Captain Terry says “fishing has been good”
Fishing has been good whether one is ‘fishing the flats’, ‘working the canals’ or ‘fishing the back areas’ around creek mouths, oyster bars and mangroves.
Captain Terry Says “Last week proved to be exceptional fishing for a number of species”
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)
Last week proved to be exceptional fishing for a number of species including Seatrout, Snook and Redfish. Warm waters, good tides and lots of bait provided the opportunity to target virtually any species that swim our waters.
Tarpon are here in better numbers both from Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor, including Boca Grande Pass. My ‘Tarpon’ season will begin this week. Subject to the winds, I will focus off the beaches of the outer islands of Sanibel, Captiva and N. Captiva. My baits of choice will be crab, Pinfish, Mullet and Herring. However, I prefer to mix things up a bit, depending on the bite. I almost always suggest fishing for Snook and Redfish in the back-country to round out a day’s charter in the event the Tarpon are not cooperating. As of now, the reports are very early, morning bites.
Pictured here is Mr. Mike Herr of Kansas City, Missouri holding a nice Snook that he caught on a Herring in a canal, just off the mouth of the Caloosahatchee. Mike is no stranger to fishing for game fish when visiting SW Florida. Nice going Mike.
Dr. Rolando Rodriguez of Winter Haven, Florida displays a nice Snook and a Redfish that he caught during a charter with me just last week. Both species were caught while free-lining Pilchards into mangroves during a high tide. Rolando belongs to a fishing club in the Tampa area and displayed exceptional casting talents, which are second to none. Nice job Rolando! Looking forward to doing it again.
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Moreover, my good client and friend Martin Smith of Ft. Wayne, Indiana, was not to be ‘out-fished’, as evidenced here by his Redfish caught on a jig-head, loaded with a shrimp. It had been a long time since his last Redfish and he was looking forward to boating one. Martin and I will be fishing for Tarpon later this week!
Given some time, fishing should continue to be good after the cold front moves through the area and so long as the winds stay reasonable. Wind and water temperatures will dictate the bite. I am hoping for southerly, mild winds!
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone safe boating and good fishing! Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for charter information. Call me direct at 239-357-6829 or email [email protected]. I am available by the hour as a ‘Captain for Hire’ on your vessel as well. Look for more of my fishing tips in the Coastal Angler Magazine.
Captain Terry Fisher’s April 25th Fishing Report
Taking people fishing and boating has to rank as one of the better jobs in the world (if one can call that a job). I enjoy the company of both residents and vacationers alike, whether as ‘Captain for Hire’ on their vessel or taking them out on mine. Anglers of all ages seem to enjoy the experience, regardless of wind speed or temperature, so long as they catch fish.
Most of my fishing expeditions this year have been north of the power lines linking Cape Coral to Pine Island and Sanibel. Due to the excessive releases from Lake Okeechobee, the waters remain tainted and are not as productive as the more northern sector of Pine Island Sound and northerly Matlacha Pass toward Charlotte Harbor.
Some of my more recent enjoyable moments with charter clients have been during the later part of March and early April. Pictured are a few of those clients and junior anglers that I had the pleasure to spend time with:
Junior anglers Michael Houser (12) of Westlake, Ohio with a Spanish Mackerel together with his cousin Preston Stallard (11) of Strongsville, Ohio showing off his Pompano. These boys caught lots of fish and have a lot of promising days ahead for Salt-water angling. Nice job guys!
Another outing produce some big Seatrout. Mr. Bill Flister, President of the Quarry Fishing Club of Bonita Springs landed his beautiful Seatrout after a long day of ribbing by his counter-parts. ‘It is never over till it’s over’, was his closing remark. Bill was the subject of playful ridicule by his buddies for not catching larger fish during the early part of the charter.
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Jeff and Gretchen Simeone of Plantation Estates of Ft. Myers are each pictured with Seatrouts representing many fish caught on a charter with their grandchildren, Sam Simeone (13) and Will Simeone (9) of Alpharetta, Georgia. Sam is holding a Seatrout, while Will is pictured with me holding his Bonnet Head Shark! I have strong expectations for both of these junior anglers. Good job, Sam and Will!
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Full moon on the horizon and I am gearing up for Snook, Redfish, Trout and Tarpon. Tides are on the rise, bait- fish are here and ‘spring fever’ is in the air. This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters. Call me at 239-357-6829 for immediate response to charter request or email me at [email protected]. Check out the archives on Go Boating Florida as well as recent publications of Coastal Angler Magazines for more articles and fishing tips. My website is www.fishfacecharters.com.
Captain Terry says “Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle and Pompano are around and have produced nice catches.”
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)
Fishing is good in certain areas of Pine Island Sound northwest of the power lines of Cape Coral, Pine Island and Sanibel. The water in and around the mouth of the Caloosahatche River still has a ways to go to be acceptable due to the excessive water run-off from Lake Okeechobee. Because of this, most all of my charters fish the waters closer to Charlotte Harbor where the run-off has not had much effect.
The weather patterns have negatively impacted springtime fishing for game fish, such as Tarpon, Snook and Redfish. Seasonal migration and relocation patterns of these fish have been affected the lack of live Herring and Sardine baitfish. However, Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle and Pompano are around and have produced nice catches.
Pictured here is LRay Burns of Fostoria, Ohio holding a big Pompano. Nice job LRay! Other of his catches included Seatrout, Ladyfish and Spanish Mackerel. LRay’s family, including his mother Marlene Burns is pictured with him. We all had a wonderful time and our prayers go out for LRay’s recovery.
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I recently had the pleasure of fishing with a retired Sea Captain, Mr. Jim Boyd of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jim is pictured with one of many nice Seatrout he caught. The charter was for his grandson, Ryan Jushka (10) of Port Washington, Wisconsin. Ryan had a great day with lots of fish caught, including the pictures of him holding his first Pompano and a big Seatrout. Most of Ryan’s fishing experience is up north on fresh water, but wants more saltwater experiences. Good job young man. I am looking forward to next year’s charter!
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Fishing should be better for the Tarpon, Snook and Redfish throughout the coming days, as the Herring and Sardines are beginning to show up in better numbers. I have spotted more Tarpon of late and with the baitfish here, more will be coming.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters. 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 more reports and charter information. I am available as ‘Captain for Hire’ by the hour on your vessel for navigation, fishing locations and techniques, all designed for safe boating and ways to catch fish on every trip!
Check out my regional and local articles in Coastal Angler Magazine as well.
Fishin’ Frank’s April Fishing Update
Cobia, Sharks, and Tarpon have all moved into the Harbor, and the cool thing is that they are eating dead bait. Quite often you need to catch and use fresh live bait to get these fish to eat, but reports from 3 different boats, that were fishin the middle of the Harbor to down off Cape Haze, showed that they are eating frozen bait which worked as well as or better than the live bait.
Mullet, Ladyfish, and Threadfin are all doing good, but uncut whole Threadfins, either free line or better yet 5 feet under a float, is the best of the three. For the Tarpon and Cobia, both fish are hitting and the boats have been anchored up and they seem not to mind sharing the space. One other thing to mention, cutting the bait in half as I would think to do, is not good, as they want them whole.
Sharks are hitting better off the bottom using sinkers to keep the bait down, and any of the three types of bait cut into pieces is better than whole.
Fishin’ Frank Says “Sharks are on the menu and on the beaches!”
Sharks are on the menu and on the beaches! We’re seeing Blacktips, Bonnets, Bulls, Sandbars and more. The best bait to attract these are Mullet or Ladyfish. Stingray and everything else are also working. Don’t know if these really are the best bait right now, but more people are buying Mullet and Ladyfish than anything else so that is why I guess they are the better bet.
All you need to catch Sharks up to 3 foot long, is a regular spinning rod with 10 to 20 pound test line and a small steel leader. I use the A.F.W. bleeding leaders about a 4/0 size as these really seems to be great for catching them. Then you can flatten the barb of the hook for catch and release.
For your bait, put on a chunk of fish, 3 fingers by 3 fingers, on your hook. To do this, I mean lay your bait fish, say a whole ladyfish down, now place 3 fingers on the fish and that is how much you should put on the hook.
If two people are fishing, one should be under a float and the other with a sinker, then see which way the Sharks are wanting the bait, either near the top or on the bottom.
Then kick back and enjoy the fight.
“‘In-shore’ fishing in March has been good for a number of different species” Says Captain Terry
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor)
‘In-shore’ fishing in March has been good for a number of different species, but more specifically for Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish and occasionally a Pompano on the flats. Live shrimp have provided lots of bites and harvest when fished under a cork on a weighted jig head in about 3 to 6 foot of water, over grass beds. March was the transition month to spring, with rising and stabilizing water temperatures.
March proved to be the month for large Seatrout. Pictured here are Bill and Sally Catinella, of Traverse City, Michigan with some of their nice catches. Bill and I share the same birthday date(s) and our ventures have become a yearly ritual, celebrating the occasion, in search for a ‘fish of a lifetime’! I am looking forward to doing it again next year and I have already marked my calendar.
Look for Tarpon, Snook and Redfish to ‘join the party’ starting early April. The water temperatures are dictating the migration arrivals of offshore and inshore species; including big schools of Tarpon, Kingfish, Cobia, hungry Snook and Redfish to gorge on bait fish leading the migrations.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone safe boating and tight lines! Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for fishing charter and ‘Captain for Hire’ (by the hour) information. I provide navigation, fishing locations and techniques at your convenience and on your vessel. Contact me direct at 239-357-6829 for immediate assistance or email me at [email protected].
Captain Terry Says “The cooler weather has attributed to lots of Sheepshead and larger Seatrouts”
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Hello fishing and boating friends. Even though the month of February presented some high winds and cool climates, the fishing remained good north of Redfish Pass. Unfortunately, south of the pass has a lot of dark water, creating difficulty in locating and catching fish. I suggest fishing north of Redfish Pass and the surrounding waters of N. Captiva Pass together with other locations in Pine Island Sound. The water is much clearer and has continued to produce fish.
The cooler weather has attributed to lots of Sheepshead and larger Seatrouts. Pictured here is Karen Jacobs of Harvester, Missouri holding her huge Seatrout while on vacation with the family. GREAT JOB KAREN! Both her son’s, Austin (10) and Lee (12) are pictured with just one of their many catches during their day on the water with Captain Terry. It was a great boating and fishing day for the Jacobs family. Karen, Todd, Austin, Lee and Grandpa Greg, all of Harvester (St. Louis, Missouri), are pictured enjoying a much deserved ‘break from the action’, at Cabbage Key.
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The better news is that spring is bringing warmer weather and warmer water temperatures. This week offers the ‘back-side’ of a full moon. Remember to work the top half of the incoming and outgoing tides for best results.
This week Vicki and I will be at the Bonita Springs Boat Show and invite everyone to our booth. I will be doing seminars on Snook, Redfish and Seatrout and look forward to visiting with clients and potential newcomers to boating and fishing SW Florida waters.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters. Charter information, fishing tips and other articles may be found on my website at www.fishfacecharters.com. Contact me at 239-357-6829 or via email at [email protected]. I am also available for orientation to navigating the waters, providing fishing instructions and locations on your vessel by the hour. Until the next fishing report, I wish everyone safe boating and tight lines!
“Snook action can be very good; especially the small and medium sizes along the mangroves…” Says Captain Terry
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) The full moon is phasing out and the tides are positioned for several more days of good fishing during the daytime hours. Hopefully, the cold snaps will stay away for a while so that the fish adapt to sustained water temperatures.
Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel and Pompano have been hard to find due to the cold fronts. However, the Snook action can be very good; especially the small and medium sizes along the mangroves, in and around creek openings and passes such as Redfish and N. Captiva. Free-lining shrimp make a good presentation, as the cold fronts have made cast netting for the Pichards very tough.
The good news is Sheepshead are back in bigger sizes. I look forward to this time of the year, as do many of my charter clients, to have the opportunity to catch them on light tackle, using shrimp or fiddler crabs. Pictured here is one of my favorite clients, Disabled Military Veteran, Bobby Powell of Cape Coral, Florida, holding one of the first big Sheepshead of the year. He caught it along the mangroves using a piece of shrimp on a #1 bait hook (weighted just enough to hold his presentation down). Nice job Bob!
During the Christmas Holidays, I had the opportunity to take out one of my favorite junior anglers, Seth Loehr (10) of Indianapolis, Indiana. This has become and annual event for Seth and I. He proudly displays one of many Seatrout he caught on his charter with Captain Terry. Seth is very independent, a good angler and loves to fish! This year, Seth fished along side his cousin, Abigail Manoukain (7) of Nashville, Tennessee. This was her first fishing trip in Florida and she caught the nice Seatrout pictured here. Nice going Abigail!
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Remember to fish on rising or outgoing tides for best results. Tide information may be found on line at www.saltwatertides.com or in the 2016 Tides Publication, which I sponsor and that has my picture on the cover holding a big Snook. This publication may be found at several Lee County bait, tackle and marine stores or access it on-line at www.leecountyboater.com.
Information regarding ‘charters on my vessel ‘or me as your ‘Captain for Hire’ may be found on my website at www.fishfacecharters.com or by calling me direct at 239-357-6829. I am also reached via email at [email protected]. Regardless of which of the above ‘charter choices’ you select: I provide valuable navigational instruction, fishing tips, techniques and fishing locations for every client.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone safe boating and tighter lines!
Christmas Memories
This past holiday season I received a phone call from Mr. Chris Kelly of St. Augustine, Florida requesting a charter (on a short notice) for his 10 year old daughter Chloe for either December 23rd or 24th. Like most local ‘Charter Captains’, I was fully booked through the New Year and the only day I had off was Christmas Day. I tried to find Chloe a ‘ride’ but to no avail. Her father told me how much Chloe loved to fish and had requested a charter for part of her Christmas present. Unfortunately, due to Chris’s work on the east coast, their time here was limited. After much consideration, I decided to take her for a half day run to some grass beds for Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle and whatever else would bite.
The weather was absolutely beautiful and since Vicki and I had no family members at the house, I saw no harm in spending quality time with an upcoming junior angler (Vicki was not totally for it, as she wanted me to spend Christmas Day with her and 2nd Mate (Moby), our new Chocolate Labrador Retriever puppy).
Chloe’s father was given my name by a captain from Ft. Myers, who was booked up as well, but who did not want to run on Christmas Day. I never thought that I would do a Christmas Day run, but ‘never say never’! I was glad I did. Pictured here is Chloe with mom and dad and some of their catches. Chloe is also pictured with a big Blue Fish and Spanish Mackerel, only two of many fish she caught that afternoon. Santa was good to her and she proved to be the avid fisher-lady that her father had indicated. Nice going Chloe!
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Fishing over the holidays was great for every charter that I took out. The weather was warm and the fish were biting. More reports to come. Chris Kelly is the Dock Master at The Town of Marineland Marina, St. Augustine, Florida (www.marinelandmarina.com).
This is Captain Terry Fisher wishing everyone tighter lines! Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for charter information and more articles/fishing tips. I am also available as ‘Captain for Hire’ at 239-357-6829 or via email at [email protected].