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February 24, 2013 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers and Sanibel Island Florida Charter Fishing Report

Flats fishing the back country waters of Pine Island Sound near the Island of Sanibel just off Fort Myers Florida, is a great place to land a number of species. It’s also a great place to hunt for a certain species to add to your bucket list. It could be the Spotted Sea Trout, maybe the Snook or Tarpon.

Mr. Red
Mr. Red

As for Author Ben Shelfer, his quest was for the elusive Red Fish. We’ve fished a number of times stalking the Red Fish from the tailing Reds on the grass flats, to the Red Fish in the mangroves. It seems that each time we’re looking for Reds, we find and catch all the other species but not the Red Fish. This day we were around Sanibel Island working the grass flats and mangrove islands.

While out fishing, we decided to try a mangrove shoreline for whatever (Ben had finally come to the conclusion that Red Fish was the water version of the Southern Snipe). Bam! Fish on! The fight was on and even though I thought the fish was fighting like a Red Fish, my lips were tighter than a oyster in Alaska in the winter time, till the fish was in the boat. It was, finally, Mr. Red Fish. The only problem was that fish was caught by, yes you guessed it, Me! Okay, we’ve located some Red’s, so Ben cast his DOA Cal lure towards the mangroves and Bam, Fish On!

We caught a number of Red Fish before the bite calmed down and off we were, stalking and hunting the Snook (another Snipe?). To be continued.

Get out on the water, take a kid fishing and always remember that “it’s great being us”!

Capt Blake <*(((><

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Filed Under: Florida Fishing Charter Reports Tagged With: Fish Charters, Fishing Charter Reports, Florida, Florida Fishing, Fort Myers Florida, Red Fish, redfish, Sanibel, sanibel island, Tarpon, trout

February 18, 2013 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers and Sanibel Island Florida Back Country Charter Fishing Report

I love the back country fishing in Florida. It’s especially great on the Southwest Coast around the Fort Myers and Sanibel area. We have so many different ways to fish, and a lot of different species to catch. Recreational fishermen usually only work on 1 or 2 types of fishing but being a Charter Captain I’m able to fish a lot more which means I get to fish pretty much every situation and that’s pretty cool.

1ellen
Ellen

One of my favorite days on the water is when I have the ladies hire me for the day. Ellen Christian is a regular customer of mine. She loves to fish as much or more than any man I’ve taken out. This day she was taking out her Granddaughter from Ashland Kentucky, Alison. Alison graduated from Virginia Tech (go Hokie’s) and was getting prepared for a new job, so fishing was what the Grandmother ordered.

The water temps were down, winds were up but the sun was shining. We started out with some small Mangrove Snapper, then Sheepshead and followed by some nice Black Drum. Alison was picking them off one after another. The fishing was so good we just about spent our total time in this one spot but finally put the rods down to try another spot before going in.

1alison
Alison (Hokie)

The next spot produced a few but different fish. We were able to get some Spotted Sea Trout and Flounder. It was another great day on the water with Ellen and was especially great getting to know her Granddaughter Alison. Enjoy your new job and come back for a vacation soon!

Get out on the water, take a kid fishing and always remember that “it’s great being us”!

Capt Blake <*(((><

Filed Under: Florida Fishing Charter Reports Tagged With: Fish Charters, fishing, fishing guides, Florida Fishing, Fly fishing, Fort Myers Beach Florida, Fort Myers Florida, Pine Island Sound, Red Fish, sanibel island, Snook, Southwest Florida, Tarpon

February 2, 2013 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers, Sanibel Florida Fishing Report

The saltwater flats fishing around Fort Myers and Sanibel Florida are pretty good for those that work hard and get out often. The water temperature changes rapidly due to the longer nights and cooler nighttime temps. Redfish and Trout like the cooler water but Snook are like me (love it warm).

snook
Walter’s Snook

Randy Love took nephew Walter Elder (Kansas State student) out for a day on the flats aboard the 18’ Egret Flats Boat. Randy’s from Wichita Kansas and is spending the winter in Fort Myers renewing his relationship with his High School Prom date. How cool is that!

The day started with us fishing a creek in the mouth of the river. Walter started with his first Snook ever. What a great fight! Pucker up Walter! Later Randy, not to be shown up, started with the Redfish. By the end of the tide flow, we caught several Snook, several Redfish, a flounder and a jack. By the way, Randy caught all the reds and Walter caught all the Snook. Go figure.

redfish1
Randy’s Red

We moved up the river to a couple of other creeks and the bite slowed dramatically. We fished the docks, the mangroves and the fish must have been taking a mid morning rest.

Together we came up with the next plan of attack and it was to move in some canals and look for some large jacks. Payday! After a few chummers and the right anglers at the front of the boat, we started to pull in one after another. Both guys caught many fish but Walter was the one on the last cast that came up with the big boy. A 12 pounder!

What a great day with some new friends. I really enjoyed the day with two gentlemen and great fishermen. Study hard Walter and come back to see your Uncle soon!

jack
Walter’s Big Jack

Get out on the water, take a kid fishing and always remember that “it’s great being us”!

Capt Blake <*(((><

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Filed Under: Florida Fishing Charter Reports Tagged With: Fish Charters, fishing charters, fishing guides, Florida, Florida Fishing, Fort Myers Florida, redfish, Sanibel fishing, sanibel island, Snook, Southwest Florida

January 24, 2013 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers, Sanibel Florida Charter Fishing Report

If fishing the flats in Florida is your gig, then come to Fort Myers or Sanibel and enjoy the weather and the fishing. Chris Weaver, from the DC area did just that.

Pine Island Redfish
Pine Island Redfish

Chris visited Fort Myers first to be in a baseball tournament (in which his team won) but quickly became a big fan of the great fishing we have to offer. To start off the weather was great! The fishing started off a little slow. The first number of fish never seemed real interested in the bait. Fish after fish were missed but we didn’t let that stop us.

Chris being a great caster really helped in getting the lures in the strike zone. Finally we started to get multiple fish to the boat. Redfish, trout and other species were on the list at the end of the day.

Special thanks to my new fishing friend from the North. I’m looking forward to seeing you again!

Sanibel TroutGet out on the water, take a kid fishing and always remember that “it’s great being us”!

Capt. Blake <*(((><

Filed Under: Florida Fishing Charter Reports Tagged With: Fish Charters, Florida Fishing, Fort Myers Florida, Pine Island Sound, redfish, Sanibel fishing, sanibel island, Snook, Southwest Florida, Tarpon, trout

January 7, 2013 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers, Sanibel Florida Charter Fishing Report

The Fort Myers, Sanibel flats fishing report this week is a mixed bag of Spotted Sea Trout, Snook, Redfish and Grouper. Charter Fishing Guides are working hard to please and work around the changing weather and water temperatures.

Major (Roll Tide)
Major (Roll Tide)

Our featured group is the Lee family from Montgomery Alabama. Shon (father) brought his two sons, Major (Sophomore at Alabama) and Marshal (High School Senior) in town for a day of back country fishing before moving on the Miami for the National Championship game Monday night with Alabama against Notre Dame.

The day started out like gang busters with Marshall catching his first Snook (pucker up for a kiss), followed by Major’s first Redfish and Marshall also catching a big Redfish. A Jack, Mangrove Snapper followed and the bite shut down. When I say shut down, I mean it was even hard for us to catch a bait out of our own bait well. We fished for the next few hours without even a tree limb caught!

Marshal
Marshal

We saw multiple fish but their lips were tighter that my Uncles clamp on his wallet! Finally we started getting some light bites and a few fish (thanks to the great fishermen on the boat). Slowly the bite improved and we started catching multiple Spotted Sea Trout with a mixed bag of Ladyfish.

Any day you see a dad and his sons together doing anything is a great day and especially fishing. They were all gentlemen, good fishermen, and fun to have on the boat. Safe travels and Go Alabama (Roll Tide)!

Get out on the water, take a kid fishing and always remember that “it’s great being us”!

Capt. Blake <*(((><

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Filed Under: Florida Fishing Charter Reports Tagged With: Fish Charters, Florida Fishing, Fort Myers Beach Florida, Fort Myers Florida, redfish, sanibel island, Snook, Southwest Florida

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