Florida Fishing Charter Reports

June 27, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Charter Fishing Off the Coast of Sanibel Island

Fishing the Gulf of Mexico is a unique experience to every level of sports fishing enthusiast. The Gulf is a relatively shallow body of water with man made reefs and a wide variety of fish species. This variety of fish is one of the things which attracts many fishing enthusiasts each year to the Gulf Coast of Florida. Sanibel Island is a barrier island off of the coast of Fort Myers. With its sister island, Captiva Island, it is a popular tourist destination because of its natural beauty and pristine beaches. Both Sanibel and Captiva Islands have made a commitment to preserving the natural beauty of the area by limiting development. This commitment to the environment has made fishing off of the coasts of the islands one of the best areas in Florida to experience the natural beauty of the state.

For most people, the best way to experience fishing off the coast of Sanibel is on a charter fishing boat. A local captain will know all of the best fishing spots and can make a fishing excursion a success. The type of boat is important, too. A Customized Egret 189 Flat Boat (what we use) is considered the top of the line in fishing boats. The carbon fiber and Kevlar construction make this type of boat sturdy and easy to manage in the Gulf waters. A flat boat is best for the Gulf waters because it gives the fishermen the best access to the water and can get into the coves, inlets, and fishing holes where the best catches can be found.

There are several varieties of fish which can be found off the coast of Sanibel. Each season brings its own unique fishing experience. This is one of the reasons the area is so popular and sets it apart from charter fishing experiences in other parts of the country. Offshore species include tripletail, tarpon, cobia, shark, spanish mackerel, king mackerel, barracuda, and snapper. Saltwater fly fishing yields large snook, tarpon, and snapper. Inlet and back bay fishermen will find snook, redfish, seatrout, and tarpon plentiful.

The tarpon is known for its fight and is one of the favorite fish for sports fishermen. The best season for tarpon fishing is spring, but if your captain knows where to fish, the season can last until the first frosts of winter. This is a very long fishing season for one of the most prized species in Florida. Tapron can be caught near the shore or out in the open waters of the Gulf. Tarpon are large and can weigh over 200 pounds. Tarpon fishing competitions are held in Florida and attract sports fishermen from all over the world. Another very popular species is the snook. Snook are another large fish prized for their fight and aggressiveness in the catch. Snook like to hang out near the coast and in holes. The best fishing season for Snook is during the warm months of summer since the fish tend to get sluggish during cold weather.

Charter fishing off of the coast of Sanibel Island in a private charter boat is an experience the rookie or experienced sports fishermen will not soon forget. The beauty of the area and plentiful fishing makes this area one of most popular sports fishing destinations in the country.

June 27, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Manatee and Dolphin Watching in Southwest Florida

Humans seem to have a natural attraction to manatees and dolphins and if the behavior of these mammals is any indication, they also seem to be attracted to humans. The manatee and dolphin are not fish, but mammals which bear live young and breathe air. Manatee and dolphin watching charter trips are a great way to see two of the animals Southwest Florida is known for. A private charter gives you a chance to watch and interact with the dolphins and manatees from a safe distance.

Manatee Facts

The manatee is protected by Federal law and is somewhat more elusive than the dolphin. Although with this protection their numbers are increasing, manatees still remain an endangered species. Manatees are migratory animals and have been known to migrate as far as North Carolina and Louisiana, though most stay near the Florida West coast. They tend to stay in the warm Florida waters during the winter which and migrate further north during the summer. The best manatee watching is near the Southwest Florida coastline near Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Capitiva Islands, and Pine Island Sound.

Manatees are herbivores and feed on the grasses and plants of the Gulf waters. Manatees can grow to be several feet long and have smooth gray skin. They have no visible ears, but are thought to have excellent hearing. Manatees make a squealing noise to communicate, or to show fear or excitement. They breathe through their noses and their lungs take up two thirds of their bodies. Their calves can be up to 70 pounds and the mother manatees nurse underwater. Manatees are gentle creatures and can be seen rolling and playing when not resting or feeding.

Dolphin Facts

The dolphin is one of the better known sea mammals residing in the Gulf waters. Florida’s Bottleneck dolphins are playful, intelligent, and seem to enjoy sharing the waters with humans. Adult dolphins can reach up to eight feet and weigh between 450 and 600 pounds. Females travel in groups of three or more, while males are usually found singly or in pairs. A group of dolphins is called a pod. Although the males and females may travel apart, they still come together to help raise the young and to mate. Baby dolphins are born alive and nursed by their mothers for up to two years. Calving season peaks in May, and the baby dolphins remain with the mothers for three to eight years.

Dolphins are carnivores and eat up to 30 pounds of seafood per day. The communicate with high pitched squeals from their blowholes. It is from their blowholes they breathe. A dolphin can create a sound so high that it can stun fish. Dolphins have keen eyesight and can distinguish between friend or foe easily. They hunt using natural sonar to locate their food.

Chartered Manatee and Dolphin Tours

The best way to observe manatees and dolphins is to charter a private tour. This gives sightseers a chance to see the animals in their natural habitats. Both manatees and dolphins are fascinating animals and can be seen playing and feeding off of the coast of Florida. Southwest Florida offers a unique venue to observe and interact with these aquatic mammals safely. A chartered tour offers a knowledgeable captain, private boat, and a chance to enjoy Southwest Florida’s natural attractions and wildlife.

June 5, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Going for Tarpon with Captain Blake – Florida Charter Fishing Report

Several years ago I bragged to Captain Blake about my childhood trout and salmon fishing tales. Captain Blake countered that I hadn’t really had the ultimate fishing experience until I had caught a tarpon.

A few weeks later when the spring flood tides were running Blake called me out to try hunting for tarpon with him. I knew by reputation that Blake was a world class professional fishing guide so I was honored to take up the challenge.

I could write for hours about the amazing experience Blake provided but, suffice to say, that trip was a mind bending incredible experience that I will never forget. At about 6:30AM when we put in his flats boat it started as I was inspired by the beauty of the sun peeking over the river to the east with the full moon setting over the gulf 180 degrees to the west.

But I should cut to the chase. By late afternoon the high tide was pulling the crabs off the shoreline and pulling them into the tidal flow while they clung to the seaweed trail in Redfish Pass. We got there before the tide peaked and waited. Blake knew. All of a sudden there they were, a whole school of tarpon feeding on the crabs. They had done this before! The tarpon

Megalops atlanticus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

knew where and when to appear. We finally hooked up with a big one and while passing the tiny rod across the flats boat we were actually jostled by the rambunctious school of feeding tarpon bumping the boat so much that I almost lost the rod over the side of the boat. Wow, I couldn’t believe it. The combination of a 130 or 140 pound 6 foot long tarpon fighting at the end of the tiny rod with which Blake had furnished me was electrifying. I felt like I had hooked a tornado during a full scale earthquake.

I managed on that 95 degree beautiful summer afternoon to bring the tarpon up to the boat eight times, but each time the fish saw the boat he spooked and off he’d go again. Three hours later I was drenched with sweat and totally exhausted when I pulled that tarpon beside the boat for the last time. I didn’t know it then but later I looked around and realized the tarpon had pulled us out of Redfish Pass and over two miles out into the gulf..

I was in awe of this noble fish. What spirit and strength. Just as I thought he was all done he spooked again and I watched the line plunging straight down into the deep. Then it turned around and began rising fast until the tarpon exploded out of the water leaping high in the air twisting and turning until he spat the hook right back at the boat. And with a huge splash he made his exit. He was gone.

I was spent – nearly totally exhausted. But I knew right then that I had just had one of the very greatest experiences of my lifetime. I can never thank Blake enough for giving me this experience and teaching me so much about a very different and amazing kind of fishing that few people will ever experience.

I can only say that if you ever have an opportunity to hunt for Tarpon with Captain Blake you better take it. Since then I say that Captain Blake must have been a fish in a former life because he knows so much about his avocation of guiding. If you take the opportunity you could very well be in for your own experience of a lifetime.

Submitted by Ned W Downing
Crystal Lake, New Hampshire