Florida Fishing Report Florida Fishing Charters For Tarpon, Snook, Red Fish. From Boca Grande, Fort Myers, Sanibel, Punta Gorda » Red Fish Fishing Report

Pine Island And Charlotte Harbor Fishing

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — 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 Tarpon Fishing Report Pine Island Sound

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — 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

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — 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

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — Sun, 22 Jul 2007 14:10:00 +0000

Fishing has been as hot as it can get through out the year, and has been one of my personal best. The snook, redfish, trout, and of course my favorite the tarpon cooperated all through the season. I spent numerous days and hours fishing with clients from all over and just had such a tremendous time, I couldn’t even find time to keep a updated fishing report. Now with the summer months here things have slowed down enough I can find the time to be consistent writing and trying my best to keep you updated on the fishing scene in and around Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor area.
The redfish action is starting to heat up in Charlotte Harbor with some schools of oversized fish being caught. Snook are still being caught at the beaches and passes, especially on out going tides; remember however this is still catch and release for another month. Tarpon have left Boca Grande Pass but numerous schools and numbers worth targeting are still in the Charlotte Harbor. With high temperatures during the day the best fishing times will be early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
“GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WITH BAIT” … Capt. Andy Boyette
Go Fish Charters and Guide Service can arrange a private or group Tarpon fishing, snook fishing, backcountry, flats near shore or inshore fishing trips.
If you are considering a stay in our area I recommend checking out the Marina Inn www.marinainn.net it is located on the eastern shore of Charlotte Harbor and has condominium accommodations at hotel prices.
“Good Things Come To Those With Bait”
CAPT ANDY BOYETTE
Go Fish Charters and Guide Service can arrange a private or group Tarpon fishing, snook fishing, backcountry, flats near shore or inshore fishing trips.
We do full and half day charters as well as night Charters

Charlotte Harbor Redfish

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 20:40:00 +0000

Hot Summer
Red fishing is heating up with groups of fish being found though out the harbor. The action should be steady for the next few months as these fish school up prior to mature fish moving offshore. There should also be schools of bull reds near the shore in and around the passes. Chum an area and wait and these fish will show up and a 20-30 fish day is easily attainable.
Tarpon fishing is a hit and miss occasion with small pods working small bait in the deep holes of the harbor. Bait Busters will do the job if these fish will eat so keep a rod handy. Should you see fish sky-in on bait stop and work the bait buster through the area.
Snook are still plentiful near the passes and the beaches but I still choose not to target them. If you do make it a short fight and good release the water is hot and these snook are still spawning. Most any bait available should take these fish.
Grouper are well offshore at the 30-mile make and further for good size fish. If you get out early your chances are better and you should see other species such as mahi-mahi, permit, and possibly amberjack. Be prepared to beat it back to the dock because of weather.
Good Things Come To Those With Bait Capt Andy Boyette

Southwest Florida Snook and Red Fishing

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — Sun, 21 Apr 2002 13:34:23 +0000

The red fishing as been excellent over the past few weeks with big schools of redfish scattered all over the Charlotte Harbor. The fish have cooperated nicely using pinfish for bait. I have averaged 20-30 redfish in a half-day charter.

A few weeks ago I took Todd Clemens out on a full day charter. Todd was part of a big group that hired 10 boats for a group charter. The day started with light to heavy rain and Todd and me left the group to avoid the rains and to wait for the tide to move. I told Todd when we started that the morning would be slow but we would finish it of with a bang. So we hit a few islands looking for snook and managed to get broke off twice in the mangroves. Once the rains let up I decided to start heading to where I knew the redfish would be. When we arrived the tide was slack and ready for the incoming to start, I informed Todd that the bar that was exposed by the low tide would have to have the water start to cover it before the redfish would feed. Todd’s response “you’re the Capt.”, so we waited with baits soaking on the end of our lines. As soon as the birds that where standing on the exposed bar started getting there feet wet the fish turned on. Todd caught redfish after redfish for the next four hours. The fishing was so hot that we skipped the lunch that was paid for by the company that booked the trip. Todd was almost in disbelieve at the numbers of redfish he caught and had to admit it was worth the wait. It was a great day and Todd was a joy to have aboard my boat, hope to hear from you soon Todd.

A little advise to offer for anyone interested. Sometimes the spot your fishing in looks good and you think the fish should be there but there not. You just might be there on the wrong tide. The bar I fished with Todd would not have produced on the outgoing tide so that is why I waited for the tide to change before fishing there. So when you find that spot that looks good and you think it could hold fish it probably does you just need to figure out when is the best time to fish it.

“Good Things Come To Those With Bait” Capt. Andy Boyette

Red Fish Fishing

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — Fri, 21 Sep 2001 13:07:39 +0000

September brings on the month of the redfish. The weather has been perfect and the bait has been plentiful. You can’t ask for anything better. Redfish have been schooling up and feeding heavy, they are getting ready for the mature fish to move off shore. I have been taking good numbers of reds throughout Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island, Ft Myers and Boca Grande.

Last week I took Mark T. from Tampa along with his wife and another couple. Mark told me his wife had never caught any big fish and he wanted to make sure she did! I picked them up at 8:30am and stopped about 100 feet from the dock made a toss and handed the rod to Mark’s wife, within a minute a nice jack hit the bait and she had her first big fish. After taking care of Mark’s wife and her first fish I moved on heading to a redfish hole. Along the way we came across a school of ladyfish and seatrout, so we spent about an hour catching and releasing about fifty fish. Then I decided to hit those reds and after chumming for about 20 minutes we soon had about the reds within casting distance. We caught and released about ten and kept two. Glad I could get your wife those nice reds Mark, and I’m sure your going to have to take her fishing more often I think she got the fever.

Next I took Jeff B and his group. We didn’t waste any time and went straight to the redfish hole.I threw out a handful of chum and it didn’t take long for them to show up. We caught and released some nice reds and Jeff took two home for dinner. Jeff booked a full day and the tides just not up to par for my standards so I suggested we cut the day short and only fish for half day. Jeff was fine with that, he caught plenty of fish and didn’t pay for a full day charter. I just can’t bring myself to charge for a full day when the fishing conditions are not right. I see you when you get back Jeff and maybe you can make during tarpon season.

The redfish should hold right through the month and well into October. Look for them in the potholes and bring plenty of live bait to chum them up. Don’t get to anxious and leave it can take up to an hour for the redfish to smell and find the chum. Once they do you can keep’em there by throwing a few handfuls every 10 minutes or so.

“Good Things Come To Those With Bait”

Fishing Report from Southwest Fl

Capt. Andy Boyette/Go Fish Charters — Tue, 21 Aug 2001 13:06:05 +0000

It seems as if the two year drought here in Florida may be coming to an end, we have had 20 inches of rain in the past two weeks. Most of this rain came over a two day period, about 14 inches. This caused some spotty fishing days with all the fresh water flushing into the harbor. But towards the fist of this week things picked up hot and heavy and I had some amazing days on the water

I took Tony P. and his friends Ed and Linda, from Bartow Florida they booked a room at the Marina Inn at Burnt Store Marina for a few days and wanted to try their luck on the flats. Tony hasn’t fished in quite a few years and had never fished the Charlotte Harbor area. The fist day was really breezy and we got a late start so we cut it short and headed back in after only a few jacks and some small snook. The next day we had are bait caught before 7:00am and headed to west wall and started working the banks I had seen some nice reds right before the rains and I figured they would be held up in some of the deep holes. The heavens were raining down the blessings on us because within the first five minutes of looking we got on school of nice keeper size redfish. So I dropped the anchor and figured we would catch a few. Well within in four hours we caught and released 67 redfish. I can tell you that was the best day of red fishing I had ever come across. and I know Tony and Ed will never forget it , because I know I won’t. This was truly a day that don’t come that often. Hey guys I’m glad I was there with you; we were, with out a doubt at the right place at the right time. If you ever get to Bartow Florida make sure you stop and check out Tony’s antique shop the Hodge Podge, and don’t forget to ask him about his Redfish trip. The store is located in the downtown area at 270 South Wilson Ave., and he can be reached at 863-534-8800. He also sells from Ebay and can be found on Ebay by looking for captnb3.

I tried the reds again the next day with Mike A. form Texas. Mike is a regular client and I have fished with him a lot, he was in town so I called him and told him about the reds and we decided to go. Well when I tell you that you don’t have days like that often, you really don’t! Those reds had left and we looked and waited for two hours before Mike decided, because of a small tropical wave heading into our area to call it a day and get the boat out of the water. I agreed but instead of just picking up and leaving I decided to troll along the and cast our baits up to the bushes until we reached the mouth of Turtle Bay. This gave Mike a good ten minute fight with a nice 40 inch 30lb snook on eight pound test. Good catch Mike you can be proud of this fish. After catching and releasing the spectacular fish we called it a day.

“GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WITH BAIT”
Capt. Andy Boyette