The last 4 days we seen wind from the east at 15-20 with gust over 30 mph. I have been on some nice redfish on the eastern shore of an island in Pine Island sound. The redfish have respond well to artificial, as well as some cut lady fish, with some reaching the 7lb 27 inch mark. However there where less fish each day until finally today a big fat zero. I should have known they would leave but I was banking on at least one more day, which happens to be today.

Well let me tell you the last thing you want to have happen, has a guide is to have a new client that has never fished with you before, and spend a half day not catching more than a couple of fish. To make things even more interesting the new client was 6 year old Cody, his father, mother, and grandfather.

Well knowing I had a young man of this age on my boat today, I decided to catch some bait for the first time this year. After having spent a better part of a half day looking for the elusive redfish I had been catching and even striking out on trout and lady fish, I went for broke and put all my cards in on my reputation, and took a long run back from where I started the morning off.

Now let me repeat, I put all my cards in and went to a old snook fishing hole, since I had caught all this white bait, and not wanting to let Cody think the only fish to be caught was bait. I even had to run 3 miles out of the way to avoid the white cap chop on Charlotte Harbor to get to where I was going, talk about a long shot, this was it. But what I later found out was having Cody on your boat was like having a lucky charm in you pocket.

Charlotte Harbor Snook Fishing

Cody landed the first Snook at 8.5 lbs, and we caught about 20 or so more along with some keeper trout for dinner. Most of the snook where 4-6 lbs, the best part we caught fish every time I let Cody do the chumming. Cody it was a pleasure having you with me today you are a great young man and an awesome fisherman. The smile on your face and the conversations we had to day made me remember why I do this. Thanks for helping me remember why I became a fishing guide.

Capt Andy Boyette
1-888-880-0006
www.GoFishCharters.com
www.TarponCharters.com

Take A Young Person Fishing It will make you feel good.

I will be adjusting the spring season slightly to target some less talked about species of fish including tripletail, pompano, kingfish and a few others.  All of which are excellent eating and attainable targets, with sportfish qualities. I have fished for these species throughout my life as a lifelong resident of the area, so snook fishing closure should only serve to bring more variety and enjoyment to my charters. I look forward to sharing the experience and excitement of fishing for a wider variety of Florida fish species with you this spring.

Tarpon Fishing Information
Everyone by now, knows that I am offering a 10 hour tarpon trip. I wanted to clarify a few things about the 6 hour trip, and the 10 hour trip since a lot of my clients have asked me numerous questions.

Most Importantly I will still be offering a 6 hour trip for those who only wish to fish for 6 hours.

The 6 hour tarpon trip will remain unchanged and it is your choice, a 6 hour morning session and/or a 6 hour early afternoon session.

The 10 hour trips is just as it sounds 10 hours. Below I will summarize as best I can, keep in mind if you book me for the 10 hour trip the day is devoted solely to you, not like when I have either a morning or afternoon trip to worry about. On a 10 hour split day trip, we fish part of the trip in the morning, take a break and come back out to fish the remainder of the trip. Typically split 6 hours and 4 hours. If we tarpon fish only I let the fish and/or the client decide if or when there is a break (we fish the best time). Also a client who has a 10 hour trip booked can request to fish for other species, which is not possible on a 6 hour tarpon trip since economics forces me to fish an afternoon trip. So basically on the 10 hour trip the day is yours and we can break it up however as the day and fishing dictates. We also don’t have to split the day up at all if there is a hot bite we will in all likelihood fish through.

Also if my schedule permits you can request to fish additional hours at $100.00 per hour. This will specifically come into play on a 10 hour trip as well as the afternoon 6 hour session. Last season (2009)saw some really good late fishing into the early evening, and I will be prepared with lighting and all necessary equipment to stay in to the early evening.

Spring Flats Fishing Information
I also want to touch on the effects of the cold winter weather we had in here Florida. You may be aware that the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued an executive order on the harvest of snook, tarpon, and bonefish thru April. This was due to the potential damage that may have been done, due to the cold temperatures, and any affects it has had statewide on these subtropical fish.

*Anglers may still catch and release any and all of these fish during the closure.*
What this means is that you may still fish for any of these species but no one can harvest which means keep any of these species.

As a side note in recent history very few, mostly to use tarpon for bait, have been keeping tarpon , and in my 11 year career, thousands of tarpon have been caught and released on my charters, and I have never allowed or would allow one to be kept,  so the tarpon fishing will never be affected on my trips.

To touch on the snook fishing in the early spring, I have kept very limited numbers of snook in the past. Most of my clients that where looking to take home something to eat, understood the importance of the snook, and always focused on other species like trout and redfish for the table. So I would like to add that this will have limited affect on my charters, we will continue to fish as normal for snook, redfish, and trout with the only change being all snook caught go back to ensure a healthy stock for next season.

Capt Andy Boyette
www.gofishcharters.com
www.tarponcharters.com

With unprecedented continuous cold weather well below normal, and 2 nights of hard freeze, I have had to cancel all the trips I had scheduled over the past 10 days. Hope fully this weather event will clear out the middle of this week.

Today myself and a friend went on the water today. Our intent was to count any dead snook that we saw neither of us where prepared for what we saw. We targeted the north end of Pine Island and encountered thousands upon thousands of dead mullet most where 12 inches and under, they literally carpeted the bottom. We made are way into the 3 canals and counted over 1000 dead snook in less than a 1/4 mile of waterway, with 90% in the slot to overslot size (10-well over 25lbs). If there was any bright side to the snook kill we did not see any juvenile snook that were dead, unfortunately we only looked at a very small area. I have already gotten reports from numerous other guides with similar reports. This is no doubt a big set back to the snook fishery. You can see a video of the damage in the video section of my website http://gofishcharters.com/fishing_videos.htm

The trout fishing should remain unchanged since trout can tolerate the cold weather, same with the hardy redfish both of which have a range that extends well north of Southwest Florida. As of last night the Gulf water temperature was 50 and I would not doubt that it dropped a bit more with the coldest air last being last night. Tonight’s weather, while still cold for Florida, will hopefully stay out of the 30s and give a slight reprieve.

Tarpon fishing is around the corner (April-July) and I have been booking clients for sometime now. This year, I am in addition to the 6 hour tide charter, offering a 10 hour split day charter. On the 10 hour charter, the day is devoted solely to you, we fish part of the trip in the morning, take a break and come back out to fish the remainder of the trip. Typically split 6 hours and 4 hours. If we tarpon fish only I let the fish and/or the client decide if or when there is a break (we fish the best time). Also a client who has a 10 hour trip booked can request to fish for other species, which is not possible on a 6 hour trip since economics forces me to fish an afternoon trip. So basically the day is yours and we can break it up however as the day and fishing dictates. The response to the 10 hour tarpon charter has made me very excited about it. I would interject that this means less openings on my schedule so booking early will become more critical if you are planning to fish with me.

Capt Andy Boyette
1-888-880-0006
www.gofishcharters.com
www.tarponcharters.com

I have been booking a few new clients for tarpon season 2010. I expect with the amount of inquiries that after the holidays everyone will be getting their plans together since the majority of trips are booked over the next 6-8 weeks. Also in the my newsletter I made everyone aware of a new custom charter that is available for the upcoming tarpon season, if you did not see it I will be sending out another shortly. Newsletters are sent about 7-8 times per year to keep everyone up to date with the fishing in the area.

I hope everyone had a Great Thanksgiving as did I it was spent in the Mountains of North Carolina with my lovely Tammy and son Trevor at our camp. I would also like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Capt Andy Boyette
1-888-880-0006
www.gofishcharters.com
www.tarponcharters.com

I have a couple of openings left in May and a Couple left in June so if you want to go tarpon fishing call me, and I will give you the short list of available dates.

Snook fishing this spring from Fort Myers, Pine Island, and into Charlotte Harbor was off the charts. This was the best fishing I have seen in at least 7 years. I had several days that felt like I was in a time warp and fishing back in the 80’s. There was one day particularly where I spent a good 2 hours with a couple of clients who stayed doubled up on snook. We caught 12 fish over 10 pounds and another 20 or so inside the slot, with not one undersized fish. The best thing about that day was fishing a spot I had never fished in my life because of all the boats in the area and the late start I got with my clients. Moral to the story sometimes you should take the blinders off and take a look around instead of just running straight to your favorite fishing spot. These snook where obviously migrating to the passes and we chanced up on them in a pot on an island.

Look for me to be tarpon fishing only for the next 3-4 months, and for everyone who is interested tarpon fishing continues well into the summer months when the tarpon move back into the harbor and feed until the first hint of winter. Some of the best tarpon fishing of the year is July-September

Capt Andy Boyette
1-888-880-0006
www.gofishcharters.com
www.tarponcharters.com

The bait population is beginning to show up and can be caught in various places bring a 1/4 inch mesh net since it is on the small side and gilling will occur. But with the bait the snook fishing has been turning on and great action can be had for those who spend the time it takes to net bait.

Tarpon fishing is already beginning I personally seen free jumpers in the lower Pine Island Sound and Ft Myers Area. The major tarpon season runs April-July and these dates are beginning to fill up. The economic turn down in the area is more like a correction in the market place as far as rentals are concerned. This is a windfall for visitors who are finding the rental market more in line with reality, with rentals at 1/2 or in some cases a 1/3 of the cost than in the previous 3-4 years. This has been a plus to my booking with most of my clients delighted that they are no longer having to overpay for a place to stay.

My rates have remained the same for the past 6 years and I credit that to good management and my continued search for unconventional ways to cut my cost and pass these savings on to my clients in the form of no rate hikes, even when the cost of fuel surged to over $4. Last week I added a second boat to my business a light shallow running skiff capable of carrying the same four passengers I carry on my bigger boat. The Shallow Sport with a 150hp four stoke is 2 feet shorter and 100hp less than the Ranger Boat. I should once again be able to save fuel dollars and be able to maintain. As a promise to all of my annual clients who fish with me every year and to those looking for a guide, I will continue to search to for ways to keep my cost at minimum and balance that out with a fair cost of a fishing charter to insure the future of my success as I celebrate my 11th year as a fishing guide.

I have some dates still available in April as well as May and June, however I have a lot of days that are unavailable so give me call and lets go catch some Tarpon, I expect another great season.

Capt Andy Boyette
Tarpon Fishing
1-888-880-0006

There should be an abundance of bait as spring approaches with the grass flats in the area in the best shape I have seen in several years. The east side of Charlotte Harbor has grass in areas that lost 80-100% 4 years ago to the hurricanes. The hard hit mangroves are also beginning to show new life. This should in turn help filter the water and further improving the overall quality.

Tarpon season is shaping up nicely with about 50% of my book filled already. With the nearly 15 hours of day light in the summer I manage to do 2 tarpon fishing trips a day so I still have about 50 openings so it is not to late. Last season saw numerous tarpon caught and released over 200lbs and I directly attribute this to the catch and release practice as well as a few years of no red tide to kill the baitfish these tarpon are here to eat. I expect to have another large tarpon run, and eventually with the tarpon tournaments in Boca Grande Pass, and the fish being weighed, that there will be a record tarpon caught out of this area.

Deciding On A Fishing Guide. For those of you who have recently contacted me and are considering my services and comparing, please do you homework. I started, and have operated, Go Fish Charters over 10 years ago. If you hire me, I can produce all the necessary documents to run a legal charter business by request, and You Can Be Assured That You Are Hiring A Full Time Professional Guide Who Has Years Of Experience Successfully Guiding Clients, So Before You Make A Decision On A Fishing Charter And Guide Type “Capt Andy Boyette” In a Search Engine And Check Me Out. You will find extensive information about me and any other guide that you may be considering.