Red Fish

March 4, 2013 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers and Sanibel Island Florida Charter Fishing Report

Stalking and finding fish in the Back Country around Fort Myers and Sanibel is like hunting for Quail back in the fields of North Carolina where I grew up. You keep looking till you find what you came for. That’s what Ron and his brother in law encountered while fishing the Flat’s around Sanibel and Captiva Island in Pine Island Sound.

We start like always, fishing the tide. If it’s low, we fish pot holes or deeper cuts. If it’s high we fish the mangroves. We found some fish in a creek near Sanibel. First we found the Snapper. Then we came upon some smaller but nice size Black Drum. They kept coming, one after another. At times we had double hook ups. Seeing the rods bent almost doubled is the greatest site a fishing guide has ever seen. Hearing the reel scream like a sewing machine on steroids is the greatest sound. Combine both and you have a “happy, happy” Captain!

After a number of fish in the boat and time running out, we together decided we’d try to find some more, but different fish to bother and play with for the rest of the trip. We found some trout (a few very nice ones) drifting the grass flats. After playing a while with those guys, we moved to the trouble makers of the day. Yes, the Red’s and Snook were there but boy did they have a bad case of “loose lips, sinks ships”. They just would not partake in our fun and enjoyment.

The day ended, but we all enjoyed a beautiful day on the water. Ron and Rick were good fishermen and great guys. I had a great day with both and they both were gentlemen.

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

Capt Blake <*(((><

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.

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 <*(((><

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.

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.

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 <*(((><