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.
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) The good spring weather together with stronger and higher tides should prove to be the biggest asset to any fishing trip. The location that one chooses to fish should depend on the height, strength and time of tide movements for best results; especially when they work together with the early morning hours. Most all species should be very active and receptive to a variety of live or cut baits, both ‘in’ and ‘off’ shore. They are all here and virtually all of my charters have been successful finding and catching the ‘target’ species when working during good tide movement, be it ‘flood’ or ‘ebb’. The only exception to this has been the lack of a lot of Tarpon action.
Nonetheless, reports of Tarpon catches around Mile Marker 4 (off of ‘C’ Span by Sanibel) and other areas up and down Pine Island Sound are becoming more common. A few Tarpon are being taken off of the ‘Outer’ Islands as well. If one belongs to an organization such as; Cape Coral Tarpon Hunters Club, access to catches, locations, techniques and baits are easily obtained on a daily basis. Mackerel, Catfish, Mullet, big Greenbacks and Pinfish should do the trick for those looking for these fighting game fish.
There are lots of Seatrout in the grass and ‘potholes’ from James City all the way to Cayo Costa. I am finding that some ‘schools’ are producing numbers of big trout over 20” on a regular basis, but one needs to move around to find them (I am having most of my success for bigger fish in the northern corridor of Pine Island Sound, above Redfish Pass).
In the ‘back country’, big Snook and Redfish are both up and down Pine Island Sound on both the east and west sides. Other species, such as Crevalle Jacks, Bar Jacks, Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, may be found anywhere along the above corridor on the flats with the Seatrout.
The gulf is loaded with species such as; Kings, Snapper, Permit, Grouper and Cobia. Keep a lookout and a ‘rig’ loaded for Cobia. I keep a lead head with an 8”-12” eel ready to cast. The fish have been very active and I forecast more of the same over the next week with the added benefit of more Tarpon opportunity.
In closing, I want to acknowledge the casting and catching abilities of 15 year old Andy Batchelder of Carmel, Indiana (grandson of Lee Longstretch of Indianapolis). He is pictured here with two of the fish caught during his first ‘back country’ excursion using only artificial lures. I am looking forward to our next ‘outing’ together for more and bigger fish. Great going Andy! Practice your casting liked we discussed before next year and you may catch your ‘fish of a lifetime’!
If anyone has any questions or would like more information on your favorite type of fishing, feel free to contact me at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my websites and my article ‘links’ at www.fishfacecharters.com or www.captainterryfisher.com
Well the TV says that we are in for a week of thunderstorms each day, not all day but possible storms each day, which leaves us 1 of 2 possibilities.
1- The first is that a front moves across the Harbor and the fish move and quit feeding, or we get a couple inches of rain, and it lower the salt level of the Harbor, which would move many of the fish back into the gulf. Not good at all as we have been in the magic zone, every thing from Black fin tuna, Bonita, Spanish Mackerel, King Mackerel, Shark, Cobia, Tarpon, Snook, red fish, & more all biting. What can I say but WOW what a week.
2- The second possible out come, is that these afternoon rains and cloud cover will hold the water temperature steady, providing we get less than an inch of rain so the salt level remain constant in the Harbor, and if the clouds keep the water from heating up, this magic week could turn into a magic month. & HOW cool would that be!!
So here hoping for door number 2 and the magic remains
(FT. MYERS BEACH TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR) The ‘inshore’ fishing continues to get better as spring sets in with the tides getting stronger and higher. I had the opportunity over the last number of days (before the full moon and during the full moon) to do a number of charters. Snook season is in full swing and I have had tremendous success with this species. The Redfish are here in good numbers and a variety of sizes (including a lot of ‘over-slot’ size fish). Pictures of Mr. Don Shanley from Potosi, Wisconsin and Mr. Al Rawlings of Hastings, Minnesota are each shown here with a pair of 29” Redfish. This was only two of about 40 that they caught within 2 hours. Great going guys!
Moreover, SeaTrout, Pompano, Spanish Mackerel, Crevalle Jacks, and shark are on the flats in good numbers and are very active. They are attacking shrimp, pilchards, live or cut Pinfish and Lady Fish, as well as a variety of artificial baits. They are feeding off of the ‘bottom’ as well as under corks. I am attaching a picture of 7 year old Tyler Tousey with a small Crevalle Jack. This was just one of his numerous catches. Later that day, Tyler caught a 33” Black Tip Shark (all by himself) on the flats in Pine Island Sound. Tyler fought the shark like a ‘pro’. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of it, but his father, Mr. Gerald Tousey, got it on video. Fortunately however, I got to witness this young angler in action. Nice going Tyler!
‘Offshore’, Cobia, Red Grouper, King Mackerel and some Tarpon are all about. I have seen Tarpon jumping from time to time in Pine Island Sound as well and I am now planning some Tarpon trips. It is my thought that the fishing will continue to be good next week for both ‘inshore’ and ‘offshore’. However, I suggest fishing earlier in the day with the weaker tides for best results. If you have any questions give me a call at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Be sure and check out my websites at www.fishfacecharters.com; www.captainterryfisher.com for all updates on weekly and monthly articles and fishing reports.
Everything is coming together nicely. The red tide is gone, the water temperature is up and the harbor is full of bait. Our summertime fish, tarpon, shark, cobia, mackerel are all starting to show up in the harbor in good numbers and it’s only going to get better. Now is the time to get out there and get catching. Not fishing, catching!
The 20 foot hole (the upper hole) in the harbor seems to be the hot spot. Good reports of tarpon, shark, cobia and spanish mackerel. There was even a king fish caught in the 20 foot hole! I’m also hearing reports of cobia on the markers and on both the east and west sandbars. Tarpon are also starting to show up at the 41 bridge at night.
And don’t forget the usual suspects either. Snook, redfish and trout are all doing extremely well and so are flounder. There is plenty of bait to be found at the markers, in the middle of the harbor, the skating rink and even in the mouth of the Myaka River.
