As boat show season approaches, there’s no better time to gear up for all the exciting opportunities to explore the latest boats, gear, and innovations in the boating world. Whether you’re a seasoned boater or new to the lifestyle, attending a boat show can be both informative and enjoyable—if you know how to make the most of it. Read more “Kicking Off Boat Show Season with a Guide to the 52nd Annual Fort Myers Boat Show!”
Firstly, I want to thank all of our ‘Military Veterans’ and active personnel for their bravery, support and service for protecting the United States of America and our allies. It takes courage to join the any military branch that may require one to put their ‘life on the line’ at a moment’s notice and be transferred to domestic or foreign ports, leaving their families and friends behind, not knowing if they will return. Read more “VETERAN’S DAY AND FT. MYERS BOAT SHOW FISHING REPORT”
Our cruising program was full steam ahead in February and March with a combined six cruises! In February we had our Valentine’s Day Fleet-In at our home base, Pincher’s / The Marina at Edison Ford in Fort Myers and a cruise to Tween Waters. The Fleet-In coincided with our annual Valentine’s Dinner Dance where everyone enjoyed a great meal and dancing to live music. The Tween Waters cruise, always a favorite, featured a sand sculpting contest amongst teams of cruisers. There were four unique creations with the Mermaid (shown below) winning the prize.
March featured four back-to-back-to-back-to-back cruises to Pink Shell, Cape Harbour, South Seas, and Boca Grande. This concept allows our cruisers to attend one cruise, all four cruises, or any combination thereof and lets them optimize their time on the water.
Each cruise had unique activities to offer. At Pink Shell we had dinner at a waterfront restaurant, attended the Shrimp Fest, and had a potluck dinner complete with a large game of Left, Right, Center.
Cape Harbour was all about relaxing and enjoying the shops and restaurants. South Seas featured a Saint Patrick’s Day theme and everyone enjoyed the party, the pools, and great company. Finally, the Boca Grande cruise was timed for the annual Cart Parade, as well as dinner and shopping in town.
If cruising is one of your passions, come check us out at our home base, The Marina at Edison Ford/Pincher’s in Fort Myers. If you are interested in participating in a trial cruise or attending one of our monthly meetings to see what we’re about, please contact our Vice-Commodore, Harvey Steele, at (239) 671-8887 or [email protected].
The Cape Coral Cruise Club, founded in 1963, is unique among S.W. Florida boat clubs in that it owns a portion of a private island on the Caloosahatchee River east of the Franklin Lock near Alva. Over the years a covered pavilion has been built where members enjoy monthly elaborate picnics, bocce, horseshoes and other relaxing activities.
CCCC is a group of active cruisers. Monthly cruises are planned for September through June each season. If you have a boat with overnight accommodations, reside in the Cape Coral – Ft. Myers area, and would like to get out on your boat with fellow boating enthusiasts, take a look at the destinations of past CCCC organized cruises.
We regularly visit South Seas Resort and ‘Tween Waters Resort on Captiva Island; Pink Shell Resort and Snook Bight Marina on Ft. Myers Beach. Boca Grande Marina, Uncle Henry’s Marina, Burnt Store Marina, and Fisherman’s Village have all been on the Club’s list of favorite destinations.
Going further north on the GICW we’ve visit both Palm Island Marina and Gasparilla Marina, as well as attractive locations in Sarasota and Longboat Key. The spring 2015 trip had twelve boats cruise further north to Tarpon Springs.
Local short cruises include Tarpon Point and Cape Harbour in Cape Coral, as well as Legacy Harbor in downtown Ft. Myers. Naples is an annual fall tradition with a several day visit to the Naples Boat Club, or Pelican Isle Marina being favorite destinations.
Venturing further south the Club visited Marco Island in November 2015, and in the past has cruised to Everglades City. Marathon, in the Keys is a set destination for April, 2016.
Each year an extended cruise is planned. In 2014 that destination was to the South Georgia Isles. For 2016 the extended cruise in May will be to the Abacos in the Bahamas leaving from the Club owned island near Alva on the Caloosahatchee Waterway, with stops in Stuart, West Palm Beach, and/or Lake Worth, before making the crossing.
For those interested in extending their local boating distances, or who may be new to the area and are looking for an active boating group, the Cape Coral Cruise Club has had a booth at the Ft. Myers Boat Show in November at the Harborside Event Center & City Yacht Basin for several years.
The WORD IS OUT, this is an active cruise club, and it will assist folks new to S.W. Florida in how critical it is to start cruising with folks who know local waters. If you like to cruise in your own boat, and wish to do this with like-minded boaters, CCCC is the club for you!
The Club plans no December cruise as this is the when the Club has its only formal meeting, the Change of Watch, where current officers are applauded for their service and new officers are installed for the upcoming year.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. View a short picture video of recent Club activities and read additional Club information on its website, www.c-c-c-c.org Like us on Facebook.
(October 19, 2015) Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor – Fishing was good during the past week during the new moon phase, especially on the grass flats from Ft. Myers Beach all the way up to Charlotte Harbor. Areas holding Turtle Grass from 3 to 6 foot of water produced lots of action for those looking for Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle and Lady Fish. Incoming tides produced the best all around fishing times for the above mentioned species as well as Redfish and Snook in the back country areas. Offshore anglers reported lots of success when the winds allowed them to fish.
Pictured here are sisters, Lauren Binkley (14) and Jenna Binkley (13) of Ashland City, Tennessee, each holding one of many Seatrout caught under a cork on the flats, at Mile Marker 13 just off the Intracoastal Water Way. They also caught lots of Spanish Mackerel, Lady Fish and Jack Crevalle. These young ladies love the outdoors both for fishing and hunting. They will be back in Tennessee just in time for the opening day of ‘deer season’ on October 31st. Good hunting ladies!
Lots of Redfish are still in the area and large shrimps seem to be the bait of choice (at least for my charters). I am having such success using them, that I have not taken the time to try much else. Normally, cut Pinfish, Lady Fish hold the balance of my arsenal, but have not been as effective of late. The Redfish are everywhere, but with the dark, brackish, high water due to rain runoffs around Punta Rassa they have been much harder to locate. Nonetheless, James Binkley (Lauren and Jenna’s father) is pictured holding a nice Redfish he caught at the top of the tide beside a shallow, oyster flanked, mangrove island.
Areas at the ‘northern’ half of the Intracoastal Water Way (between the power lines and Charlotte Harbor) have been my most productive areas for Redfish. I work exclusively around the mangrove islands on incoming tides. Pictured here is long time client and friend, Mr. Leland Longstreth of Ft. Myers holding one of several Redfish he caught a couple of days ago on the back side of the new moon phase. Lee and I go after these ‘bruts’ and Snook at least four times a year it seems. His friend, Mr. Tom Richardson of Ft. Myers accompanies us on several of these adventures and is pictured with one of his Redfish. Nice job guys!
In closing, Snook season is still open and there are lots around. Redfish should stay plentiful at least through the month of October. Look for them to thin out however as mid November arrives. Now is the time to go fishing for Redfish and Snook!
This is Captain Terry Fisher and 1st Mate Vicki, wishing everyone ‘tighter lines’! We will be at our booth (FISH FACE CHARTERS) inside the convention center during the November `19-22′ Boat Show. I will be doing some fishing seminars as well. See you there. Contact me by phone at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected] with any questions. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com.
The destination for the second cruise of the Cape Coral Cruise Club in 2015 was the Pink Shell marina in Ft. Myers Beach. This destination has been a longtime favorite for the club. Club members Gary and Kathy Taake organized the trip and their efforts in planning resulted in a fine event for all.
Tuesday February 12th, 19 boats from Cape Coral Cruise Club arrived at Pink She’ll and
enjoyed the only warm but always windy day of the trip. Tuesday evening was happy hours
at the dock masters followed by pot luck in the Mariner Room. After a feast of turkey, ribs
and your choice of various side dishes, carried in by all participating, a game of LCR Wild
was played. Winners went home with a pocket full of quarters. The evening was ended with
Happy Birthday song to Ted Hutson. A rough night was spent by boaters with cold winds at
40 miles per hour.
Wednesday breakfast was served in the Mariner room followed by games, lunch on your own
and free time of your choice. Some boaters left in the afternoon so not to put up with the
rough night on the boats as wind increased and temperatures dropped. Dinner was at
Matanzas By The Bay with CCCC members enjoying a host of foods of their choice from the
menu.
Thursday breakfast was once again served in the Mariner room with the rest of the day on
your own. Once again the winds and cold prevailed. Afternoon was spent on your own.
Some preferred to dine on their rocking boats while others bundled up and took a trolly to
beach restaurants.
Friday was more of the same weather making leaving the marina a little more difficult then it
should have been but as always a great time was had by all. Old man winter will not ruin the
fun for CCCC.
The Cape Coral Cruise Club is open to new members who own a boat with overnight accommodations and reside in the Cape Coral / Ft. Myers area. For membership information please contact Phil Kryger at 239-541-0236. View a short picture video of recent Club activities and read additional Club information on its website, www.c-c-c-c.org Like us on Facebook.
Southwest Florida’s largest and most anticipated boat show returns for it’s 42nd annual exhibition of boats, equipment and seminars. The event will be held in the Harborside Event Center and the City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin Thursday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Nov. 16. The show will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
“Few other shows in the country are able to offer both indoor and in-water viewing of boats and accessories.” says show manager, John Good. “This promises to be our largest in-water display in many years!”
The Harborside Event Center will be filled to capacity with boats and marine accessories. A new accessory display area has also been added along Hendry Street facing the marina. This leads to the “Welcome to the Water” Boating Lifestyle area in the City Pier Building on the river.
Fishing, Diving, Paddlesports, Boat Maintenance Tips and other boating how-to information will be on display inside and outside. Local fishing expert Fishin’ Frank will host a series of seminars covering techniques to catch many popular Gulf Coast species. Frank’s guides will be on hand throughout the show to offer advice on making the most of your fishing time on the water. The popular “Fishing Simulator” returns giving show visitors the chance to catch everything from bass to billfish.
Saturday and Sunday, one of Florida’s top divers, Jim “Chiefy” Mathie will hold seminars on spear fishing and catching lobster. Mathie is the author of two books, “Catching the Spear-it” and “Catching the Bug” that offer detailed information on improving your diving skills.
Boats however are still the show’s main draw. Every type of boat from kayaks and inflatables to yachts and everything in between. There will be more than 40 companies displaying boats, representing more than 90 boat lines, plus over 40 brokerage boats in-water.
Food and beverages will be available inside the event as well as several new downtown restaurants. Admission is $10.00 per person, per day and free for children under 16 with a paid adult admission. Tickets can be purchased at the door. For more information about the show, click here.
The Fort Myers Boat Show is just around the corner! Mark your calendars for the event which takes place at the Lee County Civic Center from Thursday, March 7th until Sunday, March 10th. The show will be open from 10am – 6pm Thursday through Saturday and 10am – 5 pm on Sunday. Admission is $7 per person, with children under 12 free. Tickets can be purchased at the door. You will find a wide range of different makes and models of boats up to 35′. You will also loads of accessory displays with electronic equipment, motors, fishing equipment, boat lifts, and more. Plus you will find a wide variety of service companies, insurance, marine financing and educational information to help you get the most out of your time on the water. And, lots of nautical clothing and gift items as well. For more information on the Fort Myers Spring Boat Show, click here.
Oct. 11, 2012 (Fort Myers, Fla.) One of the River District’s most highly anticipated events is just on the horizon. The Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association presents the 40th Annual Fort Myers Boat Show at Harborside Event Center and City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin from Thursday, November 8th through Sunday, November 11th, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Widely considered the premier boat show on Florida’s west coast, the show will feature boats of just about every type imaginable, marine products and services for both enthusiasts and novices alike. Now in its 40th year, the show will include seminars on fishing, diving and boat safety. Local guides will be on hand to answer questions and present instruction about fishing in Southwest Florida. Diving enthusiasts from the Caloosa Dive Club will speak on equipment, schools, resources and hot dive spots. The show will also include a large kayaking section with daily seminars, products displays, and information about Lee County’s Great Calusa Blueway paddling trails. The U.S. Coast Guard will return this year with their interactive Boating safety trailer displaying a variety of safety equipment.
Students can get in on the action with the new boat building festival. Teams led by experienced instructors, Sharon and David Bickel of the Shipwright Shop, will try their hands at building a 12’ Bevin’s Skiff from scratch throughout the show. Student teams are sponsored by many local businesses.
“This year’s show promises to be one of our best to date. We’re very excited about the increased participation of boat and equipment manufacturers this year and how that is going to add to guest’s enjoyment of the event.” says John Good of Good Event Management, whose company manages the show.
Show attendees can tour a large assortment of boat types both in, and out of the water. Visitors can check out luxury yachts and off-shore fishing boats, plus dinghies and kayaks. Resorts and marinas will also be on hand to help guests plan waterfront trips, and vendors will display the latest in boating accessories, electronics, marine financing and insurance, motors and fishing gear from manufacturers all over the world.
SWFMIA hosts three annual boat shows, including the Fort Myers Boat Show held each November in beautiful downtown Fort Myers. It has grown to become one of the major shows in Florida with new and brokerage boats in-water and a huge showing of boats and accessories in the Harborside Event Center and outdoors along the Caloosahatchee River. Food and beverages will be available inside the event as well as in downtown restaurants. Admission is $9.00 per person, per day and free for children under 12. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
