Shaaaaaaaarks! Fishin’ Frank reports they’re back!

Sharks are moving into Charlotte Harbor.

Sharp nose, Black tips, Nurse, Lemons, Spinners, and Bulls & Bonnets, which to be fair are here all year. But we do see increased numbers as the water warms up. each year as the water hits 75 degrees Cobia, Tarpon and shark move up from where ever they are during sown bird season, Crazy but each year as the Snow bird leave the big fish show up, How crazy is that, but just like their human counter parts the go south during the colder months and return as the waters warm.

IMGP0082

Shark fishing is like sailing hours of boredom punctuated by moments of shear excitement or terror.

Simple procedure – anchor your boat or cast your line out from the dock better if you chum and wait for the rush of a screaming reel.

This is just a long winded way of saying the Sharks are back n the Harbor and the numbers are growing, the numbers of Sharks will peak out in May the prime month for Sharks, But you may want to consider Catch & release during may as that is when the Sharks are going to give birth. By June they are done “Pupping” and dinner time may resume,

Yes I eat Sharks it is some of the best tasting meat and very healthy for you. Why buy fish oil tablets, ok some one else kills the fish for you, but when you do it your self no waste is the key. and I never take one while I still have meat from the first one.

Any way good luck out the have fun, and watch where you put your finger, It is Shark fishin after all.

Frank

UPDATE – 4.15 at 5pm

Shark are moving into the harbor, So it is time to start bending the points of the barbs on your hooks down, barb-less does not work, really bad idea, but bending the barb down so the bait & the fish stay on but are very easy to release is the key to a healthy shark population, Circle hook are too hard to get out and dangerous on the fingers, So use a J hook and flatten the barb.

The big mistake most people make is too big a hook, for black tip or Sharp nose go to a 4/0 with a chunk of bait 2 fingers wide. Good luck

 

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

“Last week was fantastic for the ‘back country’ charters!” Capt. Terry

CAPTAIN TERRY FISHER’S WEEKLY FISHING FORECAST

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)

Last week was fantastic for the ‘back country’ charters for those able to handle spin cast equipment as well as a few who wanted to learn. My charters boated two 30+ inch Snook while working the Mangroves on both incoming and outgoing tides. Lots of other fish action was captured on camera and video while anglers caught their share of Seatrout, Crevalle Jacks, Lady Fish, Shark and Redfish in the mix. Herewith are pictures of clients; Mr. Dan Damon of Battle Creek, Michigan and Mississippi River Boat Captain, Don Mc Daniel with Holly Jett from Edwardsville, Illinois proudly displaying their ‘Snooks of a lifetime’.  Great going and congratulations to both of those anglers who prevailed over my constant instructions (‘suggestions’) while fighting and landing their first Snooks!

Image 9

Spring is here and the fish are very active both inshore and offshore. Lots of big Seatrout are being caught in the clean, clear flats where there is good water movement. The Redfish are here and are being caught early morning on top water plugs, jigs and spoons and more so, on live bait in the afternoon. The Tarpon are beginning to show up in numbers making it worth-while to start planning a trip so long as the weather permits. Look for Cobia close to shore and out on the structures in most any depth. They are curious and will hit anything from a shrimp to artificial.  King Mackerel are being caught on live pilchards, pinfish and artificial lures in about 30 to 65 feet of water on the same structure as one will find most reef species.

Image 8

If you want to book a charter or have any questions, I will be honored to take your call at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Fishin’ Frank’s Charlotte County Report

Cobia, Mackerel & Redfish galore. This is what has happened over the week while I have been under the weather. I try to update at least weekly. Not sure if I got sick or just ran out of get up and go, but either way the fishin has been smokin out in the Harbor and near gulf.
Cobia are doing the spawn thing and have been thick near Hog Island & marker 1. Schools of Cobia about a mile off the beaches. Jigs with a bass worm tip or Rat-L-Trap 3/4 once
seem to be the lures of choice.

cobia
Spanish are moving in, I have heard a lot this year about how thin the fish were and it occurred to me that maybe the barrier of Red tide across the passes this year had a lot to do with so few fish like Trout. Since the Red tide has backed off the fish are pouring into the harbor.
Maverick lures are the trolling lure of choice for Spanish, just hold the rod and keep the boat moving about 2 to 3 miles per hour,
Red fish are feeding back around the Mangroves, crabs or I should say the baby blue crabs and spider crabs are what they are feeding on. So when the tide is higher a 1.3 or better cast under the branches or shrimp or crabs if you can catch them. Hang onto the rod. When that red hits it is a hit.
Good luck, have fun and be safe
Frank

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Lee County Fishing Report with Captain Terry

CAPTAIN TERRY FISHER’S WEEKLY FISHING REPORT

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)

The ‘back country’ fishing is alive and good as spring has arrived. I am attaching a picture of a 35” Snook caught by one of my better anglers, Mr. Gino Mascarins of Canada. Gino and I have a lot in common. We like to go after a variety of species for lots of action and we are always prepared when the ‘fish of a lifetime’ takes the presentation. Gino was calm and collective from start to finish insuring landing this exciting game fish. Pictured with him is his lady friend Jennifer, a proven angler in her own right.

The water temperature is rapidly rising and the Tarpon have been reported about 6 miles off of the outer islands. Winds and weather permitting will allow Shark/Tarpon charters to begin soon.

 Image 1

Additionally, the Redfish are showing up and I have been on some really nice size Seatrout in upper Pine Island Sound. The Spanish Mackerel have been on a big feed and I have taken as many as 25 fish on half day charters. My ‘Dream Team’ pictured from Michigan (Mike, Lea, Joseph and Jordan), completed a half day charter this week catching more than 75 fish, including Spanish Mackerel, Seatrout, Lady Fish and Pompano. They take  ‘top’ honors so far this year landing more fish than any other group. Congratulations to them.

Image

The fishing will continue to be good with the higher and stronger tides. Give me a call at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected] to set up a charter. Be sure and check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for monthly and weekly reports.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Lee County Fishing Report with Captain Terry

I did not take time to write my weekly fishing report last week as I was busy between charters and working the Lee County Spring Boat Show at the Convention Center (my apologies to my weekly readers). Getting out this month has been fairly tough to schedule due to the previous two cold fronts and high winds that recently passed though the area. It appears that we have a few windy days ahead, but with warmer weather.

130.3.12 sheepsheadNonetheless, many of my charter clients have continued to enjoy my ‘back country’, ‘flats’ and mangrove island  locations  hooking, catching and yes, ‘losing’ some fish. I am attaching one of my favorite pictures of Mr. Dick Sharrer and his grandsons, Josh and Luke (from Pennsylvania). Luke (9 years old) caught this ‘winter’ Sheepshead on a fiddler crab. I am confident his late ‘great’ grandfather is proud. Nice going guys!

‘Spring is in the air’ and as the water temps continue to climb and stabilize, most all species will become more active and aggressive. In fact, I am hopeful of being able to do some successful Shark/Tarpon charters off of the islands of Sanibel and Captiva by the end of the month. Fishing should be good next week so long as the winds do not conflict.

This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing every fishing success. If you have any questions or need additional information please read my website at www.fishfacecharters.com. To book a charter, feel free to contact me at 239-357-6829 or email [email protected]

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Charlotte County Fishing Report with Frank

Holding a fish.  Should you hold it supporting the belly, putting the weight of the fish horizontal? Or, holding by the lower jaw and let it hang?   Well a lot of thoughts about that.  Horizontal holding, while it is a good idea, should be tempered with just a bit of real.  I have watched 1000′s of bass fisherman holding fish by the jaw.  It seems that when a fish is smaller and not huge around the belly while it is not great for them, it is not going to unhinge the jaw.  And when a fish is smaller using your hands on it’s belly you are removing the slime coating of the fish and making is susceptible to Bactria sores, and a slow death.

The other side of that is when the fish is heavier and the weight of the fish is much greater,  large Belly.  Then it’s a serious problem.  The weight of the fish will then unhinge the jaw and the fish will most likely starve to death, not good use your judgement when handling a fish.

Do not be taken in, like no stainless steel hooks.  Every study ever done has found no difference between stainless hooks and other types of materials, stainless does not rot or corrode so no poisons in the blood like when a bronze type or cadmium.   If stainless killed, every kid in the mall would be dead.

People swing and around at the end of ropes by their teeth, spin around on their heads dancing.  Would I like or want to do that?  No!  Tarpon fisherman break off lines while the fish is in the water, and the hook is in the Tarpons Jaw.  We are talking about 50 to 60 pound of jerking to break that line and no one is complaining about that.  Why?  Because no Eco not thought to tell you it was bad. We all do things which are not great, the truth usually lies between the far end of the topic.  Let’s use our best judgment. Let’s talk to each other not point fingers and say you are a bad person, or good person, because they did not get the latest memo about going to hell for the latest do gooder cause.

We pull the fish to us by its jaw with a hook.  Really there is no 100% good way to do this.  5% of all fish caught & released die!  So yes we are working to be better people.  Let’s start being better people by the way we talk to each other instead of the blame game.  Tell the next person your ideas about what they are doing and why it may be bad.  We are all guessing here and trying to keep what we love doing (fishing) alive and keep the fish from as much harm as possible.  So we need to stick together not pick each other apart.
Just a thought from the middle of this twisting turning highway of life.

Southwest Florida, be safe, have fun and be nice to each other.
Frank

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Charlotte County Fishing Report with Frank

What a great time to be here in S.W. Fla. The best bite time starts about 11:am and gets better into early afternoon.  Sleep in,  have a nice breakfast, stop at Fishin Franks Bait Shop a bit, hit the water catch fish, a The dream lives!

The cool thing now is that the fish will eat Shrimp, Bait fish, Lures, If you cast it they will bite  😀

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Charlotte County Fishing Report with Frank

SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION TODAY

SOUTH WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET. BAY AND INLAND WATERS A MODERATE CHOP TO CHOPPY. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS…MAINLY LATE IN THE AFTERNOON.

With these words of Ahh dang it! Take hope fellow fisher people. There is always the rivers and canals to explore. These are shinning examples of safe fishing. Lets start on the Peace River. On the northern shore of the Peace River, there is a deep channel which right now has whiting, Silver Trout, and Snook in it. Best way to fish is to drift, head into the wind and then cast out a shrimp on a hook with a #5 slit shot. It’s just enough weight to keep the shrimp in the water but not on the bottom.

It you’re on the canals look for a bridge, I would think they would not be hard to find. This method of fishing bridges has been working great – idle your boat under the bridge with your depth finder on. See how deep the water is, then go up current and anchor. Don’t block other boats from getting through. Now put a bobber stop on the line so your bait is about a foot off of the bottom. Cast towards the piling and let the tide take it.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Lee County Fishing Report with Captain Terry

Last week’s forecast was pretty much ‘on target’ with fish starting to be more active than previously. I expect more of the same this week, especially with the extended warm water temperatures. My clients and I had more than our share of larger Spanish Mackerels, a couple of Pompano together with a whole lot of Seatrout. I am attaching a picture of my friend (Mr. Du Wayne Traut with a nice Sea-‘trout’ recently taken in Matlacha Pass on the top half of an incoming tide using a live shrimp on the bottom.

DSCN0996

In addition to the mild cold front predicted later this week (together with the warmer water temperatures mentioned above), the ‘bite’ should pick up prior to this coming Thursday (Feb. 14) in time for Valentine’s Day! So I recommend if you have the time, plan on going fishing now!

Until next week, this is Captain Terry Fisher inviting you to call me at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected] to request a charter. Check out my fishing articles at my website; www.fishfacecharters.com.

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Charlotte County Fishing Report with Frank

Because of the water temps going up and down I would be ready for plan “B”. If the flats aren’t doing well, I would head to the mouths of the canals.  Have some different bait.  Shrimp, Fiddlers, White bait, whatever you can get.

There are no solid rules with the way the water is changing right now. One day or morning it is all shrimp.  Then bang, it’s changed and they are eating white bait.  Or maybe fish in the morning and shrimp later.  If the weather stays steady for a while then you can get handle on what’s going on bait wise.

But for now, be ready to switch.

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports