“ Fish areas with good water movement…” Says Captain Terry
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Tarpon are still in the area; off of the beaches, in the ‘passes’, in San Carlos Bay, Pine Island Sound and especially Charlotte Harbor. Their whereabouts depend on whether the tides are incoming or outgoing. Baits of choice are small Blue Crab, ‘Pass’ Crabs, Mullet and other bait fishes. However, the bite becomes slow after they get a look at a lot of presentations from the numerous boats; as they are surrounded like ‘wagon trains’ surrounding a campfire. My suggestion is to get out early and get on them before that happens.
Back-country fishing is good as tides are strong and high, offering daily access to less pressured areas for those adventurous enough to seek out Redfish, Snook, Seatrout and the numerous other species that occupy these locations. I recommend fishing early morning and get in before the weather becomes too hot, bringing strong storms and lightning to the area.
Offshore bottom fishing continues to be good as well. Live baits such as Squirrel fish, Pin fish, Crabs and Shrimp will all do the job.
Pictured here is six (6) year old Andy Lam of Cheyenne, Wyoming holding the biggest fish of the day on his family charter, showing his grandfather, Lloyd Wilder (‘Pop’) how it is done. Way to go Andy! Not to be outdone, Andy’s mother Carey is shown with her first Jack Crevalle. We all had a great time that day and I am looking forward to taking Andy out again on his next visit, as he is a fantastic junior angler, ahead of his years.
Next week should be productive since we are just coming off of the new moon. Fish areas with good water movement on the top half of either the incoming or outgoing tides for best results.
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for charter rates and additional fishing tips. Feel free to call me at 239-357-6829 for immediate assistance or email me at fishfacecharters@yahoo.com. Until next week; tight lines and happy boating!
Another charter client, Mr. John Manteuffel of St. Paul, Minnesota is shown with a large Sheepshead caught on a Fiddler Crab ‘deep in the pilings’ in Pine Island Sound. John also hooked and successfully ‘angled’ a larger Sheepshead (around 18″) but was lost at the net ( I took responsibility for not getting the fish in the boat) and gave John credit for the catch.
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Prior to the cold front and the ‘Full Moon’, fishing for all of my clients was fantastic! Boat loads of Spanish Mackerel were all over areas of Bokelia and Foster Bay, just to mention two prime locations. Big hungry Seatrout were present in deep holes (4-6 ft) while small Seatrout, Crevalle Jacks were all around. We caught Redfish on incoming and outgoing tides at openings (deeper ‘cuts’) protecting grass flats. Mangrove Snappers and big Sheepshead were caught around pilings using small shrimps and Fiddler Crabs. My baits of choice for the Spanish Mackerel were small to medium size shrimps. Cut Pinfish, ‘jumbo’ shrimps and Ladyfish were more effective for the bigger Seatrout and Redfish. Artificial baits were effective as well for Spanish Mackerel, Seatrout, Snook, Crevalle Jacks and Redfish.
Also, pictured are friends and repeat clients from Marshalltown, Iowa. Roger Chase is shown with his catch of a nice size Spanish Mackerel. His wife Sally, is proudly displaying a big Seatrout she caught on the ‘flats’ north of Foster Bay. Their friends (also from Marshalltown), Dennis and Sondra Buffington are pictured with a couple of their catches. Dennis (‘Buff’); is holding a huge Spanish Mackerel while his wife, Sondra displays her first Bluefish. Over one hundred fish were caught that day. Needless to say; ‘we all had a blast!
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) My fishing article in the January Issue of the Lee County monthly publication; The Nautical Mile, was titled ‘Seatrout Fishing 101’. If you are having or was having trouble catching Seatrout, may I suggest that you go on line to that publication or my website and read the article. Since the cold fronts have passed the trout fishing has been fantastic utilizing those basic techniques and strategies discussed therein. Pictured here are some of the Seatrout that was caught by my charter clients within the last week. They were found in ‘pockets’ surrounded by ‘Turtle Grass’ at depths of 3′ to 5′ deep. Jayne Henderson and Bob Wunsch of Kewaskum, Wisconsin are proudly displaying their catches of of 22 and 23 inch Seatrout. Their friends, Todd Schmidt and his wife Jo Ann of West Bend, Wisconsin are holding their prize catches as well.
Snook, Redfish, Spanish Mackerel, Sheepshead and other species have also been very active. Ten year old Vince Young of La Crosse, WI. (on the left) had a special birthday treat when he landed this nice 22 inch Snook in the canals of Cape Coral. His cousin, Jack Brooks of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (pictured with him) was along to witness the catch.
(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Regardless of the full moon cycle, the cool fronts have definitely slowed down the fishing as well as the ‘bites’. I have worked the flats and back country ‘on and off’ all last week and have found most success working the mangroves, pilings and structures for Mangrove Snappers, Sheepshead and Snook. Spanish Mackerel, Pompano and Seatrout still roam the flats but have been difficult to find during the cold spells. ‘Off-shore’ fishing and reports have been far and few between, due to the sporadic high winds.
