Go Fish Charters Florida Fishing Report

Tarpon Fishing Is On Fire

andy — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 08:54:29 +0000

Tarpon fishing is on fire, I have been tarpon fishing now for over 3 weeks with good numbers of fish early in the month of April. The harbor bite went off first and myself and Capt Scott Hughes enjoyed a nice school of tarpon ranging from about 120lbs to over 180lbs. These tarpon where hungry and we had several days where 10 to 15 fish where hooked and several landed on my boat. Capt Scott and me agreed not to tell anyone and we where able to fish for well over a week just the two of us. On Thursday 4 days prior to the cold we where discovered and by Saturday 25 boats showed up.

The fishing shut down for a few days during the front and the fishing slacked, but as soon as the water warmed up tarpon hit the Boca Grande Pass and have been chewing. The full moon sent the crabs flushing and a short hill tide was experienced. Any crabs that where cast hooked a fish.

As of this week the tarpon have moved into the Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, Boca Grande Pass and just about every where but the beach. Remember to respect others when fishing in areas where other boats are because most people are looking for the tarpon bite and approaching them in the wrong manner does not make friends.

Availability is limited on my boat for May with only a few afternoons scattered, June still has some empty slots but I expect it to fill as well. If you are planning to fish with me give me a call and lets put something together, tarpon is my passion and to date for the season we have boated over 30 tarpon all over a 120 pounds with the biggest at about 200 as you can seee in the photo above.

Capt Andy Boyette

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Tarpon Fishing Looking Good

andy — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:45:48 +0000

Over the last few days Tarpon have began showing up in Boca Grande Pass in fishable numbers. The threadfin herring have started filling the harbor, and as long as the weather holds fishing for these giants will become more steady. Last week we experienced a couple of cold days that shut the fishing down, with one of my trips being a total bust. But by mid week the temp’s rose into the mid 80’s and water temp’s stabilized.

The snook fishing picked back up as did the red fishing along with king fish in the 30lb class mixed in with Tarpon in Boca Grande. I expect to see these tarpon move up into the harbor any day now where fishing will become more stable. As April progresses the tarpon population will grow into numbers in the thousands, and as May approaches the gathering in the Pass should be at peak and continue into June.

As many of you who have fished here over the past few years, you know we have had crippling weather, so lets all keep our fingers crossed. I expect a good season that again will last well into the fall.

I will be adding more pictures to the new photo gallery and would like to encourage you to look through them. These are pictures with clients from over the years. You can register at the site and download your pictures and make comments about them. At present there are about 70 photos by the end of the month there should be about 300-400. You can find them here http://gofishcharters.com/photos/

I look forward to seeing many of you again over the next several months as well as meeting some new faces, and if you have not already booked I still have some availability mostly in June.

Pine Island Sound And The Big Pass

andy — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:06:40 +0000

Prior to the cold front that past by first of the week where temps dropped into the 40s Pine Island Sound was stating to show some decent action with Snook and Trout with the occasional Redfish. Bait fish was making a good showing but unlike the past few years it is not in the usual spots. Tarpon began showing in small numbers on the beaches and I have heard from other guides they have been catching a couple a week. I went in to the big Pass today and marked a handful of tarpon and there where several boats drifting live bait.

Bull and Turtle Bay have been fairly reliable with a mixed bag, but I struggled to put fish in the boat today. Several of the trout we caught did not even fight, indicating that the cold must have affected them more than I thought.

Upper Charlotte Harbor has a steady supply of bait in and around the two bridges. Snook fishing continues to be good in the rivers and canals, and I expect until we get a week or longer of warm days they will be in no hurry to leave.

I have been steady booking tarpon trips and have very limited availability for May. I stll have openings in June so if you are planning a tarpon trip this year you should be getting your plans together. I expect another phenomenal season

Pine Island And Charlotte Harbor Fishing

andy — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:19:59 +0000

Spring like weather patterns continue, with the mildest winter I can remember in recent history. Red fish fishing is not as good as it should be with reds being a hit or miss, however big redfish are showing in the potholes. The slot-sized reds are harder to find and not in good numbers. Cut bait and scented plastic are still the best. Snook season opened and some slot fish are being taken in the upper Myaka as well as the Peace River. Smaller snook are more abundant on the flats and deeper cuts. Trout fishing is pretty hot with plenty of gator trout mixed with slot size, a good day well consist of 30-50 fish. Non-stop action can be found drifting and casting 1/8-1/4 ounce jigs with jerk baits or gulp shrimp.
Grouper fishing continues to be good close to shore as well as the snapper. Drifting cut or live bait will take home plenty of dinner. I also hear a lot of success trolling plugs near good bottom or structure. Interesting fact the there could be new regulations on the horizon for offshore fishing so it is a good idea to get involved and be vocal on your position. If not no complaining when the season is closed for half the year like is being proposed.
As always tarpon fishing is a subject I bring up. With the tarpon that where being caught in December and the amount of tarpon up the rivers now, the upcoming season I expect to be phenomenal. I have been booking steady and have more on the books at this time than any other year in the past; I hear the same from many other veteran tarpon guides, I still have a lot of room on my book, but at the pace I am booking, timing will become an issue if you are planning to fish with me. I have stressed this in the past and this year is no exception good tarpon guides book up early and become very limited. So if you are thinking about fishing there is no better time than now. It allows you to secure the date that works best for you.

Capt Andy Boyette
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Florida Fishing Report Boca Grande Pine Island Sound

andy — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:13:18 +0000

The New Year and winter arrived at the same time with mid 20 degree low temps and highs only in the 50’s. Water temptures fell quickly by more than 15-20 degrees in less than 24 hours. There where numerous areas that snook got caught off guard and small juvenile to mature snook where killed by the freeze. Fishing fell off as fast as the temptures and has only recently picked back up.
Redfish are starting to move back on to the flats after quickly fleeing the cold weather. Live shrimp and cut bait will work in the potholes on deeper flats. Trout are holding in good numbers in 4-6 feet with 1/8-1/4 ounce jig heads with scented plastics worked slow and on the bottom. Snook that escaped the cold are hold up in the rivers and canals and will readily take a live shrimp free lined.

The grouper and snapper bite is on fire off shore and is the best prior to a front or just after. Ledges and wrecks in the 80-foot range will give up a limit in a short time. Make sure to take frozen baits and a mixture of live baits. These fish change mood and can be seriously frustrating not to have live bait when they want or frozen if that is the case. A lot of times you can turn the bite back on by switching between the two.
Tarpon fishing is getting closer and I have been booking trips for the prime season with regular clients as well as some new clients. I expect to have another banner season since the harbor is still full of bait despite the recent freeze.
Capt Andy Boyette

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Tarpon Fishing

andy — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:44:08 +0000

Tarpon in Charlotte Harbor, King Fish near the beach, Redfish tailing in Pine Island Sound, Snook moving up the rivers. The Florida weather as been picture perfect making fishing as hot as it gets this time of year with a variety of options. Tarpon near the 41 bridge in target able numbers last week moved in to Boca Grande Pass for a late season bite if you where lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time.
King Fish are in good numbers close to the beach and on near shore wrecks and can be caught with blue runners and other live baits. We hauled 25 stretch magnums this weekend in 50 foot of water and scored several nice kings in the 25-30lb range with smaller school fish mixed in.
The Picture perfect skies and light wind coupled with extreme low tides produced great tailing redfish throughout Pine Island Sound. With shrimp and soft plastic jerk baits taking numerous fish in the slot and plenty of oversize redfish mixed in.
Snook fishing is good close to the river mouths as t these fish move back in to winter grounds. Dock fishing and deep-water cuts are holding good numbers of fish. The bait at the mouth of the rivers is phenomenal and will help fatten up these fish for the upcoming months.
Capt Andy Boyette
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Florida Tarpon Fishing Report Pine Island Sound

andy — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:27:38 +0000

With the first cold front that passed and the shorter days the water temps are climbing down and snook know to fatten up for the winter when during cold fronts they will lay up for days with out eating. Snook are being taken in good numbers all across Charlotte Harbor with slot size fish being the normal. Redfish should be on the move towards winter flats where on a sunny day after a cool morning you will be able to find them tailing for food and warming up in the sun. Kingfish are still being caught close to shore along with grouper snapper and a few cobia.
I fished an extreem low tide yesterday for tailing redfish in Pine Island Sound. The day was less than banner but there where redfish tailing in four areas. Me and Capt Scott Hughes caught two fish to the boat, cast at numerous fish with no reaction, missed numerous hooksets, and pulled the hook on the last fish at the boat before landing what looked to be a top slot redfish. If It had been a tournment day we would have scored but not likely in the top total weight about nine pounds.
Tarpon Fishing Charters are starting to book now and some of my regular clients are picking some of the prime dates. Since there are two charters per day there is still plenty of dates to chose from. Call now to book your tarpon fishing dates.

Charlotte Harbor Fishing Report

andy — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 02:38:19 +0000

A welcome weather change has came about with cooler weather you can stay warm with hot fishing. Snook fishing continues to be excellent with fish on the feed and fattening up for the winter. Slot size fish will readily take live bait and soft plastics as well as various top water baits. My favorites include the the skitter walk Rapala early in the morning and on cloudy days like we have seen for the past few days. With the fast early morning incoming tides we have had snook have stationed up on island points and deep water cuts adjacent to shallow water flat. A weed less jerk bait tossed in to the shallow water and worked back towards the deep water will pickup snook waiting for a meal to get washed into the deep water. The key is to present the bait in front of the snook not from behind. Redfish are broken up into smaller groups and working the bushes on the high tide and picking up singles is the best bet. A jig head in the 1/8 ounce with a shrimp imitation or jerk bait will be easy to skip under the bushes. after making a good cats let it settle before twitching and than quick jerk until the bait is out of the target zone. Work every edge nook and cranny of the shore line and make several tosses into the same spot some times red fish will readjust after your first cats and be able to see you bait when they couldn’t before.
King fish are definitely in the area and should hold well into November. Trolling always works but with fuel prices on the rise again you may want to catch bait and anchor and shut down the big motor. If you know fish are in the area and or you are in a traditional spot, once on anchor create a chum slick with menhaden oil and an occasional scoop of live or chunk bait and the fish will come to you. You have two options here the one being fly or just free line the baits a, a plus to this style of fishing is while you are waiting you can usually catch snapper and grouper if you anchor in the right spot.

As always tarpon fishing is always on my mind and the season will be here sooner than you think. I have been booking trips already and at this time have done so at the same rate as last year. I bring this up because I heard stories form clients on my boat that after booking with other guides at their given rate they found out later that there was a fuel surcharge. I personally don’t believe in this practice so all trips booked will be at the rate at the time of booking regardless of the price of fuel next year, the rate you book at will be the rate. Hopefully the price of fuel will remain steady and there will be no reason to raise my rate.

Florida Fishing Report

andy — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 14:18:12 +0000

Tarpon fishing is almost non-existent in our area now, as the fall patterns are beginning to emerge. Snook season reopened last month and have cooperated well, look for these fish to begin moving back to the creeks and rivers and deeper channels in preparation for winter months. Redfish have been schooling up in traditional areas with slot size fish easily taken most days. Trout fishing is picking up with keeper and oversize trout in the mix.
Kingfish should be making the fall showing and should be in the area through this month as well as most of next month. Mangrove snapper has been a good staple on most trips, with 20 inch and larger fish being taken. Grouper should start to move in closer as the days get shorter and the water temps begin to cool down.
I have already begun to book my 2008 tarpon season with regular clients as well as some new inquiries. Just to remind everyone May and June are prime months, and have received a lot of TV coverage over the past several years. This has had a positive affect on booking. It also seems that people are booking earlier every year.
I have also acquired an online travel agency to assist clients in making travel arraignments. A full service-booking agency for airline, hotel, car rentals, cruises and any other travel or vacation packages, for all your needs. Please consider shopping and comparing on our site.

Flats Fishing

andy — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 14:16:00 +0000

With the first hint of fall arriving this weekend in Southwest Florida fishing should be about as good as it gets. Water temps are falling and fish are becoming more aggressive. Schools of redfish are scattered through out the area. Look for tailers on a low tide then work the bars on a rising tide.
Snook fishing is improving as these linesiders move back to the winter haunts. River mouths, island points, tidal creeks with good moving water should produce. Snook are fattening up for the winter and will take most offerings if presented correctly. If the fish you have found arenâ€™t eating try tackling down and finesse fishing to entice a strike.
King fish should start moving south and the runs in our area have been bigger and better each year. However near shore fish have been seriously affected by what seems to be an everlasting redtide bloom, pushing these fish and the bait they eat further offshore. Start looking for water temps in the mid to lower 70â€™s with a good hard bottom and bait, you should have success.