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Right now, do whatever it takes to get out fishing

Call in sick, take vacation time or quit! Do whatever it takes to get out on the water for some of the year's finest fishing here in Southwest Florida.Continued warm water has many tarpon staying on and eating in Charlotte Harbor and in the major river mouths, even on a few nearshore reefs, according to a recent report.I'm also starting to see increased juvenile tarpon activity in the canal systems around the Cape area as well in Punta Gorda's canals.Right now my focus is on the hot inshore redfish and snook action. For those that like to cast and move, this is the time of year to limber ...

Sports Calendar 10-18

Upcoming EventsNov. 23rd Annual St Andrew Catholic School 5K - 7:30 a.m. start at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road in Cape Coral; sign up on active.com or pick up registration form at the Run Shoppe, 1407 Cape Coral Parkway, Cape Coral FL 33904; all proceeds to benefit St Andrew Catholic School.13th Annual Special Populations Golf Classic - Sponsored by the Cape Coral Local #2424 Professional Fire Fighters, four-person scramble will be held at Palmetto Pine Country Club with registration and breakfast at 7:30 a.m. and shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.; cost is $130 per player ($5 off if you ...

A few tips on how to catch redfish

First time redfish clients are usually amazed by the sheer power of Southwest Florida redfish. Trying to get a 10-pound red with a mouthful of your shrimp out from under a 5-foot canopy of mangrove fingers that are trying their best to snag your tight line can be quite the heart pumping battle, and what keeps bait fishing redfish anglers coming back for more every fall.New to the redfish bait game? Don't worry, it pretty basic. At the end of your line attach a quality swivel. Tie on a 24-inch piece of leader material. Slide on a 1/4 to 3/8 oz. sliding barrel sinker then attach a 2/0 3/0 ...

Who is credited with catching the first tarpon?

With high water temperatures, many migratory tarpon are wondering whether to stay on till Thanksgiving or head south before getting caught in a sudden fall chill.Interesting, that credit for the first tarpon caught on rod and reel was reported by W.H. Wood in March of 1885, caught in Tarpon Bay, Florida, and during the remainder of that week, four more fish were boated from the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. This report was submitted by Wood and published in the April 1885 issue of Forest and Stream Magazine.John Smith of near Punta Rassa guided and provided letters verifying the ...

If shark fishing is your thing, you’d better get going

With temperatures hovering in the 90s, shark fishing from boats or beaches is still a good bet if you like stretching your string and back muscles. Many of these fish move south with the tarpon migration, so if sharking is your thing, times wasting.Before planning your fun evening on the beach where dreams of landing and releasing a 1,000-pound hammerhead in the surf crowds your thoughts, make sure you know the newest rule changes before your evening fishing for the man in the grey suit turns into a multiple ticket offense courtesy of the man in the green uniform.You mean I just can't ...

Early fall’s a great time to fish across Southwest Florida

Early fall is prime for anglers here in Southwest Florida! Everything is biting. You can still score a bright silver tarpon before they leave. Snook are back from the beach and eating, storing fat and energy for the upcoming winter. Off shore, mackerel, grouper and snapper and some between hurricanes, great weather to get safely out and back with full coolers and happy faces.Fall brings one of the toughest, fastest, light tackle busting game fish on the planet close to our coast -- the bonito. Try one on for size with your snook rod or an 810 wt. fly rod and make sure you have plenty of ...