Captain Terry says “ Live, dead, cut baits will be one’s best bet …”

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Fishing has remained good during the month of October for most species. I had the opportunity to take a Martin Smith of Cape Coral out with his grandson’s ( Isaac and Ethan) from Churubusco, Indiana to do some ‘serious’ fishing and ‘catching’.. We left around noon to target some Seatrout on the flats (as the tides were better later in the day for Redfish and Snook). I was elated and surprised to find out that both Isaac and his 7 year old brother, Ethan were very experienced and proved it over and over again throughout the afternoon by catching Seatrout, Snook and Redfish in good numbers. Pictured here is Ethan, being helped by his father to hold a 23″ Redfish that he fought and landed late in the day. He also hooked and landed his first Snook. Not to be outdone, Isaac caught his first Redfish as well. Great job guys!

Ean's-Redfish

Ean's-Snook

 

Isaac-Martin-Redfish

Snook, Permit, Seatrout, Redfish and Mangrove Snappers are very active and it should only get better as the full moon cycle approaches and the daytime higher tide levels provide opportunity to backcountry venues. Live, dead, cut baits will be one’s best bet and it appears that the weather patterns will be favorable as forecasted.

Finally, I am pictured with a couple of my favorite client friends, Jade Tilford and Elizabeth Goodin of Kevil, Kentucky who I have the pleasure of spending a day each year with to do shelling, site seeing, lunch and yes, a little fishing as well. See you next year ladies.

Jade-Tilford-and-friend

This is Captain Terry wishing everyone ‘tight lines’ and good boating. Charter information may be obtained by going to my website at www.fishfacecharters.com or email me at [email protected] or call me at 239-357-6829.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

“ Rains are swelling creeks and rivers so be sure and get into the backcountry locations two hours ahead of high tide…” Says Captain Terry

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) Last week I had the pleasure to meet new clients as well as take some repeat clients to catch Snook, Redfish, Seatrout and Mangrove Snappers. The tides were good allowing me to get into the backcountry on the incoming tides. Pictured here is Mr. Ben Shepard of Toledo, Ohio proudly displaying his 33″ Snook caught on a weighted jig head using a cut Pinfish on the bottom, close to some Mangroves. I could tell that Ben has done a lot of fishing as he ‘angled’ her like a pro. Ben was spending a week with his immediate family on Sanibel. Several of them joined Ben that day and agreed to take some time early in the charter to get him on the Snook (since it was his ‘birthday’), prior to everyone fishing the flats for Seatrout. Ben got his Snook of a lifetime! Nice going Benjamin.

Ben-and-Family-with-Snook

Previous clients and friends (Mr. Dan Blackman and family from Abingdon, MD.) joined me on a separate charter to do a repeat performance from last year; to catch some Redfish. Dan’s lovely wife Tracie, proudly displays her first Redfish, as son Tim and his lady friend Jordan Levush, caught theirs as well. Snook, Seatrout and Mangrove Snappers rounded out the day for all of them. Looking forward to doing it again next year. Dan is retired Army and now works for the Dept. of Defense. Thank you Dan for your service to this country! Always a pleasure to see you guys.

Tacie's-RedfishTim's-Redfish

Weather permitting and with the full moon phase just days away, fishing should be fantastic. Rains are swelling creeks and rivers so be sure and get into the backcountry locations two hours ahead of high tide or it will be too late to get the fish before they find refuge in the Mangroves. During low tides, look for Seatrout holding in deeper holes and fish a cork above the grasses. White baits are all around for those with nets. Otherwise, live shrimps, pinfish and artificial baits will produce. The bite offshore has been good for Snappers, Grouper and other species on grunts, Pinfish, shrimps and cut baits like squid.

Jordan's-Redfish

This is Captain Terry Fisher wishing everyone ‘tight lines’! Charter information may obtained by calling me @239-357-6829 or email [email protected]

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Lee County Fishing Report with Captain Terry

The warm weather and low winds provided a lot of opportunity to get out on the water to enjoy catching and releasing a number of different species both off-shore and back-bay areas. My 1st Mate Vicki and I had a couple of days of quality time off the eastern tip of Sanibel Island catching Spanish Mackerel on light spinning tackle with jigs and fly rods. I hooked up a big Ceros Mackerel only to have my hand burned with both line and reel when trying to slow down the ‘run’.  We ‘cruised’ the crab trap buoy lines with the sun to our backs and free-lined shrimp to Triple Tails and motored our bay boat to some close-by reef locations to catch a few Sheepshead, Snappers along with a variety of other species using Shrimp and Pinfish. If next week’s moderate wind forecasts are accurate, one may expect more of the same when ‘hunting’ the above species.

‘Back-bay’ charter trips are producing Spanish Mackerel on jigs with live shrimp as well as a couple of Pompano (the picture of my client Roy from Atlanta, Ga., planned on cooking this big Pompano for his wife ‘Jimmy’ for their 11th Anniversary dinner while vacationing on Sanibel Island). There are plenty of Mangrove Snappers and Flounder waiting to be fed and provide some ‘non-stop’ action. Unfortunately, I have had trouble finding schools of Seatrout over the last couple of days and I am somewhat puzzled as to why; especially with the warmer weather and water temperatures. Nonetheless, I am confident that the bite will pick up soon.

Until next week, this is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing you ‘happy times’ on the water. If you have any questions or want to book a charter, simply give me a call at 239-357-6829 or email me at [email protected]. Check out my website www.fishfacecharters.com to review recent catches as well as weekly and monthly published articles.

 

 

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Charlotte County Fishing Report with Frank

Well, lots of hoo-ha about Red tide here on the West coast, so I just want to cover a couple of points about that.  Please no Catch & release fishing in areas with Red Tide.  If you go into an area with light or trace amounts of Red tide, look for small bait size fish struggling at or near the surface,  This means that even though the larger fish like Snook, Red fish and Trout, are not dying from it, they are having a hard time breathing.   Red tide “Pollen” paralyzes the gills of fish.  So hooking and fighting a fish exhausts them to a point it is hard to recover, lots of dead loss.  The whole point behind C&R is for the fish to live.

On the other hand, it is OK to catch the fish for dinner.  But once you have enough for the table, leave. Red tide will not harm the meat, it is not a poison.

Fishing is fantastic from 15 miles out.  Tuna, Mahi, Snappers, Groupers, Bonita, Kings, Spanish, It is happening now. Trolling or bottom fishing,

Up in Charlotte Harbor we do not get Red tide.  So the fishing here is good, Spanish, Jacks, Red Snook, all doing good right now, Even good reports of Flounder, up here by the 41 bridges.

Last point Red tide is not fixed. It may be bad almost choking you, then all of a sudden it is gone.  Or everything is great, then it drifts in.  Watch for the dates on the Red tide reports.  Things can change fast.

Last of all do not let a fear of the great boogie man “Red tide” scare you from going out to enjoy yourself.  As I said it might be there or it might not.  If it is, just go a little ways one way or the other chances are it will be all good.

Have fun out there be safe, but not scared.

“Fishin” Frank.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Charlotte County Fishing Report with Frank

By “Fishin” Frank of Fishing Franks Fishing Store in Port Charlotte

This would be a great time to get out in the gulf, Blue green waters, lots of fish, Barracuda, Sharks, Snappers, most within viewing distance from your boat.  Just put out a chum bag, and give it a few minutes. Do not worry about being right on a reef, if there are too many boats just move over a 1/4 mile.  Too many boats in a spot and you do not get the schools & schools of fish and bait fish massing under the boat.  Just seeing this is too cool, let alone being able to catch some.  Be safe, watch the sky, don’t let a surprise storm get between you and land.  Have fun!

Posted by Scott Q Fishing Reports