Pine Island Sound

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

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.