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After a summer riddled with the worst red tide I've ever seen, we are pleased to announce that our local red tide samples have been clear for the past two weeks. We're looking forward to the cooler weather that will hopefully make its way down fairly soon as well as the fall redfish spawn. Trout, Snook, Redfish and Triple Tail have all been biting well. The fish have been on the smaller side but we're catching a lot of fish. Here's a few of our trips from this past week with their catches. Book your Fort Myers fishing charter   The dates listed below, according to the Farmers Almanac are considered to be some of the best fishing days in 2018. I'm not sure how accurate this is but I'll have to experiment and see how well the fishing is here in Fort Myers on these particular days. I'll keep you updated!
BEST FISHING DAYS 2018
Inshore fishing in October in the Fort Myers and Sanibel Island area can most often be very productive. Nice sized bait fish have been plentiful before the sunrise but start to become more scarce once the sun comes out. This past week I've been catching smaller snook, slot sized reds and snapper. I've been focusing most of my attention on inshore grouper. During the day the Snook bite has been a little slow, so I've been taking my clients to a grouper that always seems to produce fish. The technique for fishing this way is a little more advanced, but even if my client misses it, at least he got to feel the rod bend and the line scream. I use lady fish for bait with 80 lb. braided line and 100 lb. leader with 6/0 circle hooks. We had a blast. It took about three break offs but we finally landed one. We then gently released the grouper right after a quick picture. Goliath grouper, formally called Jewfish, are protected from harvest in Florida waters. It is illegal to boat, gaff or harm a Goliath Grouper. All care during handling and releasing must be diligently done as quickly as possible.  One of the most extreme forms of fishing in the inshore waters of Fort Myers and Sanibel Island is shark fishing. This type of fishing can be challenging and unpredictable which is why it's become a popular charter for those thrill seekers out there. Prime time for shark fishing is June through September when the water is the warmest. Once the Sun starts to fade into the horizon, through the morning hours is the best time of day to catch this predator. We will throw out a chum bag and then rig our poles with any fresh, bloody bait. Sharks prefer fresh over anything that's been frozen. The best shark bait is a stingray if you have the patience to snag a few. Just debarb them when you snag them before you drop them into the live well. Rig it and cut into the side of one of the fins and then cast it out. You'll catch the large boys with this technique. If you prefer the easier method of using cut bait, we tend to use ladyfish, mullet or jacks with the hooks rigged through the gills. Tackle of Choice : -Canyon Reels and St Croix Rods, size 6'-7'ft. -Spool these reels with 60 to 80 lbs test braid or 40 to 80 lb mono. -First, always use cable, not single strand wire. Sharks will kink and pop single strand in a matter of seconds. If you can find coated cable it's even better because it dampens the electrical signal your wire will give off that the shark could pick up. -Get a fighting belt, even if it is not very expensive. -10 o/-18 o/ size hooks. fort myers beach fishing charters Fort Myers fishing guides  Now that we are out of our peak tourist season, I have the opportunity to sit down and let you know a little bit about how the fishing's been. This has seemed to be one of the worst springs we've had for lack of rain, abundance of wind and forest fires. The windy conditions and drought have contributed to a slower bite. I believe that is past us now. The forecast for the next couple of weeks shows great weather and calmer wind speeds. We've also been blessed with that much needed rain we've been needing for months. With that being said, I've still had some great trips and caught quality fish while enjoying the company of great clients. These fish were all caught using live white bait or live shrimp. I've been fishing with both to make sure I have what the fish are eating because every day's been different.
Fishing the past couple weeks in Fort Myers and Sanibel has been hit or miss. The wind and temperatures have played a large role in the bite. Depending on mother nature's cooperation, I've been trying to fish off of the beaches for Tripletail, Kingfish or Redfish. For this report I'll focus on Tripletail because that's where I've had my most success. The tripletail inhabits inshore, nearshore and offshore waters and often is found near floating weed lines, crab traps, channel markers and other structure. I sightfish while running a line of crab traps looking for floating fish near the buoy. Once I see a trap that has a Tripletail, I'll throw a small shrimp with the current drifting toward the fish. These fish will eat just about every time. Not only are these fish fun to catch and mess around with but they are also great on the dinner table. The tripletail’s meat is white, sweet and flaky. Consider pan sauté, broil or baking them. They're delicious. One of the few fish I like.  Southwest Florida offers an array of fishing opportunities from the novice to the seasoned angler. Sanibel Island and Fort Myers exhibits great fishing year round because of the fall and spring migrations of a few, warm water game fish; not to mention our year round residents.
I get asked fairly often, "can I fish for tarpon in December"? No, because Tarpon are a tropical fish species that prefer a warm and stable environment. They migrate south in the winter looking for warmer water. "Can we book a fishing charter in January for Shark"? We DO NOT target shark during the winter months. Shark are year round residents but are more abundant in the summer months when the water is warmer .So, I've decided to put together this article of sorts so as to have a better understanding of when, why and how we catch certain species of game fish. During the winter months of December through February, our focus is on Mangrove Snapper, Sheepshead, Redfish and Trout. Trout, being the main attraction during this time of year because they prefer cooler water temperatures; which leads to them more actively feeding. This is a great time for family fishing. The game fish are all usually slot sized and a lot of fun for the kids. -Mangrove Snapper and Sheepshead are caught using a 1/4 or 1/2 oz. split shot with a #1 or #2 long shank hook. Look to catch them near structure and deep holes around mangroves. -When fishing for Redfish, I use a popping cork with white bait or shrimp. Incoming, or outgoing tide on the flats - Or I free line the bait near the mangroves. -I catch Trout using white bait or shrimp with a popping cork on the flats or reeling in a small weight across the bottom of deeper cuts with a shrimp attached. During March and April, the water temperatures start to warm up which is always an exciting time for fishing in Fort Myers. These months are good to fish for Trout, Redfish and Mangrove snapper. Shark and Snook are starting to feed more actively, Tarpon are migrating into the area and the Cobia migration to the north begins. In the winter months it’s common for certain fish such as Snook to move away from surface feeding and shallow flats, towards fresher water like the river and connecting canals, which stays warmer. March tends to be when these fish move out and start feeding on the bait that is laid up on the beaches and flats to regain lost body fat and prepare to spawn. Cobia, are more common in the panhandle but we do get the migration run near shore, from north to south. Tripletail, also become a target if fishing off the beaches. These beauties are not rare but also not abundant anywhere. So keep your eyes open for these fish. They’re great table fare. Cobia can be caught using a few different techniques: -Bottom fishing with weights and live bait such as pinfish, blue runners and crabs. Cobia, are attracted to sound and movement, so using artificial baits is also a great choice. I prefer bright, noisy plugs which sink and/or dive. You can also troll for Cobia from your boat using a heavy rod and reel with about a 4oz. weight and live bait. -Cobia, are known for putting up a fight, which makes the hunt all the more exciting. They take a little more skill and patience to land, but the prize is the fight. -Tripletail, tend to hang around channel markers, buoys, crab traps and bridges, the common factor being structure. They are a slow moving fish, preferring to drift with the currents especially if their floating under debris or vegetation. -For bait, nothing beats a juicy live shrimp. Tripletail just can’t seem to resist them. A close second to the natural critter would be a D.O.A. root beer color shrimp fished under a cork. Tripletail will also take a variety of chunked baits such as fresh cut pieces of pilchards or mullet and a small whole squid will also be too hard to turn down. -My line of choice for both Cobia and Tripletail is 15-20 lb. mono and 18” – 24” long 30 lb. leader, using a 7ft medium action rod. During May through July, fishing is what I consider the best time of year to catch that trophy. We target Trout and Redfish with the spotlight being on Snook, Tarpon and Shark. May begins the Spawning season for Snook. They can be extremely temperamental during this time but the fishing can be phenomenal! The tarpon migrate north beginning in late spring just off the coast of Sanibel and Fort Myers beaches. Boca Grande Pass and surrounding areas offer Tarpon the leisure to nourish in preparation for spawning because of the large number of crabs, shrimp, and baitfish that drift in and out of the pass on the tides. Shark fishing is great all through summer. You can catch shark during the day or even better in the later afternoon through evening hours. -I fish for Snook near the beaches, in the passes and under docks. With the larger Snook I would use a live ladyfish with a heavier action rod, 30 pound power pro, 30-40 lb. leader and 6/0 circle hooks. I like fishing for Snook with small live ladyfish and large white bait. You can also fish the mangroves and flats using 20 lb. line, 30 lb. leader and 2-3/0 hooks. -Tarpon can be caught about 3 miles off the beaches when free lining threadfins using 6 to 8 size hooks, 40 pound braid and 60 to 80 pound leader (depending on the clarity of the water and location). In the passes you can drift both threadfins and/or crabs. In Boca Grande Pass, free line crabs if you see them rolling. In the afternoon, they head to the bottom to shade themselves from the sun. Try using a weight that will keep the crab down. - The best shark bait is a stingray if you have the patience to snag a few. Just debarb them when you snag them before you drop them into the live well. Rig it and cut into the side of one of the fins and then cast it out. You'll catch the large boys with this technique. If you prefer the easier method of using cut bait, we tend to use ladyfish, mullet or jacks with the hooks rigged through the gills. We drift a chum bag off the back of the boat. -I use Canyon Reels and St Croix Rods. Spool these reels with 60 to 80 lb. test braid or 40 to 80 lb. mono with 10 o/-18 o/ size hooks. Always use cable, not single strand wire. Sharks will kink and pop single strand in a matter of seconds. If you can find coated cable it's even better because it dampens the electrical signal your wire will give off that the shark could pick up. August and September, are the hottest months of the year here in Fort Myers. We fish for Snook, Trout, Redfish and Shark while keeping an eye on the water temperatures and afternoon thunderstorms. By this time of summer, the heat has really warmed up the water which can make the fish and your live bait a little lethargic. Try fishing in deeper water where the temp is cooler. Finding shade and deep water together, you’re generally going to be looking at a honey hole. Morning and evening hours, after the rain are the best time to fish during these months. During October and November, we target Trout, Sheapshead and Mangrove Snapper with the spotlight being on Redfish. The reason for this is because the fall is when Redfish begin to spawn in the mouth of inlets, such as the Caloosahatchee River. This is the best time of year to catch big reds. Also look for the fall migration of Cobia to the south starting late September and October. Look for Redfish on the flats of cuts or inlets. If you see a large school of mullet, you'll be on the Redfish. Use white bait or pin fish with a popping cork on 20 lb. line, 20 lb. leader and 2-3/0 hooks. Spring is in full effect here in Fort Myers and Sanibel and the fishing has really begun to heat up. We've been seeing the Tarpon migration since the middle of March but it hasn't been till the past couple weeks that they've been in large enough numbers to really target. The Snook have been more active but very picky. I've been in fishing holes where I've seen fish everywhere. I think that one of them has to eat but then they look at the bait and swim right by. It's really hard to leave a spot where you can see huge Snook that are too smart to be caught. "Just eat the bait already!" Before you know it we've spent hours trying to get one of them to eat but when they do it's worth it. The Snook below is a 40" fish we caught while working one of these pot holes. Our standard charter for Snook, Redfish and Trout are still your best bet for the most action. If you'd like a bigger bite Tarpon would be your bet, it's been a slower bite but it should only improve through the next couple weeks.  Well, I guess it was too good to be true. Apparently Florida is not skipping winter this year. Our fall through holiday season was so much warmer than usual that we were beginning to think that El Nino was our friend. Well, I guess he had other plans. Since January has begun, we've went from 85 degrees ; catching Tarpon and Kingfish to several cold fronts, tornadoes and catching Sheepshead, Snapper, Trout and Redfish. That's not all bad (TORNADOES ARE BAD) but it's been quite a change in just a few short weeks. The temperatures have been averaging 65 degrees. Our better days are around 75. The targeted species have been Redfish, Trout, a lot of Sheepshead and Snapper. When the wind is calm, I like to try to get out to one of the wrecks and fish for Kingfish and Grouper. The next couple weeks are looking better with the majority of the days in the 70's.
The last week of fishing here in Fort Myers has been great. Although it's November the seasonal temperatures have not arrived yet. That's been great for fishing even though I wouldn't mind a brief cool front. The temperatures have been in the high 80's with no cool down in sight. This summer time weather has allowed for come pretty good summer time fishing. Depending on the wind speed, I've been able to get out of the backbay a little bit to fish for Tripletail, Kingfish, Snapper and Cobia. On one trip last week, the wind was calm so we fished off of the beaches of Sanibel and ran the buoys for Tripletail. We caught so many that we began to get really picky about size. If they were small, we made our way to the next bouy knowing it was bound to be full of more Tripletail. The great thing about these fish is that they are great table fare and easy to catch; That's if they're there. We used 20 lb leader, #2 hooks and small pilchards. They prefer small bait. You can literally throw it on their heads and they will eat it. On Saturday I fished the local Fort Myers Chamber tournament that we enter every year. Last year we placed 3rd, this year we basically donated our money to the chamber and decided to go off the beaten path. We fished for nothing that was part of the tournament. Sometimes when you get out on the water and you realize the opportunities right for another species, you just go for it. We went for it and our intuition was right. We caught, Snapper, Kingfish, Cobia and Tripletail. Again that day the wind was at a minimum making it easy to go offshore about 2 miles. After fishing the buoys for Tripletail using the same method as above, we went to a number that I have and we hit the honey hole. We fished a ledge there using 40 lb braid, 80 lb wire leader and #8 hooks freelining Threadfins. We had a good time but needless to say, we missed the tournament deadline. I mean, how embarrassing would that be to show up with no Snook, Redfish or Trout to weigh in. Oh well, there's always next year....fort myers tarpon fishing charters
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