satisfies my need for keeping moving. Trolling. Yes people forget you can troll for Tarpon. 3/4 once Rat-L-Traps, or a 16axsich bomber. I would have one of each out. Just remember flatten the barbs. Not for the fish even though it is better for the Tarpon. It is way better if you are not attached to a 150 pound fish buy the barbs of your lure. 3 MPH is an average speed to troll, a little slower or faster, If you are going with or against the tide.
Have fun and be safe.

Fishin’ Frank

 7-13-13 Fishin’ with Frank

0005brooks snookSnook are here in the upper Harbor, and with Season coming up, there is a lot of people testing the waters.
Lick um lures new “tongue” is working great, as well as the old favorites like the 15 bombers. Getting lots of people asking for Chartreuse Mirror lures, strange it is the older styles like the 7M or 5M. I think anglers are figuring out why these lures have been around for so long, they are old but they work.

The canals are thick with big Snook, the docks within 500 feet of the Harbor all have snook on them. This is going to be quite a season. Just remember If you have one don’t take another until you have eaten the first one. The idea is fresh, not frozen and No waste also means no freezer burnt fish. Take a meal not a freezer full.

Thanks,

Fishin’ Frank

7-8-13 Fishin’ with Frank

HOSTAGE situation attention Red fish, are being held hostage by vicious
packs of Mangrove Snapper’s which are stealing bait before the Reds can get
any. All through the east side of the harbor, this drama is taking place.
Poor under nourished Red fish barley getting by, in this down turned economy
now having to deal with schools & schools of Snappers, shutting them out
from the bait. Where are the hero’s who will stand tall for the Red fish and
smite these snappers, in the name of decency help.

Fishin’ Frank

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports Uncategorized

Fishin’ Frank says “Jacks are still hitting up in all this fresh water.”

ali Raven

Jacks are still hitting up in all this fresh water. You would think it would run them out, and to tell the truth most have gone out to the salty water by the gulf but, there are still a lot in the canals and lower rivers. Ali caught a nice one. Keep in mind when fishin’ for Jacks a float or poppin cork is one of the best ways to catch them. They are not good bottom feeders and they like noisy baits. So pop that cork and keep your bait 24 to 30 inches below the cork. Good luck!

Fishin’ Frank

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Capt. Terry’s Weekly Fishing Report

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)  Tarpon are still around but not in the numbers of a couple of weeks ago. A few are still in Boca Grande Pass and the best opportunity to catch them is on the outgoing tide. There are some small schools of them just off of the beaches of N. Captiva, Cayo Costa as well as in Pine Island Sound. Pictured here is a large Tarpon ‘in-fight’, caught by a client on light tackle (10lb braided line with a 30lb Flurocarbon leader under a cork, using a live Pinfish).

fishjumping

Larger Redfish are becoming more plentiful (or easier to locate) in the waters of Punta Rassa, Matlacha Pass as well as isolated areas of the back country. Back country anglers should find better success setting up on an incoming tide, before the water has a chance to infiltrate the Mangrove roots allowing the fish to move into isolated ponds and the ‘back holes’ of water preventing effective presentations. The same goes for the Snook. These big, ferocious fighting fish will take cover on the high summer tides, making it virtually impossible to get a presentation in close enough to draw a strike. Likewise, wait until the tide turns and hope to get them on their way out, but the heat can be brutal.

Fishing should be fairly good the remainder of the week considering the high tides for good water movement providing better oxygen while just off of a new moon. Grouper season is open and they are active so long as the weather and winds allow for a day ‘off-shore’. Sharks are everywhere for those hoping to hook up and adolescent or a big one with appropriate gear. The biggest challenge to catching fish this week and the rest of the summer, will be to find the bait. The fish we ‘hunt’, follows the ‘bait’: ‘NO BAIT; NO FISH! It is that simple. If one can find where the bait is surviving the heat, coupled with all of the fresh rain water; THAT’S A WINNER’!

Additional information regarding, articles and charters may be found on my website; www.fishfacecharters.com or email me at [email protected]. I am easily reached at phone number 239-357-6829 for any questions.

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports Uncategorized

Capt. Terry Fisher’s 4th of July Fishing Report and Forecast

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)  Fishing has been mixed over the last few days due in part to the receding moon phase, time of tides and hot weather/water. Shrimps are small, requiring that one use either cut bait or throw cast nets for Pinfish and Threadfins. Even those can be hard to locate during the summer months. I have been forced to start some mornings on artificial baits until I see bait schools with sufficient sizes of fish to justify a ‘cast’.

The Tarpon are still around and my clients have had their share of hookups using Pinfish and Threadfins in Pine Island Sound. These fish are big and hungry (100 to 150lbs) and will hit on ‘light’ tackle on the flats. The beaches of Sanibel, Captiva and Cayo Costa and their respective passes are all holding small schools of Tarpon as well as big Snook. The Sharks are thick and hungry as well.

Inshore fishing has been spotty for the reasons mentioned above. However, with the ‘New’ moon on the horizon, the weekend of the 4th of July and after, should produce some good fishing. I suggest that one considers throwing nets or using baits other than live shrimp, as they are too small to be effective. Otherwise, consider loading the hooks with 2 or 3 shrimps. There are plenty of Redfish around. The ‘challenge’ is finding them, but once they are located and feeding, most are slot size and will eat for about 1 hour before moving on or taking a break in the hot weather.

MY WEEKLY FORCAST IS THAT FISHING WILL STEADILY IMPROVE AS THE NEW MOON PHASE APPROACHES AND PASSES (3 days before and 3 days after).

RedWhiteandBlue

As a veteran; HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AND THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE SERVED! If you have any questions or want to book a charter; I am easily reached at 239-357-6829 or via email at [email protected]. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for more information. Until next week, this is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish face Charters of Cape Coral, Ft. Myers and Pine Island, wishing you a ‘FISH OF A LIFETIME’.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

“Fishing was fantastic on the front side of the ‘SUPER MOON’”, says Capt. Terry

Fishing was fantastic on the front side of the ‘SUPER MOON’ and should be on the back side; especially the last 3 days after the passing. So get out there NOW as the Redfish, Snook, Tarpon, Seatrout, Cobia and the offshore fish are eating! I have been catching all of the above species and more on charters as well as on my ‘off-time’ while looking for new ‘haunts’.

VickiTarpon2

I am posting 4 pictures with this article. One of my lovely 1st Mate (Vicki), who took matters into her own hands while transporting the boat through the canals of Cape Coral to meet up with me for a charter. She enticed and landed this nice, juvenile Tarpon on a Rapala ‘crank’ bait.

DSCN1265DSCN1271 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two Pictures of the Chase family from the Chicago area, Wade and Collette with Fin (5 yrs old) and Ella (9 yrs old). Ella is holding a nice Redfish that she caught. Both junior anglers caught their own Redfish by using circle hooks under corks with live shrimp.

Garys Redfish1

Also, a picture of my brother Gary Fisher, vacationing from Hannibal, Missouri, is holding one of about twenty Redfish caught on a high tide last Sunday (the day after the ‘Super Moon’).

The rain and higher tides are offering up some of the best fishing I have experienced all year. Now is the time to go. Remember, normally the better times to fish is 3 days before a full or new moon and 3 days after.

This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing you a ‘fishing experience of a lifetime’. If I may be of assistance, please contact me at 239-357-6829 or email [email protected]. Additional charter information and past articles may be found on my website at www.fishfacecharters.com.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

#1 Trash Fish, Florida Money Fish, Silver King Fish, Game Fish or Wuss Fish?

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.

IMG_5377

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 🙂

Writing with a smirk, another man’s treasure….

Fishin’ Frank

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Capt. Terry says Redfish and big Snook are now more active

(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.

DSCN1242  Mr and Mrs.

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.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports