The good and the bad when fishing a few local spots

June 9, 2017

On days off from fishing, I often find myself on foot exploring (fishing) five very small isolated canals and assorted spillways near my home.Heavy rains and cancellations freed up some time and soon I was back on foot catching snook, assorted large cichlids and a bonus 30-inch tarpon.One spot has a tiny pond with lilies and big saucer shaped bass beds, but no bass. Instead each bed was patrolled by a mad as a hornet jumbo aquarium escapee from South America know as a cichlid.Like an Oscar or other common freshwater aquarium fish (tilapia) that now sit next to grouper on today's menus, ...

If you’ve never fished for tarpon, you ain’t been fishin’

June 2, 2017

Tarpon fishing fever can often cause one to abandon good sense, work, responsibilities, bills, even loved ones. I personally know these things to be true and my ex-wives will, for the first time in recorded history on any subject, all agree with me.Although Cape Coral's canals and the Caloosahatchee River host resident tarpon year-round, the migratory fish heading north from The Keys and below signals the real start of tarpon season in these parts.Typically a resident fish takes on a darker, golden green hue from living in our tannin-stained river, while the migratory fish are bright ...

Like to fish? Southwest Florida is the place to be!

May 26, 2017

If you are a fishing nut, a real true rather fish than eat, don't know when to come in out of the lighting, oh, man should have left an hour ago, spent the last 5 bucks on bait shrimp instead of milk for the baby kind of angler, then Cape Coral is a pretty good place to dock your boat.Relocated from the frozen north? No need to trade that Ranger for a flats boat as we have arguably one of the best bass lakes in the world pretty close by (Lake O) and it's no secret the Cape's hundreds of miles of fresh and saltwater canals hosts largemouths.I've had several big number days on plain black ...

Fishing gear, rigs for tarpon and snook

May 12, 2017

Dedicated early morning and dead of night beach stalkers will encounter some seriously big snook in the surf zones this spring and summer.For beach walking, pack lightly with bucktail jigs, twitch baits and a large top-water or two, some bug spray, small light, water, release tools, then hit the beach.Fish-ing near one of the local passes will improve your odds, as will using a long rod with braid allowing you to make long casts and cover water efficiently.Cast parallel to the beach not distance casting into the Gulf. The action is close to the beach in the surf zone.Rigging your gear ...

Enjoying one of angling’s greatest thrills

May 5, 2017

It's May and tarpon time! Look for the tarpon fleet anchored off Sanibel and Captiva in the usual windy spring conditions bottom fishing for the newly arriving big fish from the Keys heading to Boca Grande and points further north and west as they migrate over towards Alabama, Texas, and Mexico.The other group that left the Keys on their spring migration northward turned right at Miami to travel along the Atlantic coast and continue that journey as far north as Virginia and even further north into the Chesapeake Bay.These migrating tarpon are some of the strongest fish of the year and a ...

It’s tarpon time — be prepared

April 28, 2017

Tarpon time is upon us and the fever burns hot.The early tarpon hunters can be found anchored in Pine Island Sound or off Sanibel.It's easy to spot the anchored boats.Here's what not to do if this is your first trip.Do not charge into the middle of the pack with Lynard Skynard blasting, then suddenly stop, throw out your anchor and start fishing.This method is known as the "No friends in a hurry method"Idle down when you spot the pack. Stay back from the anchored boats while you figure out a game plan, then quietly get in position so as to not infringe on the others' boats' bottom baits ...