United StatesPine Island Sound
Details
Location:
Pine Island, FL
United States
United StatesCoordinates:
26.5959, -82.0418
Distance:
0.0 Acres
Description:
Pine Island (in Lee County) is the largest island (17 miles long and 2 miles wide) on the west coast of Florida, just 15-20 minutes from Cape Coral, 30 minutes from Ft. Myers and one hour from Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Pine Island's secluded, quaint and "country waterfront" atmosphere is a huge part of its charm. Fringed with mangroves rather than white sand beaches, Pine Island has escaped the concrete, blacktop and skyscrapers found in the more touristy, beachy communities. Current legislation prohibits high density, high-rise development in the foreseeable future . . . designed to preserve our unique, rural island heritage for generations to come.Pine Island's fishing heritage has supported generations of island families. Sport fishermen long ago, also discovered the abundance of finny creatures in Pine Island Sound, San Carlos Bay, Matlacha Pass, Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico.
The sport of tarpon fishing originated in Pine Island Sound in the late 1880s. Boca Grande Pass (just 20 minutes across Pine Island Sound from Bokeelia) is considered the "Tarpon Capital of the World." Other popular game fish are snook, redfish, seatrout, grouper, snapper, cobia, mackerel, barracuda, blacktip shark, sheepshead, seabass and many others.
Until you know Pine Island's estuaries and the feeding preferences and habits of our local fish population, you might want to consider doing a few charter trips with a fishing guide. Choose half-day or all-day, offshore, inshore, back-bay (even saltwater fly) fishing. Catching fish is guaranteed! If you like "Fish'nTrips", you'll love Pine Island! By the way, summertime "fishin' is easy" and there's more of it to enjoy, mainly because you don't have to deal with the occasional windy days of downtime that occur from January into March during winter season. So come on down for a less crowded and less costly vacation or fishing extravaganza.
Spot Access:
Boat Ramp, Parking (car/truck), Parking (boat/trailer), Picnic Area, Power Boats Allowed, Swimming Area, Shore fishing access, Beach, Fly Fishing, Wading, Floating, Bait shop on site
Map
New Fishing Report
Fishing Reports
Ft. Myers: Pine Island Sound
Ft. Myers: Pine Island Sound was coming back to life after the windy period and now all you have to do is dogged the rain, don’t worry you probably won’t melt. There were god reports of fat and sassy specks on the middle grounds of P. I. S. Crews hauled in some impressive fish to 5 plus lbs. There are snook along the backbay shoreline at Redfish Pass and Captiva pass. There are good reports of snook action on the Sanibel Pier and at the Sanibel Harbor Resort Dock. Tarpon Bay had...
Tarpon Fishing!
Fort Myers area fishing report 5/5/12
Monday- Maxx, Alex, and I drove to Pineland early, arriving at Tarpon Lodge a little after eight. After checking in we got the boat launched and headed out to the Gulf through Captiva Pass.
Pine Island Sound was UGLY. Grey skies and east winds at 20 to 25 with strong gusts had the water all churned up.
We pulled into protected water along the beach and rigged tackle. Just as I finished the first fly rod, a hundred pounder rolled about 30 fee...
Redfish, Trout and Snook in Southwest Florida
April holds some of the best trout fishing of the year in southwest Florida with fish over 20 inches plentiful and larger "gators" common. Look for the larger trout in the same areas where you would target snook and redfish.
With the warm temperatures and ample supply of small fish our area redfish appetite has turned to baitfish including shiners, herring, and small pinfish. April brings us some great spring tides, look for the reds under the mangroves and on the perimeter of...
SNOOKIN
Harold wanted to catch some trout
But Snookins what I'm all about
We got the trout and red fish out of the way
And ended up having a Snookin type of day
Many misses and dropped fish-part of the game
Yet nine Snook came to the boat all the same
Artificial lures only..keep the sport in sportfishing
aaluresonly.com...
Spring Action Begins in Southwest Florida
Capt. Bill Russell
March 20, 2012
Winter closed out with a whimper as we found near picture perfect weather leading up to the arrival of spring in southwest Florida. With blue skies and shirt sleeve temperature fishing continues to get better each day.
Spring sea trout fishing is in full swing with plenty of fish around the 20 inch mark and the best time of year to catch "gators" over 24 inches. Look for the largest fish in sand potholes, off the m...
2 months ago
(03/16/2012)
Fishing report for SW Florida
Fishing report for SW Florida
March 16th., 2012
Redfish: When found, your into a LOT of CATCHING! Most of them this time of year running a bit on the smaller size. A few going over the 30" range. I've been doing best on any tide that has good current. Shrimp, shiners & cut bait has been working for me. The schools can be from ten to fifty. Fishing reds on the flats can be a casters' dream.
On the lower tides, they become very visibl...
SNOOKIN
Just returned from way up North
Heard about wind but must go forth
We were Snookin but btrout got nin the way
A 32inch SNOOK was the biggest today
artificial lures only--keep the sport in sportfishing
http://www.allartificialluresonly.com...
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 2/25/12
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
The week began with Presidents Day, and I have no desire to work holidays, so my week began on Tuesday. It was to be a full week.
I met my long time friend and customer Martin Wenick at Castaways at 7 AM. The forecast was for warm and sunny with a breeze to 9 MPH. But, when I got to the marina it was already breezier than that. Martin and...
SNOOKIN
No flowery stories here-just the facts
We were casting & searching for SNOOK attacks
Harold Harris of Bonita Springs was on another trip
4 Redfish and 5 Snookj were brought to the ship
The big one will sometimes get away
But his 33 incher was the biggest of the day
artificials only-Keep the sport in sportfishing
AALURESONLY.COM Snook guaranteed or free charter...
Great Fishing And Weather
Fishing report for the week ending 2/26/2012
After a steady week, we ended with a front and warm south and west winds that made for the best fishing so far this spring. Above Greg Garfinkle with a nice redfish.As you can see from his smile Greg and his mom had a great day, he got his west coast slam and then some. Nice trout!Greg with one of several snook, water temperatures this week will get more of these guys active, everything we caught was on live shrimp. Greg didn”t st...
Pine Island Sound Flats Kayak Report
Juvenile tarpon are still concentrated in the backwaters and continues to be productive especially on the last of the outgoing tide. Fly, small jigs, and soft plastics have all been catching fish. Look around creek mouths and deeper holes for rolling fish.
With the persistent SW winds, fishing has been slow on the flats. Clients have been catching trout and flounder working the potholes with plastics and topwaters on the late afternoon tide which has been good the last few weeks....
SNOOKIN
Every trip seems to end with a "What iF"
Certainly didn't expect a wind so stiff
But SNOOKIN we did casting the shore
Ken Dubie of Captiva, couldn't ask for more
His first SNOOK wasd just over thirty
For the 34 incher he had to get down and dirty
AALURESONLY.COM
artificials only..keep thre sport in sportfishing...
SW FL is all stirred up Capt. John GiddyUp-Bunch
After 2 straight days of 25-30MPH wind, SW FL waters must clear and settle before the bite return. As promised, my report today was suppose to bring you warm and fuzzy feelings wherever you get them but such is not the case. It sucked today.
As soon as my boat entered Pine Island Sound my instincts told me to you CRAMPS/Diaharra/or Bee Sting. The water was that infamous color all Truthful Guides hate to see. Think about taking a glass of water and adding 3 Tablespoons of Tang (Not PoonT...
FEBRUARY IS HERE, LETS GET FISHING !
February has arrived and our weather conditions continue to be spectacular. I've been extremely busy and have had the opportunity to take a lot of really extroardinary people fishing over the last couple of weeks. With water temperatures holding steady in the mid to upper 60's, fishing is hands down "wayyyy" above average for February. We have been catching numerous redfish and trout on all my trips and a few clients had the opportunity to set new personal bests in the red...
SNOOKIN
Headed out to catch the incoming tide
This time we stayed on the eastern side
The SNOOK were in the mood and hitting jigs
We got some smalls but most were big
Wrestling big SNOOK ..got into some clinches
24 SNOOK came to the boat with 2 going 35 inches
using bait..don't know what you are missing
artificials only..keep the sport in sportfishing
AALURESONLY.COM
Phone: 239-283-4212
Alt. Phone: 631-495-2995
...
SNOOKIN
Went Snookin just before lunch
With Jim Wilhoite and Mike Munch
I promised them SNOOK but that's not all we got
19 SNOOK..3 Redfish and 17 Trout marked the spot
if you're using bait there's too much you're missing
Use Artificials and Keep the Sport in Fishing
Capt George
AALURESONLY.COM
...
SNOOKIN
Monday Feb 13th
water temps in 60s..no fancy stories..just the facts
Charter with Admiral Gammon...21 Snook..14 trout..one redfish
al artificial
aaluresonly.com...
3 months ago
(02/10/2012)
February 10, 2012
Spotted Sea Trout: You can almost catch one on every cast if you find that perfect sand hole, creek or grass flats. Winter time produces some large trout. Fun on light tackle or fly this fish is aggressive. I've been fishing them in 3' to 5' of water over grass flats or sand holes.
Redfish: When found, your into a LOT of CATCHING! Most of them this time of year running a bit on the smaller size. A few going over the 30" range. I've been doing best on any tide that h...
Spring Like Conditions Make For Great Fishing
Fishing report for the week ending 2/8/2012
Warm water and air temperatures are making for some great fishing as seen above, a nice redfish caught on live shrimp.This pompano tipped the scale just under 6 lbs. state record is 8.3 also caught on a live shrimp.Mike Grieb and his friend with a redfish/trout double, trout have been excellent with the majority of the fish being in the slot or bigger.If this warm weather continues we will see a increase in snook, mackerel and bluefish m...
Fishing report for the week ending 1/27/2012
Trout fishing has remained excellent, Ruth Schroeder above with one of many slot trout the she and her family caught on thursday. Live shrimp under a popping cork has worked best, but there were several times this week that a bait on the surface did not work best. Warm air and cool water can make the fish less active, when this happens try offering something on the bottom.Luke Schroeder also got in on the action, lots of big ladyfish and a scattered bluefish are making for great nonstop fis...
BarHopp'R Kayak Fishing With Capt. Butch Rickey
4 months ago
(02/01/2012)
A Cold Weather Casting Clinic Instead of Fishing!
I had one trip scheduled for this week, with Colleen Murphy and her girlfriend Crisan Herned, down from Annapolis, Maryland. With cold front passing on average about every five days I watched the weather closely as our date approached. A front passed, and brought some very cold weather for southwest Florida. The forecast for Thursday was for a low around 37! I called Colleen Thursday evening, and gave her the news. We had a very poor tide, cold, and a north wind, but the girls mainly wanted...
BarHopp'R Kayak Fishing With Capt. Butch Rickey
4 months ago
(01/31/2012)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 1/21/12
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
I got out on Friday with a two great guys, George Khoury and Paul Currie, who are both local. George is my age, 66, and Paul is 55. Both are in fantastic shape. We met at Castaways around 7 AM, and were on our way by 7:20 AM. We had what was shaping up to be a beautiful weather day, an extremely low tide, and it appeared that the red tide was now no longer with us.
We made our way out to the flats. I pad...
"Warm Winter, Hot Fishing!
Capt. Dave Hoke
www.hokefishingcharters.com
239-425-7452
January has brought us warmer than average temperatures and favorable winds. Pine Island Sound is covered with redfish and trout from shore to shore and anglers are taking advantage of it. Season started early for me this year as I have already worked a couple full weeks and the openings in my calendar are few and far between.
I had the chance to make a trip up to Hudson, Florida this past week to check out the progre...
SNOOK and more SNOOK
Tuesday...January 17th...
No flowery stories in my reports..just the facts
Took Admiral Gammon out with jigs and swimbaits in Northern Pine Island Sound.
We boated 31 SNOOK with 7 slot sized and 18 Trout( all keeper size to 24")
We had a blast!!
Capt George
AALURESONLY.COM
...
BarHopp'R Kayak Fishing With Capt. Butch Rickey
5 months ago
(01/03/2012)
Report For Week Ending 12/24/11
I had one trip this week with a couple of great guys who vacation at the same RV park in Labelle. Mike Parsons is from Elmira, New York, and Bernard “Grif” Griffin comes from Kalispell, Montana. We fished out of Castaways Marina on Sanibel in the waters around Buck Key. We had an extremely low tide of -0.8 ft. at 7:40, and once it started coming in, it came hard. We had to drag our kayaks about 50 yards across wet grass to get to our first fishing spots. I was looking for the ou...
Fort Myers to Boca Grande Christmas Fishing Report
Fort Myers to Boca Grande Christmas Fishing Report
Capt. Scott Hughes
December 26, 2011
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
Its been unseasonably warm for the past month. It hasn't really hurt the fishing except for the flounder have pushed off the flats and more toward the gulf. Redfish and speckled trout fishing is still very good with double digit catches of both species common on 4 or 6hr trips. I've had excellent fishing in all areas of Charlotte Harbor. The east w...
March wind in December but fishing is not so bad
The weather this December has been very windy but beautiful in southwest Florida.
The redfish and trout having showing up in decent numbers. The flounder has been quite surprising. Mackeral, Bonita, and bluefish have been showing up in large numbers right outside the passes. Yesterday afternoon's high tide provided good action on under size to lower end keeper size redfish. The waters have cleared. If the wind could ever stay calm we could expect to find great success near shore wit...
Holiday Fishing in Southwest Florida
With the exception of an occasional day or two of cool weather it has remained warm in southwest Florida with warm weather forecasted through the Christmas Holiday. Visitors from the north are loving the warm sunshine and some pretty good fishing.
Looks like it will be a good winter for sheepsheads fishing. Inshore around Pine Island they thrive in the winter cold, despite the above average temperatures we are finding a good number of nice ones for the dinner table in Pine Island Sound...
Warmer Than Normal December Makes For Great Top-water Action
Fishing report for the week ending 12/15/2011
Top-water plug action has been excellent, this fatty was just under 14 lbs. (it swallowed that skitterwalk) A warmer than normal December is making for some great fishing around Sanibel and San Carlos Bay despite the windy conditions.To go along with some good redfish catches have been some monster trout like the one above. With top-water plugs 4-5 lb. fish have been normal.Good numbers of 20-24 inch redfish are on the flats on low inc...
Dec. 2nd., 2011 Fishing report for SW Florida
Redfish: When found, your into a LOT of CATCHING! Fish them on the lower tides on the flats and in the creeks. A quite few going over the 30" range. I've been doing best on any tide that has good current. Shrimp, shiners & cut bait has been working for me. The schools can be from ten to fifty. Fishing reds on the flats can be a casters' dream.
On the lower tides, they become very visible with their tails sticking up in the air. Fishing for tailing reds is gr...
Warm Weather Keeps the Fish Biting in Southwest Florida
Its Thanksgiving week and we are still fishing in shorts and t shirts, you can't beat that!
Catch and release snook fishing continues to give us fun with the hard fighting linesides. They are always a pleasant surprise when our main target is redfish.
On some days locating redfish has been pretty easy and on others it's taken some moving around. Sand potholes on the low water and hard bottom along mangrove shorelines over the higher tide stages have given the best results....
Report for Pine Island Sound for the Week Ending 10/15/11
One trip to report on this week, and man, was it a wet one!
I awoke around 5:30 AM Tuesday morning and stumbled to my computer room still half asleep to check the radar. The weather had been questionable. The radar was lit up with rain and storms just offshore and coming up out of the southwest. As is often the case, most of it seemed to be falling apart as it made landfall. There appeared to be only incidental lightning. I went ahead with morning preparations for my first trip with Dav...
Redfish stay steady with bigger trout in the mix
Redfish have remained steady with bigger trout showing up more with some cooler weather. Pictured below with a redfish caught on a live shrimp under a popping cork.
Reds this size have been steadily gaining length and weight and are probably benifitting from the freeze that hurt the snook in 2010.
Pictured above is longtime friend Eric Milton with one of the reds. Below is Kody and friend James.
All of these...
7 months ago
(10/18/2011)
Oct. 18th., 2011
Redfish: Are spawning currently, with larger more mature fish showing up. Large schools, making them easier to find. When found, your into a LOT of CATCHING! Redfish is the fish to target this time of year. Fish them on the higher tides on the flats and under the bushes. A quite few going over the 30" range. I've been doing best on the higher tides that have good current. Shrimp, shiners & cut bait has been working for me. The schools can be from ten to fifty. Fishing reds on the flat...
Backbay Fishing Capt. Ron Kowalyk
Ft. Myers: Pine Island Sound is putting out some very nice mixed bag action with reds the top target and plenty of hungry trout second on the list. There are reports of schooling fish on the northern end of the Sound. They?re skittish so tread lightly around crews poling to the pods. Jerkbaits, spoons and topwater plugs are effective with a freelined pin, a stone killer offering. Trout are hot for flies, shiners and Scent plastic shrimp or bass assassins. Make the hatch to the water color, dar...
Oct 2011
Now is a great time to get out and enjoy a very good variety of fishing both in the backbays and nearshore waters of SW Florida.
The redfish action is starting to heat up as the colder weather approaches. This has a habit of schooling these fish together around the flats. Topwater plugs early in the a.m. will provide mindblowing strikes from these bottom feeders. As the sun heats the water, switch over to zoom flukes or gulp jerkshads for continued action. Dont forget about f...
September 26th 2011
The word for the last week has been Redfish.
The bite remained very steady with numerous slot size fish being boated. There were also a few very nice oversized fish caught as well. Shrimp under floats around the mangrove shorelines on high water seemed to work best. Also, shrimp on 1/8 oz jig heads proved effective in the same areas. If artificials are your thing, then Zara spooks and rapala skitterwalks will work fine. Use them early in the morning and switch to jerk shads eit...
September Fishing Report
The word for the last week has been Redfish. The bite remained very steady with numerous slot size fish being boated. There were also a few very nice oversized fish caught as well. Shrimp under floats around the mangrove shorelines on high water seemed to work best. Also, shrimp on 1/8 oz jig heads proved effective in the same areas. If artificials are your thing, then Zara spooks and rapala skitterwalks will work fine. Use them early in the morning and switch to jerk shads eithe...
August 31st 2011 Report
The snook are still hanging around the mangroves and docks inside the passes. Free lined pinfish worked better than the whitebait this past week. Use a 2/0 circle hook and snip off the tail of the pinfish right at the base. This will slow them down and release some blood into the water. You might also pick up a nice jack or two using this method. If redfish are your thing, stick to the mangroves on high tide. They have been hiding out of the sun under the bushes. Shrimp on a jig...
Ft. Myers
Action picked up with the more favorable weather conditions and the redfish bite kept pace. There were good reports from the northern of Pine Island Sound and on the western wall of PI. The Ding reported good numbers of mixed size mostly smallish reds, snook and trout. San Carlos Bay is starting to recover with better trout bites and reds around the Sanibel Causeway. The docks on the Sanibel side are holding some legal snapper, whiting and a few upper slot reds all eating shrimp and whitebait....
9 months ago
(08/23/2011)
Fishing report for SW Florida
Aug. 23rd., 2011
Redfish: Starting to see some signs of pre-spawn. Larger more mature fish showing up. They should start schooling up in large schools, making them easier to find. When found, your into a LOT of CATCHING! Warm water and summer tides makes redfish the fish to target this time of year. Fish them on the higher tides on the flats and under the bushes. A quite few going over the 30" range. I've been doing best on the higher tides that have good current. Shri...
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 07/30/11
After doing several private teaching seminars during July, I finally ran a trip during the last week. It was on Friday, and was with a long-time friend/customer Mike McMahon. We go back to 1999. Mike wasn't too sure he was up to try the kayak thing, but I felt sure that if he would, he'd really enjoy it. He decided after he and Jo were already here vacationing that he would give it a go.
Since he was on Captiva, we opted to fish from Castaways. The area if full of fish. We...
08/02/2011
Now is the time to get out early, avoid the afternoon heat, and get in on some good action. There is bait on the grass flats in the form of whitebait and pinfish. You might have to chum a bit to get them around, but it should only take a few throws to fill your livewell. The snook fishing around the floating docks and mangrove shorelines has been really good. Free lined whitebait or pinfish on 2/0 circle hooks will work best. Remember to fish the strongest part of the tides for them. They seem...
July 6, 2011
I was on vacation this week, but I did get out fishing with my friend Kevin Duffy, from Chicago. Kevin is a rabid fisherman. My favorite kind! He's also a great guy, and a very good angler. We fished Wednesday out of Castaways. We had a full moon tide, which is a good tide, but can be hard to fish. The forecast was for a high of 95 and breezes to 20. I prayed the breeze would stay with us. We departed Castaways shortly after 7 AM. It was a beautiful Florida morning. The tide was already half h...
REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 6/4/11
Just one trip this week. It was a fun one, but tons of floating turtlegrass made fishing hard. My first trip on Sunday was with Art Harriott, from Miami, who I first fished with in April of 2010. This would be our first time in the kayaks, but Art is an experienced paddler. We met at the Circle K at John Morris, transfer his stuff to his boat cooler, and were off. It was a promise of a beautiful day for fishing. At Castaways we had to wiggle around a big dually with a big boat with an I/O on i...
May 2011
Things are slowing down. Only one trip this week, but it was a fun one. I met my fishing partner, Chris Heaphy, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, at Castaways Marina at 6:30 Friday morning. Chris was already there putting his Malibu 14 in the water. I was early, but he was even earlier. I've known Chris since 2009, and fished with him in the Talon, but this was our first time kayak fishing together. Chris is new to kayak fishing, and eager to learn. We had a very early tide that would be high aro...
May 2011 Report For The Week Ending 5/7/11
The fish were in a funk, but it was a fun week of fishing. I started the week off with an old friend, Jim Dougall, and his buddies Hilde and Helmut, in Jim's Action Craft. I hadn't met Helmut before, but Jim and Hilde are a couple of funny guys, and fun to be with. Helmut was, too. I hadn't been out bait fishing since last September, when I made the transition to kayak fishing. I hoped I could find bait, and still throw a descent net. Jim had all the tools, net, chum, etc., in his boat. I just...
Report For The Week Ending 4/16/11
This was the one slow week I have during April, with only one trip. The next two weeks are busy.
The trip was on Friday with Bill Ozzie Oswald, of Chicago, Illinois. I met Ozzie at 6:30 AM at the Circle K at Summerlin and John Morris, as he and his family were staying in Cape Coral. We were in the water a little after 7. The forecast was good and it was a beautiful morning with the promise of being JAPDIP (Just Another Perfect Day In Paradise). We were two days away fro...
Report For The Week Ending 4/23/11
This week was supposed to have been five trips, but one was rescheduled for the following week.
I had three days this week with my friend Jim Turman, of Manchester, Iowa. Jim began the week, and it was quite a day. I met Jim at the Circle K at John Morris and Summerlin, and we drove out to Sanibel. We were in the water at around 9 AM. We began the day fishing some of the many potholes that dot the flats. We were fishing the first day after the full moon, and had a big diurnal tid...
Report For The Week Ending 4/30/11
I had three trips on the books this week, but rescheduled Friday because of the threat of bad weather, which did materialize.
Jim McDaniel, of Springfield, Virginia, called me a couple of months ago with a proposition. Jim is my life-long best friend, and we are like brothers. In fact, the Clan McDaniel welcomed me into the Clan with open arms long ago, and it's been wonderful to be a part of their family. But, the family has taken some heavy hits in the last two years with the l...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(04/25/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 04/16/11
This was the one slow week I have during April, with only one trip. The next two weeks are busy.
The trip was on Friday with Bill Ozzie Oswald, of Chicago, Illinois. I met Ozzie at 6:30 AM at the Circle K at Summerlin and John Morris, as he and his family were staying in Cape Coral. We were in the water a little after 7.
The forecast was good and it was a beautiful morning with the promise of being JAPDIP (Just Another Perfect Day In Paradise). We were two da...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(04/15/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 04/09/11
What was to be a four day week was reduced to two days of fishing by another cold front. I rescheduled two trips, which we can do with local folks.
I certainly would have rescheduled or canceled my Monday trip had the weather forecast been accurate. The forecast had been for calm in the morning and 10 to 15 southeast in the afternoon. I woke up feeling weak and wobbly. A very strange feeling. I didn't feel physically sick, just wea...
South West Florida Fishing Charters Capt. Terry Pitz
about 1 year ago
(04/15/2011)
April 14th., 2011
Finally, it looks as though Spring has arrived. With the warmer water it has brought us some gifts, like large schools of bait. When the bait arrives the big fish do too. I've been seeing some tarpon starting to show up in their usual locations. May and June are prime months for tarpon. IT'S TIME TO BOOK YOUR TARPON TRIP!!!
Also now that live bait is a part of my arsenal, I'm cathing larger redfish, snook and trout. The fishing will just continue to get better from here on out.
&#...
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 04/02/11
I had three trips scheduled again for this week, but weather forced me to reschedule one of them. Man, am I glad I did. It was a very nasty day!
Ben Miller, of Tacoma, Washington, was first up on Tuesday. Ben had the misfortune of drawing his fishing day right behind a cold front, and cold fronts always kill the bite for a day or two. Tuesday was no exception. We had a very early low tide, and the water was already moving for a while as we got our first destination. It didn...
Pine Island Sound video Report
Billy Thomas catching a redfish in the Native Ultimate 12 on 4/1/11
Capt. Butch Rickey/BarHopp'R Kayak Charters
Phone#: - 239-633-5851
Email: - capt@barhoppr.com
www.barhoppr.com
...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(03/31/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 03/26/11
I had three trips this week. Fishing got harder as the week progressed and the tides became poor, but the first part of the week was good.
First up on Sunday was Gordon Perkins, who has recently moved to Ft. Myers, and has his own Native Ultimate 14.5' kayak he brought down from Wisconsin. He used my Ultimate 12 though, as he wanted to try out the trolling motors and see how my boats were rigged. We met at the Circle K at John Morris and McGregor, and headed to Sanibel.
&...
Giddy Up Fishing Charters Captain John "GiddyUp" Bunch
about 1 year ago
(03/30/2011)
28 Mar 2011
In all my days, never have I seen so many consistent readings in the high 30.19+ Other things have been strange as well. About one 10 days ago water temps were 77. After 4 days of very low night temps, back to 65 it went. Full Moon. Almost like a perfect storm for LockJaw. Before you lose your mind and say "Hey GiddyUp, I thought you liked FULL MOON TIDES." I love FULL MOONS on the condition it is cloudy (if it is cloudy big fish cannot see little fish as easily)
...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(03/25/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 03/19/11
It was a busy week of renewing old friendships and beginning new ones, with six days scheduled on the water. One with David Twigg and his Dad. Two trips with Kelly Mack and friends, and three with my friend Brent George. Brent and I only got to do two days.
First up on Sunday were David Twigg and his dad, Clayton. I've known David since 2002, and we've fished together several times. I always remember him as the man with the million dollar smile. This was our fir...
Fishing Forecast
The April-July tarpon fishing season could come as expected. Tarpon should stay here in good numbers through out the summer. The snook fishing will remain as catch and release on the West Coast. The redfish are schooling up and will continue through the summer and in to the fall. Mangrove snapper will move on to the flats late summer, along with some decent grouper in the passes. Fishing in the Boca Grande and Fort Myers area should continue to be on par, with some spectacular early spring fis...
Spring Break Is In Full Swing
Fishing report for the week ending 3/13/2011
Spring break is here with great weather and fishing, after a strong front last week gave us several windy days and cool nights to drop the water temperature we have rebounded nicely. This time of year its easy to forget what day it is they all seen to run together.
Trout fishing is still very good with plenty of slot fish available and with the warming water temperatures we will see some of the big ones like last ye...
Florida's Fishing Legends and Pioneers
After nearly three years, Florida's Fishing Legends and Pioneers finally made it from my computer to the publisher to the printer and to the republic for which it stands. I hope you read further, and apologies if you receive this more than once.
A FEW TESTIMONIALS
Doug Kelly skillfully traces the history of sport fishing inFlorida in great detail with fascinating stories, tales and anecdotes focusing on legendary anglers and...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(03/16/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 03/12/11
I had one trip this week, and it's one I'll never forget. If I were giving these reports titles it would be How to Swamp An Ultimate and Still Have Fun.
The trip was with my friend Martin Wenick, of Washington, DC. The forecast was for S/SE breeze at 10 to 15, with a slight chance of showers late in the day. It was beautiful and breezy when we left the ramp at around ten o'clock. Before we'd gotten half way to our destination the wind had kicked from the southeast. On t...
Gulf Coast Limited Fishing Charters Captain Bill Russell
about 1 year ago
(03/10/2011)
Sure Feels Like Spring in Southwest Florida
Most days are giving up trout over sand/grass patch bottom in three to five foot depths in northern Pine Island Sound, Spanish mackerel and small sharks and too many big ladyfish, were also mixed in. Larger trout, with many over twenty inches, were caught off oyster bars and small potholes
On days with a strong wind from the southwest we had some good incoming tides in mid Pine Island Sound and found plenty of action on redfish, although most are still running below the eig...
South West Florida Fishing Charters Capt. Terry Pitz
about 1 year ago
(03/07/2011)
March 6th., 2011
Finally, it looks as though Spring has arrived. With the warmer water it has brought us some gifts, like large schools of bait. When the bait arrives the big fish do too. I seen my first tarpon of the spring the other day. Also now that white bait is a part of my arsenal, I'm cathing larger redfish, snook and trout. The fishing will just continue to get better from here on out. IT'S TIME TO BOOK YOUR TARPON TRIP!!!
Spotted Sea Trout: Trout are non stop. Wh...
Warm Weather And Great Fishing
When valentines day came and the weather turned from two or three fronts a week to 60?s at night and 80?s in the day I thought it was to good to be true. Here we are in the first week of March with no signs of going back to any cold weather. This week I switched from artificials and shrimp to live shinners that indicates the water has gone into the 70?s and will keep going up.
Trout fishing is off the charts and like last year with fewer snook around th...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(03/02/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT
I had three trips on the books for this week, but the first one had to be canceled because of a serious illness in my friend's family. They had to cancel their whole vacation. I'm sad, of course, but when Andy reads the fishing report he's going to be even sadder. It was a good week.
First up on Tuesday then, was Derek Pederson, down from Rogers, Minnesota. We were on the water at around 10 AM, to fish the whole...
Spring Fishing In February
Fishing report for the week ending 2/20 2011
Its February and the fishing and weather couldnt be better, after what was looking like a repeat of last winter we suddenly snapped out of it . Air and most importantly water temperatures are on the rise and the fish and fisherman are loving it.
With a few exceptions there are a noticeable larger amount of species available, Sharks, pompano and mackerel are all showi...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(02/23/2011)
Kayak Fishing Report For Pine Island Sound for the Week Ending 2/19/11
The week actually got rolling Saturday evening, when I drove out to St. James City to spend the evening with my friend Mike Burkee, his girlfriend Lindey, brother Jeff down from Sarasota, and friends Joe and Carla, and Mom, Betty, from Wisconsin, before fishing with Mike and Joe on Sunday.
Mike is the guy who bought my Talon, and I couldn't be more pleased that he owns her. He has a plethora of boats, but loves the Talon, and has made many changes to...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 1 year ago
(02/23/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 02/12/11
This was my first full week since making the switch back to kayaks. I did loose one day to weather, but it was great to be out there working and enjoying my customers and the water. Overall, we had a pretty good week in spite of the fronts that passed on Monday and Thursday.
First up on Tuesday, was Greg Eason, of Fairport, New York. Greg was staying on Ft. Myers Beach, and wanted to fish somewhere close. I elected to fish Estero Bay. Greg had kayake...
South West Florida Fishing Charters Capt. Terry Pitz
about 1 year ago
(02/21/2011)
Fishing report for SW Florida
Feb. 26th., 2011
Spotted Sea Trout: Trout are non stop. When found you can almost catch one on every cast. Winter time produces some large trout. Fun on light tackle or fly this fish is aggressive. I've been fishing them in 3' to 5' of water over grass flats or sand holes.
Redfish: Large schools of smaller Reds have also been a part of my trips. A few going into the mid 20" class. I've been doing best on the higher tides that have good current. Shrimp, shine...
A well welcomed Warmup for our Air And Water
Fishing report for the week ending 2/6/2011
A long awaited warmup of air and water temperatures this week gave us a needed break from the cold winter. Water in the upper 60?s and air in the 70?s can make a huge difference this time of year, a break from just trout, redfish and ladyfish. Jacks and mackerel showing up signals we may be headed to spring type conditions that increases the variety of species we catch.
Its nice to hear the drag scr...
Gulf Coast Limited Fishing Charters Captain Bill Russell
over 1 year ago
(02/09/2011)
Southwest Florida Fish Respond to Warm Weather
Sea trout continued as the main attraction for many anglers as the bite has become noticeably more aggressive with the warming water.
We found good consistent trout action near Bokeelia in the northern Sound. A surprisingly high percentage of our fish were of "keeper "size (over fifteen inches) with more than a few approaching twenty inches. Each day the bite would start a little slow, but consistent, and get better as the sun reached higher in the sky. We also fo...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(02/01/2011)
FLORIDA KAYAK FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 01/29/11
It's been a tough January for kayak fishing and business in general, but things are definitely looking up for February and March. I did run one trip this week with Tom Becker, a great guy and avid angler from Victoria, Minnesota. We had a ball.
Our last shot to get this trip run was Monday. It was right behind another big cold front, but conditions had tamed down quite a bit from Saturday. We met at the ramp at 9 AM, and got our two Ultimates launched after going over th...
South West Florida Fly and Light Tackle Fishing Capt. Terry Pitz
over 1 year ago
(01/24/2011)
Fishing report for SW Florida
Jan. 23rd., 2011
Redfish: Large schools of smaller Reds are everywhere. A few going into the 30" class. I've been doing best on the higher tides that have good current. Shrimp, shiners & cut bait has been working for me. The schools can be from ten to fifty. Fishing reds on the flats can be a casters' dream.
On the lower tides, they become very visible with their tails sticking up in the air. Fishing for tailing reds is great fun! The trick is being ther...
Gulf Coast Limited Fishing Charters Captain Bill Russell
over 1 year ago
(01/14/2011)
Southwest Florida Fishing as good as the Weather
On the good weather days, warm with light wind, we've been heading to Pine Island Sound. I wouldn't describe the bite as "on fire" but it's been pretty consistent with fairly easy trout limits, with fish up to twenty-one inches. Either a live shrimp and jig combo or a live shrimp under a popping cork were the best baits. We found sheepsheads around structure in the Sound where a small live shrimp fished on a split-shot took the bigger fish. The stronger the tide the better the bite....
Ultimate Charters Fishing Report
Cold gives way to more Florida type weather
January 2, 2011
My last post for 2010 ends with nice weather after a cold start to Christmas week. I was finally able to shed some of my heavy jackets starting wednesday and the rest of the week got better every day. Even though the air warmed quickly the water struggled to get out of the high fifties as of saturday brrrr.
This week as most of the prior ones has seen redfish be the bes...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(01/05/2011)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 01/01/11
I did manage to get one trip in during the holiday week. It was with Marvin Frimmer, a delightful guy, and we had a pretty good day in the very cold water.
Marvin and I had been scheduled to fish the week before just before Christmas. But, as the date approached, I wasn't thrilled with the wind and weather forecast, and we decided to try to catch a good day during the following week. We got lucky, and Thursday morning dawned with the temp in the 50s, and by the...
Gulf Coast Limited Professional Guide Service of Southwest Florida
over 1 year ago
(12/21/2010)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Southwest Florida Fishing Getting Back on Track
Fishing in southwest Florida changed dramatically over the past week or so as the mild days of fall fell way to our first real winter cold. On many of the days the weather was just too miserable (cold, wind, rain, fog) to attempt fishing, but we are gradually returning to a better weather pattern.
The drop in the water temperature gave a big boost for catching sheepsheads, big fish have moved insh...
REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11/27/10
It was a full week with only Thanksgiving Day off. It was a week of kayaks only, as I sold the Talon on Saturday, the 20th. It broke my heart to sell it, but it had to be done. So, from now on I'll be yakin about yaks, and I hope you will all come join the fun when you're next here.
Sunday night my old friend Russ Hubbard and his son David came in from Wellington, Florida, for two days of decompressing and fun in the kayaks. I couldn't believe it had...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(11/19/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11/13/10
I only ran one kayak trip for the week. It was with my friend Cliff Young, from Eagle River, Alaska. Until recently Cliff was a charter captain up there. I hadn't seen Cliff in a couple of years, and was looking forward to getting out with him in the kayaks. But, we were fishing behind that first big cold front of the season, and on a falling tide, and I figured it would be tough.
We met at 6:30, and by 7:00 we were ready to launch. As we paddled to the area we...
Hot Redfish and Sea Trout fishing
After a strong coldfront passed by on the weekend with temperatures in the high 40?s and strong north winds we rebounded nicely by midweek. As air a most importantly water temps rose we had a pleasent suprise of the number of redfish that showed up.
Trips later in the week fishing mostly oystebars on high water with live shinners either free linned or under a popping cork we caught redfish sometimes two at a time. Many of the reds were under the slot...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(11/08/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11/06/10
It was supposed to be a three trip week, with two trips in the Talon and one kayak trip. But, Mother Nature had other ideas. The first powerful cold front arrived this week, very early, blowing out Thursday and Friday. And, that front could be a harbinger of things to come. Another miserably cold winter?
The one trip I did get in was with my dear friends Ron and Pat Hunter, TW the Texas Wader! We've been fishing together for years, and have been friends for near...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(11/04/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/30/10
Only one trip this week, but it was a fun one with Blain Stobinski and his wife Julie. I fished with Blain around the same time of the year in 2008, and we had a great day. At the end of the day Blain told me it was the most fish he'd ever caught on a Florida charter. I hoped it would be another day that he could say something like that.
We met at 0700 hours, and headed out under the A span to the B span flats for bait. We already had a brisk southeast wind and...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(11/03/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/23/10
It was to be a full week of five trips, ushered in by my long time fishing buddy Terry Ryan on Monday, and capped off with another trip with Terry on Friday. In the middle were two trips on Tuesday and Thursday with another good fishing bud, Billy Herrington, and Wednesday was to be a Talon trip with George Chingery, whom I've fished with the last two years, and really enjoy a lot. But, I had urgent personal business pop up out of nowhere that had to be dealt with first thing Monday, and hoped...
Go Fish Charters, Inc. Capt. Andy Boyette
over 1 year ago
(10/08/2010)
Fall Tarpon Fishing And Schooling Redfish
After another very successful Tarpon Season I would like to thank everyone that fished with me this year. I work very hard to achieve a level of ability that stands out in my business and to be successful at achieving the goal of catching fish for my clients. For those who where unable to get on my book this year I would like to extend an invitation to consider my services in the future. As many of you know it is never to early to book for Tarpon Fishing. I would also like everyone to take not...
Estero Bay Capt. Ron K. 1-239-267-9312
Estero Bay had a fair to good bite dictated by wind and tidal conditions. My crews found numbers of rat reds and enough mid to upper slot fish to make a day. Snook are moving into their winterover haunts and are willing to eat whitebait and big shrimp. Trout action was tough in the wind. Other mixed bag action was at times strong around the docks and channels if you could safely hold your position. There are good numbers of black drum, sheepies and snapper around the structure and in the deepe...
Pine islan sound Capt. ron K. 1-239-267-9312
Ft. Myers:
There were fish in Pine Island Sound but you had to work around the wind and roiled up water. Good reports from the Ding and creeks on the west side of Pine island with a mix of reds, snook, sheepies, and snapper all hungry and active with the cool water conditions. There were good numbers of reds on the west shore of Matlacha Pass as well; you just had to wait out the tides. The best trout reports came out of the ding where fishing was manageable in the windy conditions. San...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(09/30/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 09/25/10
I was on the water two days this week, and it sure was good to be out there. I was with an old friend and fishing buddy, Dr. Ron Kolata, who I love to fish with. My good friend Terry Ryan over in Orlando wanted to have the honor of doing the first kayak trip with me, but things just didn't work out on either end. It's only fitting that a long-time friend like Ron or Terry get to do the first kayak trip.
Ron and I met at 6:45 Sunday morning at Punta Rassa....
Capt. Ron Kowalyk Pine Island and Estero Bay
My crews hooked up big time on upper slot reds on the middle grounds of Line Island Sound and in San Carlos Bay. There were snook mixed in with the reds and some fat snapper under the bushes too. Crews fishing Estero Bay had fair days with reds, snook and snapper. Windy mornings choked back the incoming tides making for challenging fishing in the shallow bay. Early morning high tides and strong outgoing tides offer some promising conditions in Estero and up north.
www.f...
Redfish Rodeo Capt Ron Kowalyk 1-239-267-9312
Ft. Myers: Good reports from Pine Island Sound from the mid to north end of the sound.
Reds were active on the western shore of Pine Island and in the Ding.
Estero Bay: Good action on the extreme north and south ends of the bay with double digit catches of slot reds and some juvie snook hooked up....
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 09/11/10
I managed one trip this week, and it was on Labor Day. I had forgotten to mark the holidays on my tide chart/calendar and didn't realize that my trip with David and Jennifer Arthur, and their son Ted, was going to fall on a holiday until just days before our trip.
The Arthurs are from Plantation, Florida, and I first fished with them in October of 2008. We had a great time catching lots of beautiful redfish and some snook, and I took Jen's talking about how good they were a...
A very wet late summer pattern
Fishing report for the week ending 8/29/2010
After three days of steady downpours to begin the week every afternoon has had stronger than normal rainfall amounts. This gives us a huge amount of runoff of fresh water making salinity levels very low all threw the bay system. Fishing around the passes and near the beaches has been good for trout and mackerel. Free lining live shinners and heavy chumming works best. There are still plenty of small sharks mostly blacktips also i...
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
over 1 year ago
(08/30/2010)
8/30/2010
A changing world which has brought us a poor economy and high unemployment resulting in less discretionary income for the last several years has now been further exacerbated by a mass exodus from southwest Florida in reaction to the mainstream media hype over the BP oil spill.
The changing economics are forcing a change in the way I do business. I firmly believe that the guide business in southwest Florida is undergoing changes that may be permanent. When the smoke clears the onl...
Sharks big and little
Fishing report for the week ending 8-22-2010
Snook have been primarily on the beaches and around the passes with the best times early and late, midday heat does nothing to get these fish active.
I have been targeting redfish on the high outgoing tides on mangrove shorelines and oysterbars, live shinners or cut ladyfish work best. The reds have been on the smaller 20-24 inch range and numbers are down.
Sea trout, mackerel, ladyfish and the occasional bl...
Reds, snook & trout, on a chew in PSI and San Carlos Bay
Good stuff guys with the strong early morning incoming tides. Reds, snook, trout were all on a chew on the southend of PSI and San Carlos Bay as well as the Ding.Plenty of whitebait and pins around and frozen shrimp anfd zupls all took a share of the bite. Fly guys got in on the party and came up with nice braces of trout. a few smaller snook and if you had the patience and good fortune you could snag a red or two. Good bites at the Caloosahatchee with trout, reds nad snook all eating baits ar...
Adrenaline Fishing CAPTAIN RICHIE PRICE CHARTER GUIDE FROM THE FOUR WINDS MARINA BOKKELIA,FL
almost 2 years ago
(08/04/2010)
BP OIL SPILL ( ITS NOT HERE BUT THE FISH ARE ).I YOU ARE FROM OUT OF STATE PLEASE COME FISH
LOTS OF PEOPLE CANCELLING TRIPS FROM OUT OF STATE.CUSTOMER CALLS ARE O-1 PER WEEK .
BUT THE FISHING IS AMAZING. GETTING A DECENT SNOOK BITE ,REDFISH AND BLACKDRUM
NICE SIZE SNAPPER.HOT WEATHER SO I PUT THE TOP UP AND USE SUNBLOCK BUT THE REDFISH
MAN IT SEEMS LIKE I HAVENT MISSED IN A WHILE. I HAVE CALLING MY OLD CUSTOMERS , AND DOING FRIEND TRIPS GETTING EVERYTHING CAUGHT UP AND TIGHTENED UP FOR THE BIG RUSH ....
Estero Bay Weekly
We found some fair early morning action at the bushes and pases with reds, snook, trout and others criters all working on the outgoing tide. There are snapper, black drum and sheepies on the docks and bridges at at well most of the morning. We spent a good deal of time on the close reefs withs snapperr and whiting eating cutbait and shrimp. The Goliaths and sharks are real tackle bullies, so be ready to lose a few panfish to the bad boys. There mobs of Spanish and a few kings and bonito mixed...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 07/03/10 Capt. Butch Rickey
Most of you received a survey from me on the evening of June 24th requesting that you let me know if you had changed your plans to vacation and/or fish here in southwest Florida since the BP disaster in the gulf. I have been shocked and saddened at the huge number of responses indicating plans were indeed changed to vacation/fish somewhere other than the west coast of Florida. I understand that folks want to protect their deposits, and want to come to a clean southwest Florida, but...
BarHopp'R Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
almost 2 years ago
(06/28/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 06/26/10
I ran one trip this week, on Tuesday. It was with the great father-son team of Roy and Zac Bibb, of Bonaire, Georgia, whom I first fished with about this time last year. Last year we spent a good bit of time running from bad weather and marooned at the Waterfront Restaurant, and managed to put together a pretty good day with some nice redfish and snook. Boy, it was sure different this year.
As always, I was very early at the ramp. As I did the pre-flight on the...
Ft. Myers Pine Island Sound Area
Ft. Myers: Pine Island Sound and Matlacha are holding bunches of reds, juvie snook and snapper. The mangrove islands are the place to be early morning. My crews hooked double digit catches of mid-slot spotails and that was typical for most crews. Shrimp were the favorite bait, with cutbait and whitebait close seconds. Good numbers of mixed size tarpon are creuising the deeper flats on the bayside of the Ding. The refuge is holding good numbers of reds and snook. Estero Bay gave up some nice re...
FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 06/12/10
Capt. Butch Rickey
I managed to get in two trips this week, and managed to catch a few fish, but the fishing in the south end of the Sound remains tough.
My old friend and fishing buddy Dr. John Hitt, of UCF, was first up on Thursday. With trolling motor batteries, and other items recently repaired, we thought we were all set for a day of snook and redfishing.
We left John's dock at 0600 hrs. and headed to Picnic Island. It was a beautiful mor...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 06/05/10
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
Well, I can't sugar coat it. The snook and red fishing, and for that matter trout fishing, just sucks in the southern half of the Sound. We were already at July water temperatures in May, and needless to say, so were the air temperatures. It's unseasonably hot. We're experiencing the slowest fishing in my sixty-five years. I've not run across anyone who's not baffled by what's going on. Thank God for mature, patien...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 05/29/10
Another week of three trips. The fishing was great, but the catching leaves a lot to be desired. Yes. We were fishing in front of the full moon this week, but even for full moon tides the fishing was tough! Frankly, I don't know what's going on.
First up on Tuesday was my old friend Dale Grantman, and his twenty-one year old grandson John, of Urbandale, Iowa. Dale and I have been fishing together since back around 2000. He's a wonderful guy now eighty-one years...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 05/15/10
I had three trips booked for the week, but delayed one because the fishing remains so off. Actually, the fishing is fine. It's the catching that's really in the tank. Still, we're having lots of fun out there, big catches or not.
Tuesday morning I met my old friend Dr. John Hitt, at 6:00 AM at his dock. We had a beautiful morning in the works, and a nice breeze that would keep us cool. I had the boat iced and ready to launch when John got there, as we were quick...
BarHopp'R Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 2 years ago
(05/03/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 04/17/10
After watching for several days the weather forecasters dance all over what was going to happen on Monday, the picture began to gain clarity by Saturday, and I contacted my old buddy Jim Turman to confirm moving our trip from Monday to Sunday. It was obvious it was going to blow Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, as well as storm on Monday. Sunday would bring south winds, and if I'm going to fish in a big wind, I want it to be south. At least then, most of the time the fish will eat wel...
BarHopp'R Guide Service Capt. Butch Rickey
about 2 years ago
(04/20/2010)
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 04/17/10
I had a full week this week, but it was reduced to two trips on Monday and Friday by three very windy days. I was able to reschedule those days for later this month and next month.
My friend of many years and fishing trips, Dr. John Hitt, was up on Monday, and I was looking forward to seeing him. His duties and schedule at UCF have gotten in the way of his fishing so far this year. We pulled away from his dock around 0645 hrs. and headed down the river towards t...
Take A Kid Fishing
The bait fish have finally shown up and become readily available, even though over the past days, I continued with artificial. Most trips we caught plenty of trout, redfish, mackerel, and lady fish. Starting my trips with mackerel and lady fish, and small trout in numbers and then following the tide back as it rose over the flats to catch some gator trout and redfish.
The last 4 days we seen wind from the east at 15-20 with gust over 30 mph. I have been on some nice redfish...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 04/10/10
Only one trip for the week, but it was great to be on the water when the fish finally began to bust loose. It was a great day.
My customers were Andrew (Sandy) Smith, his son Dr. Andy Smith, and Andy's eight year old son, Jack. Sandy and Andy fished with me around this time a couple of years ago, and had a great time. But, with the fish still in a funk after our record cold winter, I wasn't sure how this trip would go.
The morning definitely started o...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 04/03/10
A week that began as a full one was ultimately reduced to two days. The bite in the Sound continued very poor last week for anything other than ladyfish and small trout, and I did a lot of schedule juggling with those who had the latitude to do so in an effort to get them into better conditions, and hopefully a better bite.
Actually, the two day week was a fantastic one, as it was a week of renewing an old friendship with Roger Barrey, of the United Kingdom, who...
Fort Myers Fishing
The weather in Florida has been like a roller coaster with every kind of twist you could imagine. The fishing has been good on some days and not so good on others depends on which way the wind is coming from and anything with North in it is not good for me. Trout and redfish have been the main stays on my boat and on days that with light winds we put up good numbers on trout with some mixed in redfish. On the days prior to the never ending cold fronts with Southwest winds and higher tides I pu...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 03/27/10
It was a week of more of the same; cold fronts, wind and rain, and rough waters. I didn't get on the water until Thursday.
My trip was with Roger Pecha, his ten year old son Robert, and eighty year old father-in-law, of Clayton, Missouri. They were down to enjoy a week on North Captiva. North Captiva is a very long run, and adds a lot of time and expense to our day, so we all charge a little extra to pick up and deliver to the island. More often than not, getting there i...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 03/20/10
The seemingly constant cold fronts continue to bring, rain, cold, and cold water, and conspired to cut my week from four to two days of hard fishing.
The week began on Monday, with Richard Sergel, of Wellesley, Massachusetts. We were to fish Monday and Tuesday, and were fishing behind a cold front with water in the mid-50's. A lot of wind at some point in the day was a certainty. I knew it was going to be a tough day, I just didn't yet realize just how tough it...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 03/06/10 by Capt. Butch Rickey
Another cold front brought storms, wind, and rain early in the week, and windy days to 33 MPH for a couple of days afterward. I finally got out Friday.
My trip was the first with Jim and Cindy Skarzenski, of Erie, Pennsylvania. Jim's son Josh bought this trip for his for Christmas, and we'd already been forced to cancel once in February, and moved from a day earlier in this week because of horrible weather and a non-existent bite. We were fishing behind the fron...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 02/27/10
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 02/27/10
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
Only one trip to report on this week, but it was a good day with my friend Martin Wenick.
I was the first guide at the ramp Friday morning. There were two commercial fishermen also putting in. Shortly after I parked Steve Waugh showed up. It was 40 degrees when I left the house just a couple of miles from the ramp. The forecast was for light breeze of 4 to 8 MPH, and...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 02/20/10
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
Well, once again this week I only managed to run 2 of my 4 scheduled trips. A snowed in Atlanta kept my friend Andy Mount from getting here on time, and unexpected schedule changes kept my old fishing buddy Dr. John Hitt from keeping his date. John may have missed some great trout fishing, as it really busted loose on Wednesday, the day before we were to fish.
I'll...
Go Fish Charters, Inc. Capt Andy Boyette
over 2 years ago
(02/16/2010)
Winter Fishing, Tarpon Fishing Information, Spring Flats Fishing
by Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters
On my most recent trip redfish where not schooled up but where scattered throughout the pot holes and grass flats, mostly singles. We managed to catch a few, long distance casting to pot holes, rounded out the day trout fishing. The trout fishing was at times interrupted by the cloud cover that kept passing, but we managed to put numbers up well over a 100, to the boat; with a l...
Capt. Butch Rickey/BarHopp'R Guide Service
over 2 years ago
(02/10/2010)
It was another pretty full week cut short by bad weather. I had four trips on the books, but actually got to run two of them. Even though the fishing was tough, the trips were great fun.
After bad weather Monday and Tuesday, my friend Martin Wenick was up on Wednesday. Martin is a super guy my age, and is very easy going and laid back, and great to have in the boat. Martin wasn't too concerned about the state of the fishing (catching), and said he was fine with anything that would put a p...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 01/23/10
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
I was beginning to think I was about to have the first January without running a trip since I began guiding over two decades ago. I'd lost everything I had on the books due to the two week freeze and other things, but finally got on the water on Saturday with Tom Collins, an old friend I hadn't seen in about five years. Tom's brother Gary was down from the cold country, and they wanted a day on the water togethe...
Go Fish Charters, Inc. Capt Andy Boyette
over 2 years ago
(01/20/2010)
Florida Snook Hard Hit with Cold Weather Includes Video
by Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters
*UpDate*
I spent a full day on 1/14/2010
and found numerous schools of snook alive and well in marina basins, deep water canals, as well as cruising the shoreline in and around Boca Grande Pass as well as Captiva Pass. I also looked throughout Charlotte Harbor, including the mouth of both the Peace and Myakka Rivers and could find no other areas as hard hit.
With unprecedented cont...
Florida Snook Hard Hit with Cold Weather Includes Video
by Andy
With unprecedented continuous cold weather well below normal, and 2 nights of hard freeze, I have had to cancel all the trips I had scheduled over the past 10 days. Hope fully this weather event will clear out the middle of this week.
Today myself and friend Capt Scott Huges went on the water today. Our intent was to count any dead snook that we saw neither of us where prepared for what we saw. We targeted the north...
Killing The Skunk
I managed to get in two very cold trips out of three I had scheduled. By that time, the handwriting was on the wall.
First up on Tuesday was Tom Miller and his fifteen year old son, Ben, of Plainfield, Indiana. We'd just had another big front come through that really knocked the temperatures down. The worst of the blow was over, but I knew instinctively that there would be little or no bite. Tom had given this trip to Ben for Christmas. Ben had so much fun on our first tr...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/12/09
by &nbs...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/05/09
by &nbs...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11/28/09
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
I managed another two trips this week, and had good fishing, good catching, good folks, and good eats.
First up on Monday was my old friend George McRobbie and his wife Alison, I'd fished with the previous Monday. We had a tide similar to what we'd had the week before, except that it was much weaker and we'd had another front that had stalled just...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11/21/09
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
It was another two day work week this week, but they were great days with old friends.
First up on Monday was a great chap I fished with back in 1998, 1999, and 2000, as I recall. He is George McRobbie, of Melrose, Scotland. I hadn't seen George since 2000, and was thrilled that he was coming back to Florida, and we would fish. And, this time his wife Alison was coming along. George had set my main m...
FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 11/14/09
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
It was another windy week as Ida made her way up the Gulf to Mississippi, and I didn't get out until Friday.
My trip was the first with Chris Heaphy and his lovely wife Jan, and his son Kyle, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Chris and I had corresponded back and forth quite a bit on email, and I could tell from that he would be great to have in the boat. His love of fishing and desire to learn came through in his wri...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/31/09
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
I managed two trips this week. Missed one with my good friend Bruce Miller when he spent the night sick before we were to fish on Thursday.
Friday morning I met Larry Lessard, who is a neighbor, and has been doing my yard and lawn trimming for some time, now. He's a very nice guy, but I've never had the opportunity to spend any time with him, and I was looking forward to this trip.
We left...
Only one trip this week, so a short report as well.
My one trip was with my old friend Dr. Ron Kolata. Ron and I go back some twelve years, and always have a great time. And Ron, his wife Pat, and I have a lot of fun outside of fishing.
That big early season front that came through last weekend spoiled our initial plans of fishing on Monday. Then, as is always the case, it blew most of the week, even though the weather folks said it wouldn't to start with. I think all of us in the fishi...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/24/09
by &nbs...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/17/09
I got in two trips this week, and both were with old friends that I've known and fished w...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/10/09
by Capt. Butch Rickey
I managed to run two out of three scheduled trips this week. It was a week plagued with equipment problems that worked only because my old friend Terry Ryan, who was on Sanibel for the week and scheduled to fish with me Sunday and Monday, swapped his beast of a Chevy diesel truck for my car for a couple of days, allowing me to get my boat to the ramp, and Terry and his gang to get around on t...
Pine Island Sound, Estero Bay, 10,000 Islands, Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Naples Report
We found good numbers of snook and reds hungry for whitebait on the incoming tides in Estero Bay. They were mostly lower slot fish with the bruisers still off shore. There were however legal fish taken in the passes and major feeder creeks of Estero Bay. There were reports of schooling reds fish but all we found were scads and scads of mullet with the odd redfish busting them, still a bit early I think for Ester...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/03/09
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
I managed to get out one day this week, and it proved to be a great one.
I met Nick Georgiades at 0700 hrs. Friday morning. He'd driven down from Sarasota for his first shot at flats fishing from a boat, and his first time ever shiner fishing. We'd just had our first early season cold front push through, and the overnight temperature got down to about 67! It was brisk, after being in the low 80's most mornings...
Pine Island Sound Report
Trout fishing was great with about a 100 fish to 18 inches mostly keeper sized fish in the grass flats.
Had 3 galioths on the 30th on live pinfish lost a few also .Lots of spanish macs in Boca Pass too.
Friday had false albies in the pass got them on topwater lures and 20lb test wow!! What a fight. Many other kinds of fish biting too like mangrove snappers and jacks.
Reel-Ality Sportfishing Charters / 215-932-6411...
Estero Bay, PIne Island Sound, 10,000 Islands, Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Naples Report
My crews struggled with the tough tide set, the fish must have fed all night and it was a tad sluggish on the morning outgoing. We persevered and found reds and snook on the islands and features nearer to the passes. This condition seemed to hold true for Estero Bay and Pine Island Sound. Trout were slow to chew in Estero bay but if you were persistent you could round up a brace or two.
The same was true for u...
Reel-Ality sportfishing charters.Capt. Larry Conley
over 2 years ago
(09/29/2009)
Boca Grande Pine Island Sound Florida Report
Trout bite was good past few days with more keepers than a few weeks ago in Pine Island Sound.
Grouper bite was also getting better with the cooler water on pinfish. Some fish where very big and break offs happened on the rough edges of rock even with 80 lb test. Really wished we could have seen them fish.
Reel-Ality sportfishing charters.Capt. Larry Conley
Phone#: - 215-932-8411
Email: - CONL423680@aol.com
...
Ft. Myers: Estero Bay was fishy but you had to fish the moving water phases very early and weather permitting on the midafternoon incoming. Reds were scattered, snook were stacked up but generally shorties. Trout were under the birds and very hungry with some gators to 8 lb. taken on plugs and flies. There are big snook, baby poons and reds around the passes and bridge structures.
Up north a good general bite in Pine Island Sound and Matlacha just to mention the bigger waters. Reds were atte...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 9/19/09
by
I actually got to get out on the water two days this week! Both days were great. We had storms just offshore both mornings, and a nice easterly breeze for most of the day that kept us cool until mid-day when we were about done.
I fished Wednesday with my friend Capt. Marc Geldon, of Snook Blaster Charters in Cape Coral. He emailed me a few days before and told me he'd been off the water with a knee surgery, and was healed with no b...
Ft. Myers:
Pine Island Sound was generous to my crews with numbers of reds from San Carlos Bay to Galt Island and points north.
There were legal snook in the passes and on the piers and docks off Sanibel.
Trout were thick on the flats with the best action around Regla and Chino.
Estero Bay held up its end with fair trout action, numbers of mixed size reds on the outgoing tides and snook around the passes and docks. There were reds and snook in the feeder creeks and they ate pins, white...
Pine Island Sound Estero Bay Report
Ft. Myers:
We found plenty of happy hookers out on the water over the holiday weekend but there were still plenty of quiet spots to pop a red, snook and numbers of trout.
Pine Island gave-up nice braces of trout on the deeper flats; you just had to follow the birds.
Matlacha was home to numbers of mixed size reds, big trout and a few legal snook. The Caloosahatchee and Mantanaz pass held the biggest inshore liners.
Estero Bay was a little tougher n...
Ft. Myers:
Folks the bites picked up with the strong early morning outgoing tide and the equally strong midday incoming tides. Moving water guys that moving water!
Slot reds are the order of the day throughout the area.
Snook are active in the passes on the beaches and around the feeder creeks.
Plenty of tasty trout to be had flipping scented plastics, flies or plugs.
The best inshore snapper fishing is on a roll with sassy, fat dogtooth critters eating shrimp, cutbait and shiners. F...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 8/15/09
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
I did get out one day this week. Morning storms were again a factor, and messed with my plans. But, I had a couple of great guys, and we had a good time in spite of the weather.
I stumbled to the office still half asleep Thursday morning at 4:00 AM, and fired up the computer. Soon I had a couple of weather sites loaded and I was looking at clear radar. Good. I got ready for the trip, and as I pulled into the ramp...
Pine Island, Estero Bay, 10,000 Islands Ft. Myers, Sanibel, Naples Report
We found redfish, snook and sea trout and baby tarpon throughout much of the area. Slot reds ate well in Pine Island Sound from the Sanibel Causeway drifts to Regla Island.
Plenty of fiesty trout in San Carlos Bay. Cobia are cruising on the flats of San Carlos Bay. Pinfish and whitebait were the top picks for snook and bigger reds.
Off the beaches we found some nice szie permit, cobia and snook on the close reefs....
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 7/25/09
by Capt. Butch Rickey
Tight Lips and Tough Trips!
I actually managed to get in three trips this week, which honestly is about all of the July heat my old body can handle. Fishing in the Sound is tough. Tight lips are definitely making for tough trips.
Monday was pretty much a complete rain-out for fishing guides, but the rain was badly needed here along the coast where we've had a hard time getting any rainfall for the last mont...
Ft.Myers, Naples Estero Bay, Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor, 10,000 Islands Report
We braved the heat and had good first light morning bites on the incoming tides . We were rewarded with some nice catches of snook, reds and trout throughout our area. We've found some baby tarpon haunts on our two man skiff and had multiple hooks with fly and plugs, fun stuff on light tackle.
Off the beaches on the nearshore reefs we came up with some nice permit to 25lb. We had some fun dipping...
Pine Island Sound- Capt. Butch Rickey/BarHopp'R Report
I did get on the water once this week, but I'd hardly call it work. I went up to Charlotte Harbor with my long-time friend Bubba Baker, and his tournament partner, Scott. They were getting ready for a redfish tournament this weekend, and I was going to show them around in an area that I used to fish some twenty years ago. I hadn't been there in all those years, and I was shocked at how much hurricane Charle...
Oh! Thank Heaven for Eleven and Seven!
I wound up with one trip to run this week. It was a hard one, but one of the most rewarding in a while. My customers were Larry Fleming, and his eighty year old father-in-law, Ed, of Jacksonville, Florida. It was my first trip with them. Our conditions were tough. We were on the full moon, and there is tons of small bait in the water everywhere you look. Net pluggers. I was shocked to see the water within 8 inches or so from the top of the dock that mo...
Pine Island Sound, Estero Bay, Charlotte Harbor, the 10,00 Islands Report
Good snook action throughtout the area with liners to 40 inches ocasionally in the backbays, lots of slot fish though.
Reds have been a tad slower with the warm water but we still managed to find numbers of short fish and get that nice upper slot fish for everyone we took out. There are overslot fish in the passes and on the nearshore reefs weather permitting.
Trout action is consistant, lower slot cookie cutters a...
Capt. Ron Kowalyk @ Backbay Fishing
almost 3 years ago
(07/01/2009)
Pine Isalnd Sound, Charlotte Harbor, Estero Bay, Sanibel, Ft. Myers, Naples Report:
Good action on the reds and especially on the snook throughout our area. Bigger fish are the rule with overslot reds available for a real light tackle tug-of-war. Fish fries are not impossible when the reds and trout cooperate.
Fly guys did well on snook, trout and tarpon, There are poons in all the local ponds, mixed sized critter tha'll take a fly, plug or bait.
Off the beaches there's a good mixed bagge...
Seems it's been nearly impossible to get a descent week in since Easter passed. This week was no exception. I ran one of the three trips I had on the books. Catching also continues to be a challenge. A broken commitment on Monday, and big winds on Tuesday, kept me away from the water until Wednesday.
It was my first trip with Rob Bibb and his son, Zach?, of Warner Robbins, Georgia, and I hoped I could put together a good one for them. After a rough weather day on Tuesday, the weather was sti...
Tue, Jun 23, 2009 - Capt. Ron Kowalyk Backbay FishingEstero Bay, Pine Island, Charlotte Harbor, Ten Thousand Islands, Ft. Myers, NaplesGood early morning and late afternoon bites with redfish, snook and trout all on a chew. Fly guys did well and had shots at snook and Spanish mackerel off the beaches. There were some fair SIGHTFISHING OPPORTUNITIES on the shallow, clear waters of the flats from Estero Bay to Pine Island Sound. There are some mixed size tarpon that'll take a fly in the creeks,...
Sun, Jun 21, 2009 - Capt. Butch Rickey/BarHopp'RAs I mentioned in last week's report, I was on a short vacation this week. But, I did come back to Ft. Myers to run a trip with an old friend, Dave Adair, of Cincinnati, and two of his friends Paul and Jeff, of Cisco Systems, from Colorado. I wouldn't miss a chance to spend a day on the water with Dave. We've known each other for ten years now, and he's a great guy, a laid back but passionate angler, and always fun. Our day was Wednesday, and we...
Tue, Jun 16, 2009 - Capt. Butch Rickey, the BarHopp'RWhat began as a full week wound up a three day work week. The fishing remained tough inside, but took an upturn late in the week. The week began Monday with the great father-daughters trio of Harry Krukenberg, and his girls Aly and Katie. I've been fishing with them, as well as Harry's Dad, Herman, for several years, now. The girls, now 10 and 14, have grown a lot. The fishing and the weather had been tough for a while, with early morning s...
Wed,Jun 10,2009 -Pine Island Sound, Estero Bay, Ten Thousand Islands-Capt. Ron Kowalyk Good stuff throughout our area. Plenty of big reds, snook and trout to be had on bait, arties and flies. Tarpon are active off the Gulf Beaches and in the passes. Good stuff all around, come on down! Short and sweet, gotta go fishin! Call me at Capt.Ron Kowalyk Backaby Fishing 1-239-267-9312Email: - captronkow@aol.com...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 6/06/09byCapt. Butch Rickey It was again a strange weather week, with early AM storms almost every day getting in the way of fishing. After canceling and rescheduling trips where possible, I was finally on the water Friday for a three boat trip with Dan Pease and his good friend Rev. Frank Roe, and four more friends, of Elkhart, Indiana. Dan and I first fished together back in February of 2008, and had a tough weather day, but caught some great fish....
I had three trips scheduled during the week ending May 30, 2009, all over the Memorial Day Holiday weekend. But, as things worked out, I only did one trip on Memorial Day with my old buddy Terry Ryan, and his neighbor and side-kick, Bill. I was to fish with my life-long friend Don McDaniel and his grandson, Kyler, on Sunday, but as luck would have it Kyler had an accident and broke both (yes, both) of his wrists, and was not expected to be healed in time to fish. Actually, as you will see, it...
Estero Bay- Pine Island Sound, Ten Thousand Islands Report:Good action acrosss the board with snook, reds, trout and tarpon all on a nice steady chew. Limits are the rule as the weather calmed down and summer weather patterns set in. Early morning is offering up some fair tarpon action off the Gulf Beaches and in the passses. Fish in the hundred pond class are common. Reds are mostly upper or over slot fish, eating bait, flies and softplastics. Release snook fishing is real hot right now with...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 5/23/09byCapt. Butch Rickey The rainy season arrived early, as a late season cold front and a tropical low pressure center just off the east coast of Florida combined to make it a lot of wet, stormy, and often threatening weather. We needed the rain, but it wasn't good for business.I laid listening for what seemed hours early Monday morning to thunder and watching the lightning lighting up my bedroom. I finally crawled out just before 4 AM and fired u...
Boca Grande, Fl. 20 May 2009 It's tarpon season in Florida. We concentrate on the silver king throughout the summer. The fish are in good numbers this year and are appearing in numerous places. Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbour and the beaches off Little Gasparilla Island are holding fish. It is not unusual to see 500 or more fish per day. Our success has been limited. Windy conditions and clear water require long casts that are very accurate. Refusals are common. Sometimes even perfect cas...
Esterro Bay, Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor, 10 thousand Islands Report:We've had excellant snook bites throughout our area. Redfish are on a chew in Estero Bay and Pine Island Sound. Plenty of fat sassy speckled sea trout make for some fun driftfishing. The Gulf Beaches and close reefs are holding snook, oversized redfish, cobia, sharks and grouper. Top offshore targets are the permit that have been feeding on crabs around the nearshore reefs. Spanish and king mackerel are crashing the b...
I wound up running two trips this week. Both were with my good friend Dr. John Hitt, of UCF, in Orlando. We had progressively tougher tides as the week progressed, and predictably the fishing got tougher, as well. But, we always have a good time out there. I met John at his dock Tuesday morning at 7 AM. We had no moving water in the Sound until almost 9 o'clock, so we weren't in a big hurry to get started. John wanted to be in fairly early, though, so we had to make our time count. Our problem...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 5/09/09byCapt. Butch Rickey I ran three trips this week, and save for still fighting off the flu, it was a great week with old friends, and the fishing was pretty good with Slams all round!First up on Tuesday was my old friend Jim Turman, of Manchester, Iowa. Jim and I have been fishing together for five years or so, and he is one of my favorite fishing buddies. He is usually here earlier in the year, while it's still very cold back home, and Slams ar...
Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Pine Island Report:The wind is finally starting to lay down, and the water is now at 78 degrees. The Tarpon are here and sometimes they feed and other times they dont. Im hoping the full moon will bring more fish that like to eat! Snook, Redfish, and Trout, are still hitting the top water plugs, but now I will have a problem with too much grass, or WEEDS!!! See ya on the water! Captain Greg Hood www.tarpoons.com 239-822-5698...
Estero Bay, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, Charlotte Harbor Report:Theres been a good all round bite through our area with snook and redfish in the upper and overslot sizes the main players. The sea trout are on a mad chew with fish to five lb. and pompano and whiting as well as Spanish and bluefish all eating flies on the open bays and deeper flats. We had some sighfishing on the low tides with fly guys pickin up snook, reds and gator trout from our little skiffs. There's plenty of group a...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 4/25/09byCapt. Butch Rickey It was to be a six day work week, but it seems it's been impossible to get a full week in this season because of the constant fronts. This week was no exception! First up on Monday were John Hanson, and his friend Wes Iijima, a couple of great guys from Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It was my first time to fish with them. I could tell right away these were good guys to have in the boat, and knew we'd have fun. Suffering from pul...
Pine Island Sound-Capt. Butch Rickey/BarHopp'R Report:To say the week ending April 18th stunk, would be an gross under-exaggeration! You can probably still smell it from where you are! First, it was a week of poor tides, which by Thursday and Friday were reminiscent of a flat-lined heart monitor. I generally don't book tides like that! I had Monday through Wednesday booked, but circumstances conspired to eliminate Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday, we had a 31 knot wind howling, which was enough...
Sanibel Fishing with Tarpoons.com The wind and cold fronts continue to mess up the fishing. The Tarpon should be here now. I have seen some POONS but big schools of fish are not here. The water needs to be 78 degrees, just when it gets close we get another front. I have done good with snook, redfish, and trout on the flats. Im optimistic the new moon will bring some warm weather and Tarpon with it! See ya on the water! Captain Greg Hood www.tarpoons.com239-822-5698tarpoons@embarqmail.com...
Capt. Ron Kowalyk Backbay Fishing & Tarpon Time Charters
about 3 years ago
(04/22/2009)
Estero bay, Pine Island Sound Report:Estero Bay was generous on the afternoon tides with slot reds, mixed size snook and plenty of slot trout. Whitebait and shrimp were the hot baits. It was tad windy at times and whitebait was not always available from the Gulf Beaches or passes. We're beginning to see some big tarpon off Lovers Key and Point Ybel. If your up to a tugg of war with a silver king come on down. Pine Island and San Carlos Bay held good mixed bag biters, reds, snook, trout ect. Co...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 4/11/09
by
Capt. Butch Rickey
Another big cold front and a week of full moon tides made this one of the slowest bites I've seen in a long time.
The week began on Monday with Jim Szabo, a great guy I fished with back in February. He brought along his friend Charley, whom he warned me was a real character. We debated canceling the trip because of wind, but with the last forecast calling for 20 knots, and no optional dates, we decided t...
Pine Island, Estero Bay, Everglades Report:Guys: We had a week of good action with redfish, snook, sea trout, tarpon and others all on a chew. Fronts were overcome by moving to warmer and less windy areas and the midday bite was strong. Handpicked shrimp, pinfish, and scented plastics all scored. The first big tarpon of the year were hooked around the pass bridges but the real poons action took place in the Caloosahatchee River up near the Franklin Loocka and the Orange River. We jumped severa...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 4/04/09byCapt. Butch Rickey Wind was again a factor this week, as were poor tide toward the end of the week. By Thursday the forecast was for 31 knots, and that's just time to stay at the dock. It was bad enough Tuesday and Wednesday, blowing near 25 knots! First up on Tuesday was my old friend Bob McGuire, of Line Lexington, Pennsylvania, and his Dad Pop, who is a wonderfully spry 83 years young. Bob and I have been fishing together for more than...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 03/28/09byCapt. Butch Rickey How quickly the weather can turn a full week into crap! We fished for three days is wind gusting to 25 MPH. By Thursday morning the wind was out of hand. Some of us put our boats back on the trailers and went home. Others went out to try to get their trips in, and came back later saying it was just too nasty to fish. And, then. There are those who are going to fish regardless! I managed to get two of my five trips in befor...
Pine Island Sound Report:Very poor tides and a trip to Port Manatee to fulfill my TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) requirement cut the work week a bit short. First up on Sunday was my good friend Dr. John Hitt, of UCF. He was over from Orlando for some quick R & R, and was returning on Monday. We had no moving water for most of the morning, but would have to be back in fairly early so that John could get his boat dried out. John's primary interest was taking a nice li...
Sanibel Island, Ft. Myers, Pine Island Report:SNOOK!! The fishing this week has been great with good numbers of slot limit snook. The trout and redfish action has also been real good. Its Spring time and the fishing on Pine Island Sound has been great fun this week. Captain Greg Hood 239-822-5698 www.tarpoons.comEmail: - tarpoons@embarqmail.com...
Pine Island Sound Report:Save for one day, it was a great week of fishing. The big yellow-mouth sow trout are thick in the right places, and there are some nice snook eating, too. The week began with Jim Olson and his good friend Gary, of Superior, Wisconsin. We had managed to continue a warming trend through the weekend, and the morning dawned calm and beautiful. The water temperature was finally breaking the 70 degree barrier. It was time to look for bait, and time to fish for snook with it....
Boca Grande, Fl 14 March 09 Transition is the right phrase. Beginning last Friday throughout this week the weather changed from winter to summer. Temperatures consistantly in the eighty degree range brought us into the most productive season of the year. Snook began showing signs of feeding regularly, redfish are roaming the flats and mangroves, tarpon are rolling in Pine Island Sound and there are pompano, bluefish and seatrout everywhere. Fred Ward and his daughter Heather fished early last...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 02/28/0 by Capt. Butch RickeyConstant cold fronts and the wind and high barometer that comes with them, along with cold water, have served to make catching very tough this week. I was supposed to fish on Monday with Bob Johnson, on what was to be the first of three trips. But the fishing last week was so bad, and yet another front was on us, and I recommended we reschedule our trip. That's the advantage of being local. You can pick your days.There was...
Tarpoons.com Fishing Report for Sanibel Island, and Pine Island Sound One more cold front. Just as the water temperature gets near 70 we get another front. I hope this is the last one. March is here and brought that lion with it. The fishing this last week near Sanibel Island was good for 3 to 4 lb trout and 7 lb redfish. I heard some of the guides say they got into some snook also. Snook season opened on the 1st. This week will be the same for me. Long casting with artificial bait. The water...
Problems with fog continued into the first of this week, prompting some schedule changes. My friend Andy Mount and daughter Rachel and I sat at the dock waiting on the fog to lift until around 9:30 Sunday morning, which was altering my plans for fishing a Sunday before a holiday. We finally tossed in the towel, and reschedule for Friday. Dittos for Monday. It was to be my first trip with Steve Cleary, and neither one of us had realized is was a holiday when we booked the trip. Between that and...
It was my first full week in a long time. And, I mean full. Six days! Boy, am I out of fishing shape! It was the first week of good weather following the big cold spell we had, and we had pretty good tides to go along with the weather. Monday brought my first of two trips with Carl Huber, of Woolford, Maryland. I knew from emails and talking to Carl that he would be great to fish with. Carl was staying on Sanibel, and had brought his 18 ft. Maverick so that he could spend plenty of time on the...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 01/31/09It was another abbreviated work week, but a week of great fun with some great guys, fishing cold water with artificials. The week began Sunday with John Ford, over from Delray Beach. We'd been blown out by the big cold front that had come through a few days earlier, and it looked like Sunday would be a descent weather day. But, with the water at 58 degrees, I wasn't real confident that we'd find much that would actually be willing to chase a b...
Report for Pine Island Sound for the Week Ending 1-17-09 Constant cold fronts cut a three day work week a bit short. What's new? First up on Monday was my good friend and fishing buddy, Dr. John Hitt, of UCF. His friend, Jim Heekin, also of Orlando, joined him for the first time. Our mission was keeper trout for the cooler. John and I had done a recon mission during New Year's Week and previously, and had a pretty good lock on where the big trout were. We weren't really interested in trout tha...
REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/27/08 I managed two trips during Christmas week. Could have worked Christmas Day, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. The two days were Friday and Saturday, and the fishing was great! I met my old friend Dr. John Hitt, president of UCF in Orlando, at his dock Friday morning at 6:45. The forecast was for a beautiful day with winds to about 10 MPH, and a high of 80. Glorious! But, John and I had both decided a light jacket was in order for the early morning r...
REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 01/03/09 It was to be a two trip holiday week, but one canceled at the last minute after changing the details on a daily basis. So, that left my favorite fishing buddy, Dr. John Hitt and I to spend a day getting ready for trout season. He will be back to fish speckled trout on January 12 and 13, and we wanted to get a lock on where the big trout are. We left John's dock at 0645 hrs. and headed down the river to the A span for bait. It was a beautiful morning, and bai...
It was another one trip week, but it was a grand time with some great new customers. My party was Herb Smith and his lovely wife, Beth, of Baltimore, Maryland. Herb is a college professor, and an avid fisherman. He has been on many guided trips over the years, and was looking for a good guide in this area. I hoped I'd fill the bill. Herb and Beth weren't real keen on getting up with the chickens, so we agreed to meet at Punta Rassa at 0730 hrs. I'm always up before the chickens anyway, so I wa...
Fishing guides are by necessity, weather men! Actually, I'm convinced by years of observation and experience that most of us fishing guides are far more qualified to give the evening weather forecast than most of the media weather men. Our livelihoods depend in large part upon the weather, and I'm sure that most of us who had trips scheduled this week were watching the developing weather with great interest. It was pretty obvious that the weather would make fishing all but impossible the secon...
I managed a trip on Tuesday this week with Troy Halford, his ten year old son, Chance, and his dad, Roger, of Dallas, Texas. Troy told me they had promised to bring some fish home for dinner, and this time of year there isn't a lot you can actually harvest. Trout are closed. Snook will soon be closed, but the current regulations have pushed the slot limit higher and made it smaller at 28 to 33 inches with the tail squeezed. There are some flounder around, but I'd hate to count on a bunch of th...
I managed three days on the water this week. However, only two were for fishing. The week began on Monday with my first trip with Charles Chuck Bradford, of Macatawa, Michigan. It would prove to be a tough, but great day with a super guy. We began with a trip to the B span flats to see if there was any bait. After all the weather changes and record temps, I really didn't expect to see any, and in that respect, I wasn't disappointed. Chuck and I chummed and tossed the net, and could only di...
Spring like weather patterns continue, with the mildest winter I can remember in recent history. Red fish fishing is not as good as it should be with reds being a hit or miss, however big redfish are showing in the potholes. The slot-sized reds are harder to find and not in good numbers. Cut bait and scented plastic are still the best. Snook season opened and some slot fish are being taken in the upper Myaka as well as the Peace River. Smaller snook are more abundant on the flats and deeper cu...
With the first cold front that passed and the shorter days the water temps are climbing down and snook know to fatten up for the winter when during cold fronts they will lay up for days with out eating. Snook are being taken in good numbers all across Charlotte Harbor with slot size fish being the normal. Redfish should be on the move towards winter flats where on a sunny day after a cool morning you will be able to find them tailing for food and warming up in the sun. Kingfish are still being...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 10/18/08It was yet another one day work week, and it was a great day with an old friend, John Zedde, of Harrison Township, Michigan, whom I hadn't seen in some six years. John brought along his lovely wife, Janice. Back in September of 2004, John participated in the Hurricane Fund after hurricane Charley, and sent me an advance deposit. We were finally going to get to use it! We met Monday morning at 0700 hrs. and loaded up. We headed straight to the...
It was another one day workweek, but it was a great day with a wonderful family, David, Jennifer, and son Ted Arthur, over from Ft. Lauderdale. The day began as always with the catching of bait. Once we were loaded up and organized, we headed right to the B span. It was a little sloppy from the A span over to the B span, and young nine year old Teddy really had fun on the ride. Once there, Dave helped me with the chumming duties, as Teddy and Jen helped pick up the baits that got into the cock...
This was another one day work week, but my trip Wednesday with my old friend of ten years, Bob McGuire, will go down as one of my most memorable.Bob arranged this trip for his four year old grandson, Caden, and of course his dad, Mark. Bob wisely wants to plant in Caden the seeds of love for the water and fishing. Dawn was breaking as we loaded up the boys and headed to the B span for bait. It promised to be a beautiful day, and we had the makings of a fantastic sunset on the horizon. It's my...
REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 9/20/08 I was back on the water twice this week, but it wasn't easy. The water is coffee black with tannin stain from all the rain associated with two tropical systems, and eleven days of fresh water dumping from Lake O. And, as if that's not enough, they're now dumping again. In addition to the fresh water dumping, which comes right down the river to our estuary, the tides this week were very tough outgoing tides. I don't know a single guide who likes fishing outgoi...
REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 9/27/08 I only had one trip to report on this week. I fished Friday with Jim Dougall, an old friend of many years, now. Jim brought along his good friend, Glen Hilde Hildebrand, whom I'd met at the ramp once years ago. These two are amazing. Jim is a young 76, I believe, and Hilde is 80. Jim is an inspiration, but Hilde is really something. At 80 he is as spry as a 30 year old, has no aches or pains, and no health issues of any kind. Jim teased that they'd probab...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 8/30/08by Capt. Butch Rickey My full week last week was blown out by hurricane Fay, except for a trip with David Hewitt and his brother Doug, of Pittsburgh, that we were able to move to Sunday. But, things were anything but back to normal on Sunday. Dave and Doug showed up early, and we were at the B Span flats before it was light. There were a couple of other boats already there. The first thing I noticed was that the water was black with tannin stai...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 7/26/08by Capt. Butch Rickey After having a benign growth removed from my back a couple of weeks ago, I finally got back to work last Sunday. The rest of this month is quite busy with trips, which is unusual for August. But, as I sit here beginning this report, I wonder what this coming week will bring, as southwest Florida sits smack dab in the center of the cone of uncertainty of what will likely be hurricane Fay. This week was a classic lesson in h...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 7/26/08by Capt. Butch Rickey I had just one trip for the week, but it was a great one, with some really good redfishing. The trip was on Friday, with David Wallsmith, and his friend, Bill Shaw, of Knox, Indiana. David is the father of my old friends Todd and Lynn Wallsmith, of Knox. David and Todd practice law together there. Well, David's friend Bill's sister was getting married on Sanibel, and he was coming to the wedding. Todd arranged for David an...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 7/19/08by Capt. Butch Rickey Just one trip to report on this week. Oddly enough August is stacking up to be a busy month, and it's usually the slowest of the year even when times are good. My trip was on Friday, with an old friend Ed Mahoney, of Boca Raton, Florida. I've known Ed since 2001, and back in 2002, took him on what he again told me was the best fishing trip of his life. He's a great guy, and I hadn't seen him in a while. So, I was looking f...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 7/12/08byCapt. Butch Rickey I did manage a couple of trips this week, although they weren't the ones originally scheduled. Capt. Marc Geldon of Snook Blaster Charters had called me about doing a two day, two boat trip with him. That was great as it would replace the days that my friend John Hitt had to cancel. We were to fish Thursday and Friday, with three anglers per boat on both days. Thursday morning came, and our guys Guy, Clay, Andy, and Justin...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 7/05/08byCapt. Butch Rickey I did get out on the water last week, but I wasn't chartering so I did not do a report. I got out twice this week on Monday and Wednesday. Bait is still a big issue. My Monday trip was with Dr. Patrick Reidy, who is a local eye, ear, and throat physician. I fished with Patrick last year around this time, and really enjoyed being out with him. We began our morning with a run to Chino Island, in hopes of finding lots of bait...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 6/21/08byCapt. Butch Rickey It was a vacation week for me, but I did run one trip with Harry Krukenberg and his daughter Allison, from the great state of Ohio. I first fished with Harry and Aly last summer, along with his Dad Herman. They were great folks, and I wouldn't have passed up a chance to fish with Harry and Aly again. I was disappointed to hear that Harry wasn't able to make it for this trip. Our trip was on Wednesday, and I had been off to...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 6/07/08byCapt. Butch Rickey After a week off and a trip to St. Simons Island, Georgia, for my nephew's wedding, I got one trip in this week. It was a great day! It was my first time with Lisa and her eighteen year old son Ronnie, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Lisa is the sister of Cindi Hewitt, who with her husband David, arranged for the trip with Lisa and Ronnie. They were visiting David and Cindi at their place in Naples. This day was really all about Ronni...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 5/24/08byCapt. Butch Rickey Late season cold fronts and poor tides were the dominating factors this week. My week began on Wednesday with my first trip with Daniel and Megan Stahl, of League City, Texas. This was our first trip. It was also the best tide I'd have to fish this week. Our forecast was for southwest winds gusting to 25, and it was already howling by the time we left the dock. On the flats at Picnic Island I had to back up the PowerPole wi...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 5/17/08byCapt. Butch Rickey The wind was again not our friend this week. I lost two of my four days to the wind. I met my good friend Dr. John Hitt at his dock Tuesday morning at 0600 hrs. after we canceled Monday for wind. We had two days scheduled, and gambled on Tuesday being a better day. And, as far as the wind was concerned it was. As we rode down the river toward Picnic Island for bait, I asked John what he would like to target. John reminded m...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 5/03/08byCapt. Butch Rickey This was an abbreviated work week, and a very tough one. Beside having a lot of wind to deal with again for a good part of the week, the fish have just been absolutely not interested in eating. The worst is that I, nor anyone I've talked to, has a good idea why! My week began on Wednesday with Emmett Lawler, his son, Brad, and lovely daughter-in-law Amanda, of Franklin, Tennessee. After the good fishing of the previous week...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 4/26/08byCapt. Butch Rickey It was a pretty good week of fishing, but as the tides grew weaker, so did the fishing. I managed to get in three out of four trips. First up on Monday was a trip with Bob White, of right here in Ft. Myers. It was a reschedule of a trip we canceled based on the weather forecast calling for big wind, which ultimately didn't materialize until late in that day. That happened again this week on Wednesday. This was my first trip...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 4/19/08byCapt. Butch Rickey Again this week the winds and cold from the front that passed over the last weekend kept me off the water until Thursday. My old friend Dr. John Hitt, of UCF, and I left his dock at 0630 hrs. with the air temperature in the high 40's, and soon saw the water temperature was bouncing around 61 to 62! The forecast was still for wind gusting 20 or better from the northeast. None of which makes for good fishing in southwest Flor...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 4/12/08byCapt. Butch Rickey It was supposed to be a week of five trips beginning on Sunday. But, I canceled Sunday's trip with Bob White to reschedule later based upon the best prevailing information from NOAA and NWS. The rain never materialized, and although the wind did really kick later in the morning, it turned out to be a much nicer day than forecasted. Oh, well. You have to do what you think is right. Monday, I had my first trip with Pete Miche...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 4/05/08byCapt. Butch Rickey I took the first two days of this week off to take care of some personal business, and scheduled trips the rest of the week. But, as usual! The weather got in the way. My first trip was on Wednesday, and it was my first trip with Dave Irwin, who is a teacher and football coach over in Lake Placid, Florida. Dave is a rabid fisherman, and has spent a lot of time fishing these waters during his life. Like me, he is a native Fl...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 3/29/08byCapt. Butch Rickey Winter, spring. Winter, spring! Winter, spring. Winter, summer! I don't even know where to start with this report. The weather has been so goofy and the tides so poor, and the result is that it has been hard to catch anything this week. If it weren't for lots of great customers, this would have been a truly trying week. Before I get to the report for this week, I have some unfinished business from the last week. I failed to...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 3/22/08byCapt. Butch Rickey It was another week of windy days. I did manage to fish the last two days, after some juggling. After moving Jeff Howe and his father, Gary, of Polk City, Iowa, from Wednesday to Thursday to avoid the big wind in front of the approaching cold front, we still had weather and wind to deal with Thursday morning. The front had slowed down and not yet passed, and there was a long line of squalls due in around 9 AM. We had no mor...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 3/15/08byCapt. Butch Rickey I got to run four out of five trips I had on the books this week. The first part of the week we saw big winds out of the north after the big front that passed on Saturday. Dr. John Hitt and I decided it was best to stay in port on Sunday, as the winds blew, and the fish were surely lockjawed. So, the week began on Monday with Joe Moyle and his crew, who had braved the elements the previous Friday as the front blew in. Monda...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 3/08/08byCapt. Butch Rickey To say it has been a windy week would be an understatement! Back to back cold fronts have made it difficult to get out at all. I did make it out on Friday. What a day! A big front was scheduled to come through during the night on Friday. As Friday dawned, the forecast was for south winds 15 to 20 with gusts as high as 30! I figured we could handle 15 to 20, and fully expected a good bite on the south wind. After laying awak...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 3/01/08byCapt. Butch Rickey Well, another full week was punctuated and reduced to two days on the water this week. That's all to common this time of year. Monday's trip was from my new friend Wayne Wulff, who I fished with back during Christmas week. Wayne had his good friends John Hill, of Nashville, and Rich Watkins, of Indianapolis in town, and wanted to get them out on the water for the full southwest Florida flats fishing experience. John and Ric...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 2/23/08byCapt. Butch Rickey Fishing this week was excellent, and for the most part the catching was, as well. First up on Tuesday were Chuck Kindt and his ten year old son, Chip, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The factors that would control the fishing were an extreme low tide that would be incoming all morning, and we'd just had another front pass. I expected the bite to be slow in spite of the good tide. We headed to the flats adjacent to St. Jam...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 2/02/08byCapt. Butch Rickey I had a pretty full week scheduled, but by the time it was over it wound up being two trips. Monday brought my first trip with Dan Pease, of Elkhart, Indiana. It would go down as a tough, good, and fun day with a great guy. We had a funky, slow moving outgoing tide in the morning, so we elected to get started at eleven o'clock to fish the incoming tide. We would fish lures. We headed off into the Sound hoping to find a bite...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 1/26/08byCapt. Butch Rickey It was another short week for us guides. Heavy fog several days kept many of us in port. I wound up fishing Tuesday, and conducting a dockside seminar on Thursday. My Tuesday trip was with an old friend, Gerard Ripo, and his buddies Mark Pidro and Sean Martin. Local boys! I had fished with Sean once before on our last trip, but this was the first time for meeting Mark. At the dock that morning neither bait nor fishing repo...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 1/12/08 by Capt. Butch Rickey Only one trip to talk about this week. In the last three weeks we've gone from record warm weather, to record cold, and back to record warm. Fishing has been very tough since the big cold front, and bait has all but disappeared. I talked to one guide who had gone offshore and gotten a couple dozen shiners, but commented that it was a couple of hours wasted because nothing would eat it. My trip was on Wednesday, and was th...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 1/12/08byCapt. Butch Rickey Only one trip to talk about this week. In the last three weeks we've gone from record warm weather, to record cold, and back to record warm. Fishing has been very tough since the big cold front, and bait has all but disappeared. I talked to one guide who had gone offshore and gotten a couple dozen shiners, but commented that it was a couple of hours wasted because nothing would eat it. My trip was on Wednesday, and was the...
Only one trip to talk about this week. In the last three weeks we've gone from record warm weather, to record cold, and back to record warm. Fishing has been very tough since the big cold front, and bait has all but disappeared. I talked to one guide who had gone offshore and gotten a couple dozen shiners, but commented that it was a couple of hours wasted because nothing would eat it. My trip was on Wednesday, and was the first with Eric "Rick" Hubbs, of Cape May, New Jersey. Rick i...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/29/07byCapt. Butch Rickey Christmas week was a good one with three trips with great customers and good fishing. And, the weather was fantastic! The week began on Monday with Sam Crosby Jr. and his beautiful wife Amy, who are recently married. Sam's family is from Foley, Alabama, and Sam is in med. school. Sam's family was referred to me by Dr. Andy Smith, who I had a wonderful trip with back in April. Sam Sr. is his uncle. At the ramp that morning...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/22/07 by Capt. Butch Rickey I only got out one time this week. It was with my old friend and favorite fishing buddy Dr. John Hitt, over for some R & R from UCF. John was exhausted from a very grueling schedule lately, but relishing in the fact that his Knights will be playing in their first bowl game, the Liberty Bowl, on December 29. As much fun as snook, redfish, and the many other species we have available are to catch, John and I both look...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/22/07byCapt. Butch Rickey I only got out one time this week. It was with my old friend and favorite fishing buddy Dr. John Hitt, over for some R & R from UCF. John was exhausted from a very grueling schedule lately, but relishing in the fact that his Knights will be playing in their first bowl game, the Liberty Bowl, on December 29. As much fun as snook, redfish, and the many other species we have available are to catch, John and I both look fo...
FLORIDA FISHING REPORT FOR THE WEEK ENDING 12/15/07byCapt. Butch Rickey Southwest Florida fishing report: Flats and backcountry are Good! I managed to run two out of three scheduled trips this week. Bait is getting tough, the fishing was good, and the weather still unseasonably warm. The first trip was on Wednesday with Billy Herrington, whom I first fished with back in December of 2005. The day we fished was a cold, blowing, and miserable one. It was tough fishing. Fortunately, Billy was wil...
Fish
Barracuda, Great (Sphyraena barracuda)
Drum, Black (Pogonias cromis)
Drum, Red (Saltwater) (Sciaenops ocellatus)
Grouper, Black (Mycteroperca bonaci)
Grouper, Gag (Mycteroperca microlepis)
Grouper, Red (Epinephelus morio)
Grouper, Warsaw (Epinephelus nigritus)
Jack, Crevalle (Caranx hippos)
Mackerel, King (Scomberomorous cavalla)
Mackerel, Spanish (Scomberomorous maculatus)
Sea Bass, Black (Centropris tisstriata)
Shark, Blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus)
Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus)
Snapper, Mutton (Lutjanus analis)
Tripletail (Lebotes surinamensis)
Trout, Speckled (Cynoscion nebulosus)
Guides
Adrenaline Fishing
We specialize in guide fishing trips. we are a complete guide service dedicated to make your trip the most memorable trip possible. we are often imitated but never duplicated. specilaizing in back b...
Cape Coral, FL, United States
A Fishin Mission
Captain Phil Evans has a US Coast Guard 50 ton Master License with 30 years of fishing Florida s salt-waters. Phil is a member of CCA and IFGA. He has fished and scuba-dived the offshore waters of...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
All Artificial Lures Only
SNOOK Fishing in Pine Island Sound
We will be throwing a variety of artificials using jigs, swimbaits, swimmers and top-water plugs.
Snook is a fish that can be caught all year round...
Saint James City, FL, United States
Andrews Fishing
I grew up on the west coast of Florida fishing off the Big Indian Rocks Fishing Pier . After hooking into my first Snook I was addicted. I learned from a legendary Tarpon fishing guide, Jack Kelly,...
Sanibel, FL, United States
Anglers Addiction Guide Service
Born and raised in Naples, I have had the luxury and pleasure to fish the finest saltwater destinations with in an hour drive of Naples. I've been fishing since the beginning from the beaches to the...
Naples, FL, United States
Anglers Advantage Guide Service
Anglers advantage offers fishing guide service in South Florida, snook, redfish, tarpon, trout, shark, grouper, pine island sound, Lee Island Coast.
Pine Island, FL, United States
Angling Adventures of Southwest Florida
My name is Cliff Simer; I have fished the waters of Matlacha and Pine Island sound since the early 80's and now professionally for the last two years. I invite you to come and let me guide you to a...
Matlacha, FL, United States
Back Bay Fishing
WELCOME TO BACK BAY FISHING
FULL-TIME FISHING GUIDE, SERVING: SANIBEL, FORT MYERS, BONITA SPRING, NAPLES
We fish a minimum of 300 days a year on the water.
Call: 239-267-9312 info@fishswfla.com...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
BarHopp'R Kayak Guide Service
Planning a fishing vacation or quick fishing get-away? Longing for that tropical fishing attitude? Look no further! Come and enjoy a fishing adventure on "the BarHopp'R" Web Page and the "the BarHop...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Bayside Charters
Your Captain, Captain Kelly Kaminski specializes in: Inshore Back Water Fishing, Light Tackle and Fly Fishing. The 18' Lake & Bay is an all around Backwater Light Tackle Boat.
The Captain will be...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Blackwater Charters
Welcome to Blackwater Charters website. Come join me for an unforgettable fishing trip. I specialize in light tackle, and saltwater fly fishing from the backcountry of the 10,000 Islands to Charlo...
Punta Gorda, FL, United States
Boca Grande Sportfishing
Sportfishing excursions in the Tarpon Capital of the World, Boca Grande, Florida.
Specializing in light tackle fishing for Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, & Trout
A great choice for your next Florida Vaca...
Boca Grande, FL, United States
Captain Bo Johnson Guide Service
Capt. Bo Johnson is a native of Southwest Florida and has been in touch with the species he hunts for his whole life. He is an expert in stalking fish on the shallow flats of Pine Island, Sanibel Is...
Cape Coral, FL, United States
Captain Jerry Gillespie Charter Fishing
It doesn't matter if your experienced or a beginner, bringing the kids and the wife, my goal is to provide you a great day on the water catching fish.
Backcountry fishing
Tarpon Fishing
If you...
Punta Gorda, FL, United States
Captain Lamar Joiner Sr. Charters
Tarpon Fishing in Boca Grande is one of the most exhilarating experiences of a lifetime. Nowhere else on earth is there such a concentrated field of tarpon. And large ones at that - tarpon in Boca G...
Boca Grande, FL, United States
Capt. Bill Walker's Fishing Charters
Come join me for an exciting fishing adventure with native guide, Capt. Bill Walker. Anglers of all skill levels, from the novice to the most experienced are welcome.
We'll fish mangrove shoreline...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Capt. George's Fishing Center
Hello I'm George Howell, lifelong angler and outdoor enthusiast. Like many residents in southwest Florida , I came here in search of sunshine, opportunity, and yes. WORLD CLASS FISHING! Born and rai...
Pine Island, FL, United States
Captiva Charter Company
Captiva Charter FIshing.
Equipped with the finest Orvis fly gear including the new Orvis "Helios" rod. The best casting and lightest rod I've ever tried.
Spinning rods are Quantum "Cabo" series...
Sanibel, FL, United States
Capt. Paul Hobby's Back Country Charters
Fishing from my 18-foot EGRET flats boat with all the top quality tackle you can use in a hard day of fishing, you'll never get any pressure to make a perfect cast. The goal for the day is to catch...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Catching The Cure
Southwest Florida is known for its fantastic fishing. Whether you fish Captiva Island, Naples, Fort Myers, or Pine Island the fishing is hot most of the year. Redfish and snook thrive in the spring...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
catch me if u can fishing
Captiva Island, FL, United States
Catch Me If U Can Fishing Charters
Catch Me If You Can Fishing Charters offers a wide variety of boating adventures off the coast of Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Fort Myers Beach. Enjoy an inshore fishing charter t...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Chew On This Charters
Come join the Chew On This Charter Team of Captain Jason LeValley, Captain Nelson Diaz and Captain Ben Chancey. They specialize in catching Goliath Grouper, Snook, Tarpon, Redfish and Canal Tuna in...
Cape Coral, FL, United States
Entice Charters
Welcome to Entice Charters. I specialize in light tackle saltwater fishing in the pristine backbays and nearshore wrecks of Southwest Florida. Whether we're targeting snook, redfish, or trout in the...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Finseeker Guided Adventures FL
Welcome to Finseeker Guided Adventures. I'm a Naples, FL kayak fishing guide specializing in light tackle saltwater fishing from land or kayak, and gorgeous kayak eco tours. Create new memories in S...
Naples, FL, United States
FishSkinner Charters
Welcome to the home of FishSkinner Charters fishing guide service located in Fort Myers and serving the Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach Areas as well. We offer a wide range of fishing charters,...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
FishSkinner Fishing Charters
I was born right here in Fort Myers, Florida on January 6th 1977. As a small child my uncle introduced me to the sport of fishing in the Sanibel and Pine Island back bays. I've been hooked ever si...
Sanibel Island, FL, United States
Fish Stix Charters
Let Captain Gary be your fishing charter guide in Southwest Florida, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Cape Coral and Ft. Myers Beach.
Southwest Florida fishing is great for Tarpon, Redfish, Snook, G...
Cape Coral, FL, United States
Fish Warrior Charters
Welcome to Fish Warrior Charters a Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach Fishing Charter Captain.
I am Captain Sean A Davis with Fish Warrior Charters and I am a Fort Myers Florida fishing charter who sp...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Flats Taxi Fishing Charters
Welcome to FlatsTaxiFishingCharters.com and TedHowell.com. Flats Taxi is a Coast Guard licensed fishing charter located just North of Ft Myers, Fl in in Punta Gorda. If you are looking to catch Sea...
Punta Gorda, FL, United States
Florida Fishing Charters with Captain Fred Winters
Captain Fred has over 21 years fishing experience in Florida, and 12 years in Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound, on the Gulf of Mexico. Enjoy Florida, and this sub-tropic paradise...
Boca Grande, FL, United States
Futch Charters
Livin' on Tarpon Time
Look at the rest but fish with the best!
Whether it is your first tarpon or your hundredth Captain Steve will show you a great day on the water.
Boca Grande has long been re...
Boca Grande, FL, United States
Giddy Up Fishing Charters
Captain Bunch is well known in the southwest Florida Gulf Coast area as an expert Fishing Guide. As media personality "Capt. GiddyUp", for many years he was Co-Host of SW FL Outdoors TV Show and now...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Go Fish Charters, Inc.
Andy Boyette specializes in skinny water, flats and near shore fishing. If your looking for snook redfish tarpon cobia and variety of angling opportunities Capt. John is your guide. We use a 20' cus...
Punta Gorda, FL, United States
Gulf Coast Fishing Guide Captain Pat Burns
Fish with 5th generation Florida native Captain Pat Burns aboard his 18' 9" Back Country Pro Guide skiff. Pine Island Sound encompasses the backcountry from world-renowned Boca Grand Pass, behind th...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Gulf Coast Limited Fishing Charters
Welcome aboard and Thank You for taking the time to visit our site.
Hello and thanks for stopping by, with my wife Laurie, we own and operate Gulf Coast Limited Professional Guide Service of South...
Matlacha, FL, United States
Island Fever Fishing Charters
Welcome to Island Fever Fishing Charters
Make the most of your Florida vacation with Island Fever Fishing Charters sailing daily from Beautiful Fort Myers Beach. Bring the family, your closest f...
Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States
Mills Charter Fishing
There is no better experience in life than hooking into a might silver king in the warm, teal waters of Boca Grande, Florida. Enjoy life's finer pleasures with experience Captain Willie Mills.
An...
Boca Grande, FL, United States
One More Cast Charters
Capt.Rey is one of the top fishing guides in the Sanibel Island and Captiva Island area.
He has been consistent in producing, snook, redfish, giant tarpon, trout, and many other species for his an...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Reel Adventure Charters
Reel Adventure Fishing Charters offers saltwater fishing at it's finest.
Our charters start at Wrightsville Beach or Carolina Beach, N.C. and covers Wilmington, Topsail Island, Bald Head Island an...
Wilmington, NC, United States
Reel-Ality Sportfishing Charters
From Bluefintuna stripers bluefish fluke sea bass,to freshwater trophy trout in round valley-home to many state record fish.boat has enclosed head and galley.GPS downriggers outriggers sideplaners a...
Bokeelia, FL, United States
Reelfishing Charters-Danny Latham
My name is Captain Danny Latham. I run Punta Gorda Fishing Charters, Fort Myers fishing charters and Boca Grande fishing charters. I specialize in light tackle and fly fishing charters on the world...
Punta Gorda, FL, United States
Reel Shark Charters
Tarpon, Shark, Snook, Trout, Redfish in Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grand
Boca Grande, FL, United States
Rush Charters
The home of Southwest Florida's premiere source for fishing charter information!
Whether you are a novice or an experienced angler, we can accommodate any type of fishing you desire in Southwest F...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Salty Gator Charter Company
The Salty Gator Charter Co. is located in
beautiful Southwest Florida. We specialize in
back-country, inshore, & nearshore
light tackle fishing.
San Carlos Bay, Sanibel, Captiva,
Pine Island So...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Sea Level Family Fishing Charters and Ecotours
Florida fishing at it's finest. Fishing Florida waters with Sea Level Family Fishing Charters is more than fun in the sun, it's a Florida fishing adventure. Sea Level Family Fishing Charters is a Fl...
Cape Coral, FL, United States
Shallow Water Escape
Welcome to Shallow Water Escape
Escape the daily grind with a fishing trip into the back country of beautiful southwest Florida
Come experience some of the finest inshore fishing in the world. Let...
Boca Grande, FL, United States
Snook Blaster Captain Marc Geldon
Snook Blaster charters provides everything you need for a fun day of Ft. Myers guided fishing. We provide the finest in fishing tackle and gear, as well as all necessary licenses. All bait and lures...
Cape Coral, FL, United States
SoulMate Charters
The back bay waters of Estero Bay and Pine Island Sound near Fort Myers Beach and the islands of Sanibel and Captiva are legendary for anglers seeking trout, redfish, snook, tarpon, and other saltwa...
Fort Myers Beach, FL, United States
South West Florida Fishing Charters-Capt. Terry Pitz
My name is Capt. Terry Pitz a year round Florida fishing guide on the world famous waters of Southwest Florida. I offer a personalized fun-filled day of fishing with light tackle or fly fishing. Th...
Sanibel Island, FL, United States
Spotted Tail Fishing Charters
Specializing in shallow water sightfishing with fly and light tackle for redfish, seatrout, tarpon, snook, black drum, and more in the Mosquito Lagoon, north Indian River, and Banana River (includin...
Chuluota, FL, United States
SW Charters
Capt. Fred Rossiter has been fishing all of his life. Like many anglers, Fred started fishing for Bluegills when he was about 6 years old... then Bass, Perch and other small fish. Visits to Wiscons...
Captiva, FL, United States
Tagger II Charters
Fishing Back Bay & Flats - Light Tackle
Trout
Redfish
Snook
Tarpon
Sharks
Member Lee County Professional Guides Association
15 years experience tagging & releasing sharks
We Provide:
Bait
Tackle...
Sanibel, FL, United States
Tails And Scales Charters
We are a full time Charlotte Harbor fishing guide service offering fishing charters on the back waters of Charlotte Harbor Estuary, Boca Grande Pass, Gasparilla Sound, Placida and Lemon Bay.
We Fi...
Boca Grande, FL, United States
Tall Tails Charters
Welcome: To the Premier Fort Myers Fishing Charter Service.
Ready for fun?
A Fort Myers fishing charter service that offers world class saltwater fishing. Allow me, Capt. Larry Hendricks, the owner...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Tarpoons-Sanibel Island Fishing
Sanibel Island Fishing Charters for Sanibel and Captiva .
Fishing Sanibel Island, Pine Island Sound, Captiva, and Boca Grande for Tarpon, Redfish, and Snook. The scenic waters of South West Flori...
Sanibel, FL, United States
Team Arcure
Don and Jean Maricle have owned and operated Four Winds Resort for over 24 years; upgrades are always in progress. That, in itself, says a lot about this family-run and family-oriented resort locat...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
The Gypsy Guide Service
Let Capt. Pete take you to the wilds of southwest Florida for the best saltwater fishing in the country. Fish over the pristine flats of a national wildlife refuge. Tailing redfish, wiley snook and...
Sarasota, FL, United States
Ultimate Charters
Fishing Charter Services throughout Sanibel Island, Captiva Island & Pine Island Sound Florida.
We specialize in light tackle fishing in the surrounding waters of Sanibel, Captiva, and Pine Islan...
Cape Coral, FL, United States
Workin On It Offshore Fishing Charter
Welcome to Paradise
FORT MYERS - SANIBEL - NAPLES - BONITA BEACH
FISHING CHARTERS
Offshore - Reef - Wreck Fishing Charters in Ft. Myers, Florida for Grouper, Snapper, Cobia, Tarpon, Sharks and mu...
Fort Myers, FL, United States
Lodges
Bayview Bed and Breakfast
Enjoy a panoramic waterfront view of Matlacha Bay, sunrise and sunsets, shrimp boats, river otters, tropical birds soar (ospreys, diving pelicans, bald eagles, woodstorks, kingfishers, snowy egrets,...
Pine Island, FL, United States
Island Inn
The Island Inn is a resort property featuring a combination of quaint "Old Florida" cottages and modern lodges sitting on 10 beautiful Gulf front acres, offering 550 feet of private beach with some...
Sanibel Island, FL, United States
The Sun and The Moon Inn
Have you been searching for a romantic getaway where your fantasies will come to life? Want to get together with some of your old friends? Do You Like to Kayak and/or fish? At this very special Bed...
Matlacha, FL, United States
Tournaments
There are no tournaments associated with this fishing spot.
