Well I survived another Easter and with the holiday coming to an end we are seeing a mass exodus of the fishing enthusiast back north. Fishing has been really good when the wind cooperates and we should be seeing an exodus of it as well, I hope. Catches of Trout, Pompano and Mackerel have been good. We also have been catching nice numbers of Triple tail as well.

It has been a mild winter here in S.W. Florida but I am growing tired of the low tides. In winter time the tides are more extreme and on the negative side of the fluctuation, which make it more difficult to go where you would like. You must use great caution so you do not find yourself high and dry. Also the banks that you usually fish are a few feet out of the water. People up north look forward to the end of the snow where as for us, it is the end of the low low tides. I am truly looking forward to spring.

You mention the word Charlie here in S.W. Florida and everybody thinks you are talking about the hurricane that devastated this coast a few years ago. Charlie is my dog and the best fishing partner that I have ever had. I have been stuck many days, out there wondering where the fish are hiding. when Charlie will come up to me and gaze over to the west. I say, are you sure?  He barks once, (Yes). Away we go, and don’t you know it he is right.

Morale of the story, never leave home without him, and a pocket full of dogie cookies, just might save the day!

Well, here we are again Spring Break here in S.W. Florida and my favorite time of year. As a full time resident who is dependent on the tourisum industry, I personally welcome the influx of people to the area. Being a charter fishing captain full time can be quite an enduring task some times of the year, especially when there is no one to take fishing.

Come one come all and see what Marco Island has to offer! 

There is not a day that goes by when I am down at the Calusa Island Marina, in Goodland, Florida, that I do not think about, “how much longer will this great fishing resource we have, is going to last?”. With all of the pressure that it has been enduring, not only from the commercial fishing industry but as well as the recreational fishing enthusiast. Fishing on Marco Island has been really great in the past few years and I am really concerned about its future. I hope big business does not take over and blind the people with promises of a grander future with the expansion of real estate development and the notion that, “the more people living here, the better off we will all be”. Well, when they get done destroying this fragile ecosystem, and taking all their profits, this is no place anyone will want to vacation anymore, because we will have nothing left to offer. Lets keep our eyes on the long term scheme of things and continue to protect ourselves. “Just Say No!.” Lets preserve this great sport fishing resource we have here on Marco Island as well as the rest of S.W. Florida.

Whether you are on a fishing charter or just fishing on your own, it is very important to know the local rules and regulations not only for the conservation of the fishing resources but for future generations of the fishing enthusiasts.  It will also keep you from receiving a ticket or even worse, jail time. Here on Marco Island, Florida, the ecosystem is very fragile and just hanging in balance with nature. So please educate yourself with the basic knowledge so you and your family can enjoy the thrill of fishing for many years to come.

It was an absolutely beautiful morning here on Marco Island. Temperatures in the mid 60’s as a low and high 70’s for the afternoon. My game plan for the day’s charter was to target some spotted sea trout and pompano while waiting for the tide to change.
My fishing charter guests,started off throwing a combination of different jigs, bucktails and rubber worms, out on the Cape Romano flats. The very first cast, we hooked up a nice 19 inch trout, and that’s how the rest of the trip went, one after another after another(wish all my days were like this one!).

The tide finally rose enough and we headed to the backwaters. I passed out the new weapons. Grandpa was first in and he laid his rod against the gunnel, not in the rod holder. I asked the gentleman to please put the rod in the holder, and he replied to me, “do not worry, I am not going to catch anything any way”. Not more than 2 minutes passed and I heard an oh-…hit!. You guessed it his rod was gone! Luckily I had a spare rod so we slipped even further into the back waters of the 10,000 islands. We caught a variety of fish including Snook, Red Fish , Snapper, and Grouper.

The trip drew to an end, so we headed back to the dock, located in Goodland. The folks disembarked and asked how much they owed, so I quoted the price of the trip plus the lost rod.

I thought the guy was going to have a frombosis when he found out the price of the rod and reel at a 50% discount. I bet he will never do that again!

Yesterday I was sitting at the Calusa Island Marina here on Marco Island waiting for my fishing charter when I happen to glance over at the Naples Daily News, Marco Island edition, and the title read, 2006 sea turtle standings set grim record!

Here we go again I said to myself. It seems that all I read lately are articles about the devastation of our natural resources here in S.W. Florida. People wonder, what is killing everything? Dolpin, Sea Turtles, and Manatees are high on this impact list. The government wants to keep receiving the tax dollar from big business but they are destroying the environment by letting certain concerns get away with pollution issues, which in my mind are causing these red tide outbreaks.

Tourism is one of our largest industries here in S.W Florida and without the tourtist, there are fewer jobs, fewer tax dollars, and less industry to support the people living here.

Someone should step back and take a long, hard look at what is going on.   I love being a charter fishing captain here on Marco Island and hope that I will be able to continue doing so for many years.The Snook, Red Fish , Snapper, Sea Trout, and Goliath Grouper are just a few of the fish that we need to protect. I hope that we can reverse this devastating trend and begin living in harmony with Mother Earth.  

Marco Island, Florida, Jan.16 2007 and winter is upon us ,80 degrees and holding steady.I have been fishing here on Marco Island, Naples and the everglades 10,000 islands for over 20 years and can not remember a time when the weather was so mild.

Today was a cool morning here in southwest Florida. Morning temps in the mid 50’s high 80.

I was waiting at the dock for my charter to arrive and noticed 4 people coming towards the boat for a 4 hr trip of backwater fishing. Mom,Dad,and 2 children in tow. Dad out front carrying a huge 72 qt cooler. I thought to myself these people must eat allot for a cooler that big on a 4 hr trip oh well.Dad approached with the cooler and I prepared to load it on board thinking this is going to kill my back! Here it comes, I braced my self and dad flung it my way, to my amazement it was empty. I asked dad whats with the cooler , and he informed me it was for the fish!!!!!!

You now wonder why the government is predicting a total collapse of wild seafood market by 2048. Take only what you are going to eat tomorrow not what you can stuff your freezer and forget about,then undoubtly you wind up throwing out.