Florida Fishing Charter Reports

October 23, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Florida Charter Fishing Report – Snook, Jacks and Trout

Welcome to Southwest Florida, fishing the Islands of Sanibel, Captiva and Boca Grande. Winds are up and out of the North fishing for Snook, Trout, Jacks, Spanish Mackerel were hot. The waters are a cool 75 degrees in the back country and the morning have a cool nip in the air.

On low tides look for Trout in potholes or drop offs from the grass flats. Jacks, Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish will be where the current is strong. Look for birds diving and busts in the water and you’ll find lots of action. We’re catching Snook in passes and around bridges in high current areas.

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

Tight lines,

Capt. Blake
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September 9, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Fishing Florida using DOA Lures

When fishing the flats or back country around Sanibel and Captiva Islands in Florida, no matter what time of year, or how much you fish, you should always have a number of artificial baits (lures) that you have confidence in.

Bait fishing is a no brainer, but what happens when bait is hard to find. What about daybreak fishing. During the summer months in Florida you need to catch the early bite or you may be out of luck. If you’re spending hours catching bait, I will spool you on fish caught for the day, but if you fish using artificial baits you can start fishing as soon as you get your boat wet.

DOA Lures are my go to when it comes to artificial fishing. Between the Shrimp and the TerrorEyz I have caught every fish that can be caught in the Southwest waters of Florida. Shrimp can be fished on the grass flats or skipped under the mangroves. The TerrorEyz can be jigged in deep water in inlets or around bridges. You can use the smaller heads and fish shallower waters with less current.

Go out and give artificial baits a chance and you’ll gain confidence like I have.

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

Tight lines
Capt. Blake

August 16, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Sanibel Island Snook Redfish and Trout Fishing

Met my client, Lorn Randall from California early at the dock on a beautiful August morning to fish the back country of Pine Island Sound and the Islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Lorn requested to go and see the process of catching bait before the fishing on the flats. After catching bait and seeing a beautiful sunrise the hunt began with our first stop at a mangrove island. Our first fish was a beautiful Redfish. Our second fish was the elusive Snook. Now I’m thinking we’re almost there to the big “Sanibel Slam”. Just one Trout and we have it. Naturally, I’m ready to get out of here and go to some grass flats to see if we can make it happen. Summertime can be a little tricky for Trout as the water is warmer and you really need to get them early or you may be out of luck. Our day was progressing (getting late) so I’m a little concerned about our possibilities.

We head over to a nice Pine Island Sound grass flat and the hunt begins. My buddy, Lorn, proves to be a worthy caster and we commence to bring in one catfish after another. We miss a couple of small Trout and then it finally happens. A nice Pine Island Sound Spotted Sea Trout. Bingo, a Sanibel Slam.

We both decided to try some mangrove fishing on the Sanibel, Captiva side of the sound so we’re off to another adventure. In stealth mode, we creep up to an Island off Sanibel and start casting towards and in the mangroves. A couple of nice snook and a beautiful redfish and my line goes tight and a huge snook has his way with my gear. I never had a chance to even get a look before he was in the next Zip Code. We re-bait and then it happens. Lorn hooks the granddaddy snook of the day. He jumps and I know it’s going to be a tough fight. This is a 35 inch plus Snook! I lift up the Power Pole and start motoring away from the mangrove to help Lorn with the battle. Minutes later, which seemed longer, we have the monster to the boat only to have him break the leader while we’re trying to have a conversation with him. Wow, what a day!

I bid farewell to my new friend and we both agreed that it is “great being us”, especially today!

Tight lines,
Capt. Blake

July 28, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Flats Fishing, the knots I use in Pine Island Sound

Fishing in the back country of Southwest Florida has a number of problems you encounter. Mangroves, oyster bars, shallow water, storms and even some tough fish. So, whenever you’re lucky enough to get one of our swimming trophies, like a Snook, Redfish, Trout or Tarpon on the line the last thing you want to fail (because of lack of knowledge) is the knots used to secure your tackle.

I’ve been a student of knots for years. Trying probably every knots know to man and alien also. I had so many knots I used, depending on what line size, rod, lure, bait, leader and so on and so on. I sometimes had to look at cheat notes to remember the correct way of tying I had so many.

Then one day a light came from above and said “KISS”. Keep it simple STUPID. I knew it was talking to me. So after that, I picked to most versatile and strongest knots I had experimented on and used only those and to this day, I basically use only three (3) knots when I’m out fishing no matter what the circumstances are.

1. On the main line I tie a “bimini twist” (I use the easier version taught to me by Dave Westra from Lehr’s Fishing Tackle).

2. Then the main line to the leader, I use the “no name knot” or the “Yucatan Knot”.

3. Finally to the hook or lure, I use the “non-slip loop knot”.

I find that these three knots will do the job for almost all applications while you’re chasing fish on your own or on a fishing charter in Florida and always remember, “the key to happiness is fishing the flats with Capt Blake”!

Tight Lines!

Capt. Blake

July 20, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Snook Fishing Trip – Fort Myers – Wold Family Charter

Recently I did a fishing charter for snook in the Fort Myers area with the Wold family. Ryan Wold is a great guy from MN . Ryan is the Branch Manager and a Financial Advisor in the Edina, Mn branch of Raymond James and Associates. Ryan has been fishing with me before and owns a condo in Fort Myers, FL. Ryan mentioned on our last trip that he would like to bring his two sons down to have a father/son adventure.

Snook fishing fort myers fl, sanibel — Wold brothers, snook slayers

The day was set and I met Ryan, Graham age 13, and Keegan age 11 at the dock with bait tanks full. After seeing what the boys wanted for the day we were off to fish the Islands of Sanibel and Captiva. Neither son was big fishermen but they are competitive Skeet shooters.

Dad strikes first with a nice Trout and avoids having to pay one of his son’s for the first fish but then the boys start smok’n their dad. One after another the Snook kept coming to the boat with one of the boys hook in his mouth. Graham brings in the nicest Snook (28 inches) after a long and tough battle. The bite slowed and we were off to another adventure.

charter fishing Sanibel Island FL — Graham’s Big One That Didn’t Get Away

Later we were at a secret Grouper hole and the action started with Trout, Ladyfish and multiple Grouper. Keegan had his eyes on a large baitfish in the well and asked what we could catch with it. Shark, I replied, and he lit up. After minutes in the water, the bait did its job, but the hook did not. Bait gone, shark gone. Moments later, Dad had a hard hit and fish on. Keegan’s shark.

Sanibel-Florida-Trout-Grouper-Trip — Ryan, Graham, Keegan

Great day with a father and his boys!