Southwest Florida

February 10, 2013 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers Sanibel Florida Fishing Report

This week fishing the saltwater flats around Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach and Pine Island Sound have been pretty good for this time of year. Whether you’re going spin fishing or fly fishing the red fish and spotted sea trout have been biting a multitude of bait patterns.

I was out with my friend Joe “Mad Man” Maddalone from Boulder Colorado. He’s a fishing nut like the rest of us and came for a short visit to see what’s biting in the back country.

The fishing started out a little slow but we managed to get a number of Spotted Sea Trout to the boat but none were the big ones I hoped for. We tried a couple of other spots looking for Red Fish but they were not cooperative as days before.

I decided we’d move to a spot that has been producing some small Grouper, but with ultra light rods, THEY’RE A BLAST! It was slow to start because the tide was moving slow but they finally took the bait. After a number of break offs Joe finally started bringing a number of the smart ones to the boat for the famous “grip and grin” photo op.

After a few more we both decided to try another spot and we’re glad we did. Snook was the main topic for the afternoon. Joe had a blast catching Snook under the mangroves. It was difficult getting the smart line-siders to come out for a “snicker bar” but we did manage to get some to take the bait (along with a number of pesky Jacks).

Thanks Joe for visiting us and getting me out on the water. Safe travels back home and come back to see us soon!

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

Capt Blake <*(((><

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).

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.

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!

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

Capt Blake <*(((><

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.

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!

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

Capt. Blake <*(((><

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.

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!

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 <*(((><

December 31, 2012 By Blake Matherly

Fort Myers, Sanibel Island Florida Fishing Report

The flats fishing this past week on the Southwest Coast of Florida around Sanibel and Fort Myers has been like the roller coaster ride at Disney World. One day chicken, next day feathers, or in some cases like one charter this past week, Seagull feathers.

My new friends Jeff Oravec aka. Seagull man, Bass man from Atlanta and his brother in law Mark Smith from Cleveland experienced the roller coaster ride with yours truly.

The day started out cold, overcast and thoughts of a shutout were hard to keep from my mind. One spot nothing, two spots nada, three spots zilch. How many fishing spots do we have to go to till we can find fish. My answer, as many as it takes! Period!

Finally we find some fish but the bite is slow and hard to get the fish hooked that were biting. Finally, spotted sea trout bite turned on. First Jeff, then Mark and the tough day started to look like we made the right decision. Suddenly the toughest fight so far started but, yes, it was not the underwater version, but the giant, sought after by few, Seagull. That’s right Jeff, my man, had hooked a Kamikaze Seagull looking for a free handout for breakfast. Thank goodness these guys are “catch and release” kind of fishermen so we gently reeled him in and softly released him back to the sky from which he belongs. After a few more trout we decided to try another spot.

The next spot started out very tough just like the others but we started getting some nice bites but could not get the fish out of the structure. After probably 10 break offs, Mark finally coaxed the first Grouper to the boat. Following the lesson learned, Jeff started reeling multiple fish to the boat and the day was without question the right thing to do. Both anglers caught multiple fish and really were great fishermen to have on the boat.

Safe travels to my new friends!

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

Capt. Blake <*(((><