SWFL Archives - Page 5 of 6 - Go Boating Florida

January 20, 2016

Christmas Memories

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].

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

January 6, 2016

Captain Terry says “good fishing after the current cold front moves through bringing the bigger Sheepshead”

(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!

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

November 30, 2015

“The last couple of weeks produced lots of good fishing.” Says Captain Terry

The last couple of weeks produced lots of good fishing. The numbers of Redfish caught per charter was scarce, but nice size fish were boated. Pictured here is one of the bigger Redfish landed during November. It measured 33” and was caught by Rich Obser of New York. His wife Teri joined the party and is holding one of her catches. Both Redfish were caught on live shrimp. Rich and Teri had to go home to work the Macy’s Day Thanksgiving Parade. Happy Thanksgiving to you both!

This week’s cold front did not suppress the bite too badly. The winds have been the biggest obstacle to overcome. Seatrout bite has been good on the grass flats using shrimp under a cork to suspend the bait. Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish and Jack Crevalle joined in on most every charter. Pictured with a nice Seatrout is Lili Bunch from Leawood, Kansas. She is also holding a nice Redfish she caught around the docks at North Captiva Pass. Lili is a fly-fisher lady as well. I was impressed with her ability at 12 years young and looking forward to taking her out again during the Christmas Holiday. Nice job Lili!

Snook bite was also good. I am pictured here with a big Snook caught while free-lining a Pilchard. They have been the most productive presentation for Snook. Lots of these bait fish around the bridges of Punta Rassa for cast netting. Chumming the flats will also produce live bait, including Pinfish.

Based on the current warm weather forecasts for the coming week, I am looking forward to a continuing bite.

This Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters, LLC hoping everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving. Charter information may be obtained by calling me direct at 239-357-6829 or by emailing [email protected]. Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for more reports, tips and articles.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

November 18, 2015

Captain Terry Fisher’s Boat Show Fishing Report

Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor – November 17, 2015

Prior to the cold front of last week, the fishing continued to be good for all inshore species. Offshore reports also were positive for Triple Tail, Grouper and other reef species.

Inshore catches for Redfish were exceptional until the last few days and before the north and northeast winds blew out the water from the shallows around oyster beds and the mangroves. Pictured here is a group of 5 holding their bounty of Redfish during an early morning charter. They are Mr. Ben Davis, of Cape Coral, Steve Smith and Chris Hall of Ft. Myers and Glenn and Colleen Gabrys of Crown Pointe, Indiana.

The flats produced lots of action and fun for the Paul Kelly family from Glenview, Illinois. His children Patrick (9), Peyton (8) and Brooke (5) are pictured here with their Seatrouts. Partrick and Peyton caught lots of fish that day and had lots of fun. They caught a variety of species and the family was pleasure to spend time with. I am looking forward to doing it again next year.

I expect fishing to be good over the weekend and into early next week with a full moon phase and so long as an aggressive cold front does not approach.

In closing, be sure and attend the Ft. Myers Boat Show. I am looking forward to giving seminars on the species that I catch on a regular basis. My seminars are designed to assist those who want to learn the basics of catching inshore species, such as Seatrout, Redfish, Snook, Sheepshead, Spanish Mackerel, Flounder, Pompano and Mangrove Snapper to name a few. My 1^st Mate Vicki and I have a booth inside the convention hall. Stop by and say hi!

This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters,LLC. Charter information may be obtained by calling direct at 239-357-6829 or by emailing us at [email protected]. Check out our website at www.fishfacecharters.com for more tips and charter information.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

November 11, 2015

Cape Coral Cruise Club Revisits Fisherman’s Village Marina

Despite a rocky, rolling, breeze driven, Charlotte Harbor, eleven hardy Cape Coral Cruise Club vessels and their crews maneuvered their way to Fisherman’s Village Marina in Punta Gorda for the October 21-23 cruise. Counting the boat crews and folks who traveled by land yacht, over 30 club members enjoyed all or some of planned activities over the 3 day event.

While some went fishing, others played card games, went biking on Marina provided bicycles, or visited the local art galleries. All enjoyed shopping at the local craft and tourist shops on Fisherman’s Village concourse. Warm weather and light breezes added to the pleasure of afternoon pool time where many members floated and shared stories of the day.

Steve and Nell Winner coordinated the cruise and attending members enjoyed daily hot breakfast casseroles prepared by Nell. As is customary with this group each afternoon ended with happy hour snacks and docktails in the Captain’s lounge. The staff at Fisherman’s Village Marina are quite accommodating in that the Marina makes the Captain’s lounge available at no added cost.

Wednesday was a pre-arranged pizza party in the Captain’s lounge with several pizzas delivered by a local restaurant. All enjoyed pizza along with their favorite beverages.

Thursday evening was the group dinner party at the “Captains Table” restaurant on the second floor at the north end of the concourse. All participants enjoyed a wonderful salad bar and meal overlooking Charlotte Harbor while watching the sun set on a beautiful clear evening.

The Friday morning departure saw all boaters safely exiting the harbor and traversing much calmer conditions on Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The Cape Coral Cruise Club has been making Fisherman’s Village Marina a fall cruise destination for years and it is a cruise that regularly takes all the slips that the marina makes available.

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.

By Steve and Nell Winner

Posted by Scott Q Cruising

November 2, 2015

Fishin’ Frank updates us on some bridge fishing & Turtle Bay action!

fflogo
Today’s update is on pier fishing or in this case bridge fishing. The Cobia and Tarpon are being hooked at the 41 bridges, with cut bait or lures that look like an eel green, white or brown lure colors.

For you boaters, Turtle Bay is loaded with Sea Trout. Use a 1/8 ounce yellow or bright green jig head, with a 3 inch Gulp new penny shrimp body, placed 30 inches below a poppin cork for the most fish. Heading into Turtle Bay, go past the manatee signs and then head up wind. You will want to drift this flat for the Trout. Then cast out a good ways and pop the cork and watch it disappear. IOW Fish On!

For more information on Turtle Bay, visit my page at: http://fishinfranks.com/turtle_bay.htm

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

October 29, 2015

Captain Terry says “Redfish will continue to inhabit the flats and backcountry so long as the warm weather holds.”

(October 29, 2015)

Last week the inshore fishing continued to be excellent for Redfish and Snook together with a number of other species, including but not limited to, Seatrout, Spanish Mackerel, Flounder and Mangrove Snappers. The most productive days were the ones prior to last weekend (October 24), before the cool front approached and the east winds started to blow.

Nonetheless, with the full moon approaching, most all of my charter clients were able to secure Redfish and Snook catches. Pictured here is Mr. Wayne Hasson of Naples holding a nice Snook he caught while ‘free-lining’ a small Pilchard on a circle hook. Not to be out-done, his son, Davis Hasson, landed a nice Redfish on a large shrimp suspended under a popping cork in heavy structure, close to ‘Bird’ Key in Pine Island Sound. Davis caught two nice size Black Tip Sharks to top off the morning. The cold front made fishing that morning tough, but we all enjoyed the time together on the water and look forward to our next adventure.

The full moon is upon and so long as warm weather prevails, fishing should continue be good for all species. Even though the harvesting of Snook will close on November 01, anglers may still target and enjoy the catch. Lots of small pilchards are in the area and are my preferred bait (free-lined on a circle hook) for Snook. I suggest using a cast net with a ¼” mess, otherwise the baits will ‘Christmas-tree’ and require lots of extra work to get them to release and still keep them alive.

Redfish will continue to inhabit the flats and backcountry so long as the warm weather holds. Other species such as Spanish Mackerel and Seatrouts are here in bigger sizes with all species available for harvesting. Be sure and get the FWC Regulations and Rules governing the size, methods allowed and any other requirements or restrictions.

In closing, Vicki and I will be at the Ft. Myers Boat Show (Downtown Convention Center) on November 19-22. I will be doing seminars as well. My seminars will explain the many techniques that I utilize to catch inshore species. Be sure and stop by and say hi!

This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters, LLC saying so long and tight lines! Obtain charter information at www.fishfacecharters.com or call me direct at 239-357-6829 with any questions or to schedule a charter on your vessel or mine.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

October 20, 2015

Fishin Frank says “Charlotte Harbor fishing is getting better by the day!”

Spanish Mackerel and Spotted Sea Trout are both starting to move into Charlotte Harbor in good numbers. The fishing is getting better by the day and these wonderful cool mornings are really helping. The rain has been slowing down and the rivers are flowing less and less, so this week and next we are going to see some great days for catching. Now if the wind would back off a little it would be perfect!

-Fishin Frank

10-19-15

One of our Fishin Frank customers wrote in on their weekend!

Hey Frank,

I was out on Friday and Saturday to see what was hitting. Reds are still the play down here in the mangroves and the smaller ones seem to be feeding on shrimp. Large Jacks are starting to move in and strike hard. We have also had some Snook but they’ve been on the small side. Lots of small Snappers have been working the canals and mangroves north of the Bridge.

Here are some pics of my 11 year old bending her rod in the saltwater for the first time. She had a blast! She says, “much bigger fish than the Bass” she had mastered in the local lakes, lol. Here are some pics of her catches:

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

October 19, 2015

“Now is the time to go fishing for Redfish and Snook!” Says Captain Terry

(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!

James-Binkley

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.

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

October 8, 2015

“October is the month!” says captain Terry

(Ft. Myers Beach to Charlotte Harbor) My 1st Mate (Vicki) and I recently returned from our ‘ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FISHING AND DIVING EXPEDITION’ in Greece and Italy. I am happy to be back in SW Florida to do some serious ‘Redfishing’ and Snook fishing. October is the month! As reported prior to traveling, I was on them before I left and I have been on them since my return of October 1. Prior to departing on September 1, I had the pleasure of taking out three gentlemen from The Quarry in Naples. They are all members of the Quarry Fishing Club and they all caught their share of big Redfish. Pictured here are Tom Bothe (center), Jim Rainey (right side) and Bill Flister each holding one of their many catches. Bill (pictured on the left) is also the President of The Quarry Fishing Club, of which I plan on doing a seminar at their clubhouse later this month.

The ‘NEW’ moon phase is upon us offering up some strong currents and hopefully lots more action over the next week or so. That being said however, with all of the rain, tide levels should remain higher than projected past the middle of the month, allowing access to locations that these game fish seek for food and extra protection. The balance of October will bring in a ‘FULL’ moon phase, keeping good fishing opportunities alive all month. Target both Snook and Redfish with artificial or live presentations on the incoming or outgoing tides around the mangroves.

Moreover, October is simply a great month to fish. Good tides, good wind directions and many species, such as Seatrouts, Flounders, Spanish Mackerels, Mangrove Snappers, Jack Crevalles and the ‘Resident’ Tarpon continuing to be very active. They will all hit shrimp on the flats and around the mangroves under a popping cork presentation.

This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters wishing everyone ‘tighter’ lines! Check out my website at www.fishfacecharters.com for more fishing tips on the ‘links’ as well as charter information. I am easily reached via email at [email protected] or call me direct at 239-357-6829 to book an ‘October Redfish or Snook Charter’!

10/07/2015

Posted by Scott Q Boating Pro Tips Fishing Reports

Tag: SWFL