Father’s Day weekend proved to be fantastic fishing. The moon was full and the tides were high providing good opportunity all week long. I had better results in areas north of the Sanibel power lines. The release of water from Lake O continues to muddy the water up around the mouth of the river and continues to have a negative impact on the fishing. Water north of the power lines is much cleaner and continues to produce Sea Trout, Redfish, Tarpon, Snook and other species. It seems that the further one goes north up the Inter-Coastal, the better the fishing is.
Opportunity for some good fishing should be in order for the weekend and the days following. The weather reports are favorable and tides will be high and with strong current even though we are approaching a mid-moon cycle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
‘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].
(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.
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!
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!
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].
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Fishing was fantastic for the whole month of December 2015. The warm weather allowed the ‘bait’ fish to remain on the shallow shoals, flats and around ‘piles’ of the bridges, making them easy targets for cast netting. All species were active; especially Snook on Pilchards while fishing the outgoing tide. Pictured here is Lili Bunch (one of my better junior anglers), from Leawood, Kansas, holding one of many Snook she caught just before the New Year. Her father John, caught his large Snook while ‘free-lining’ Pilchards under the docks in Cape Coral. I had the privilege of fishing with them both during the week of Thanksgiving, with similar success, around North Captiva and Pineland areas.
Not to be outdone, other of my young anglers had lots of action on live baits (under corks) in areas with turtle grass. Mile Marker 13 south of St. James City will usually provide action, so long as the winds cooperate. The fishery there is a big area. Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel, Pompano, small shark and Lady Fish should provide plenty of action for those looking for a fun time. Depths from 3 to 6 feet are best. Pictured here is the Mark Warren family of Glencoe, Illinois enjoying family time over the Christmas holidays. Caroline (10) is pictured beside dad with her Spanish Mackerel, while brother Jack proudly displays one of many Seatrout he caught throughout the day. Nice going guys!
I am looking forward to continued good fishing after the current cold front moves through bringing the bigger Sheepshead in from the gulf.
In closing, meet ‘Moby’, a Labrador Retriever (11 weeks young). He will join 1st Mate Vicki as Fish Face Charters 2nd Mate. He is excited about the challenges that lay ahead to being a good and productive companion.
Charter information may be obtained by calling me direct at 239-357-6829. I am also available as ‘Captain for Hire’ on your vessel by the hour to assist with navigational needs, fishing locations and techniques. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com. I may also be reached via email at [email protected]. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
