The last 10 days brought about a mix of good and not so good catches. Water levels were high enough, but due to the ‘on-slot’ of rain, muddy waters moved the fish from locations that I was expecting them to be. However, on the brighter side and with the exception of our normal afternoon showers, the waters should clear up a bit as summer temperatures return to the 90s. I am looking forward to some good fishing during the early morning hours and well into early afternoon in most areas, as water levels should remain high. Fish the tides when possible, as good water movement will enhance the bite.
Early morning fishing (inshore and offshore) should be good over the next 10 days or so. We have a ‘New-Moon’ phase bringing in high water levels for the inshore anglers together with strong water currents that should enhance opportunities for offshore anglers as well.
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.
(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!
(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!
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!
(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!
This week’s forecast promises some nice weather for all boaters, fishermen and fisher-ladies alike. With the new moon phase, the tides are ‘in-line’ for good fishing in the mornings, afternoons or evenings. So far, the cold fronts have not put the fish down and all species are very active. Over the last week or so, the catch has been good for Snook, Redfish, Seatrout and Spanish Mackerel on the flats and back areas of Pine Island Sound. They key to catching them of course is four-fold:
Right type of bait;
Right type of presentation;
Locate the fish;
Fish the tides (water movement in or out);
Time on the water will go a long way to accomplish this, but the best way, is to hire a fishing guide (yours truly) that will explain tide movements in detail, offer fishing locations and techniques for each species.
Pictured here is Chris Satterfield of Lee Summit, Missouri holding a nice Redfish he caught on a shrimp. His son Aidan is pictured with two nice Snook he caught free-lining a Pilchard.
Aidan is an avid fisherman and is the most committed junior angler I have ever had on-board. His enthusiasm and commitment to the sport of fishing remind me of past industry leaders such as, Bill Dance and Roland Martin. The knowledge, skill and expertise he displayed on and off the boat was second to none.
His fishing club, Bent Rod Sport Fishing (Instagram address: bentrodsportfishing) is followed by a number companies and outfitters. He enjoys making lures and tying flies for fresh water bass and trout. His love for both freshwater and saltwater fishing propels him to study species and techniques via You Tube and through publications offering insights that will make him even better. Congratulations Aidan on your recent 14th birthday (December 11). Looking forward to our next adventure together!
This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters, LLC wishing everyone safe boating and tight lines! Email me at [email protected] or call me direct at 239-357-6829 to Charter or for a ‘Captain for Hire’ on your vessel to educate, demonstrate to catch your ‘fish of a lifetime’!
