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Good Redfish and Snook Fishing by
Butch Rickey
(10/03/2007)
First up on Monday, was my old friend Willy Van Der Vorst, who vacations here this time of year on most years. This year Willy brought his lovely new wife Corene. Willy is a blast to have in the boat, as he's a natural comedian, and he has plenty of jokes to tell, too.
First up on Monday, was my old friend Willy Van Der Vorst, who vacations here this time of year on most years. This year Willy brought his lovely new wife Corene. Willy is a blast to have in the boat, as he's a natural comedian, and he has plenty of jokes to tell, too.
Port Sanibel Fishing by
Butch Rickey
(9/08/2007)
I had only one trip for the week, and it was a tough but fun one. It fell on the Tuesday after a three day holiday weekend. Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest of the year on the water. It often takes our shallow water fish a couple of days to settle down and let you get close enough to catch one.
I had only one trip for the week, and it was a tough but fun one. It fell on the Tuesday after a three day holiday weekend. Labor Day weekend is one of the busiest of the year on the water. It often takes our shallow water fish a couple of days to settle down and let you get close enough to catch one.
Fishing Has Been Good by
Butch Rickey
(9/02/2007)
I was on the water two days this week; Monday and Friday. With a descent but very uncharacteristic breeze on Monday, it actually wasn't bad out there. But, yesterday, with hardly any air moving, it was just miserable. Fortunately, the fishing was pretty good.
I was on the water two days this week; Monday and Friday. With a descent but very uncharacteristic breeze on Monday, it actually wasn't bad out there. But, yesterday, with hardly any air moving, it was just miserable. Fortunately, the fishing was pretty good.
Fort Myers Area Inshore Fishing by
Butch Rickey
(8/23/2007)
What was to be a four day work week, rare for August, wound up being a two day week. Monday, I attended what was the most beautiful funeral service celebrating the life of Capt. Sean Middleton's mother, Lynda. There were a ton of folks there, including lots of fishermen and fishing guides. Lynda was a water baby, and finally succumbed to a long, six year battle with cancer.
What was to be a four day work week, rare for August, wound up being a two day week. Monday, I attended what was the most beautiful funeral service celebrating the life of Capt. Sean Middleton's mother, Lynda. There were a ton of folks there, including lots of fishermen and fishing guides. Lynda was a water baby, and finally succumbed to a long, six year battle with cancer.
Florida Fishing Guides Report by
Butch Rickey
(8/11/2007)
I'm trying to take some time off during August, as I usually do. I had no trips this week, so in keeping with the feature I started last week, I have included some great catches submitted by some of my friends.
I'm trying to take some time off during August, as I usually do. I had no trips this week, so in keeping with the feature I started last week, I have included some great catches submitted by some of my friends.
Trophy Speckled Trout by
Butch Rickey
(4/24/2007)
First up on Monday were Jeff Falk, his wife Pat, and daughter Courtney, down from Englewood, Florida. I liked them as soon as I met them and knew we were going to have a great time regardless of how the fishing went. We were laughing and cutting up before they even stepped foot on the Talon.
First up on Monday were Jeff Falk, his wife Pat, and daughter Courtney, down from Englewood, Florida. I liked them as soon as I met them and knew we were going to have a great time regardless of how the fishing went. We were laughing and cutting up before they even stepped foot on the Talon.
Sanibel Island Fishing For Snook by
Butch Rickey
(4/08/2007)
The week began with a rare Sunday trip. I know. I know! I don't do weekends. Actually, I will gladly do weekend days for my regular customers if I don't have a weekday open.
The week began with a rare Sunday trip. I know. I know! I don't do weekends. Actually, I will gladly do weekend days for my regular customers if I don't have a weekday open.
Another Late Season Front? by
Butch Rickey
(3/24/2007)
The tides this week were generally poor for most of the week. I always tell my prospective customers about how the tide affects the fishing, and how I see the catching prospects for their chosen day.
The tides this week were generally poor for most of the week. I always tell my prospective customers about how the tide affects the fishing, and how I see the catching prospects for their chosen day.
Bloom and Gloom? by
Butch Rickey
(3/13/2007)
There was no fishing report last week, but one important thing did happen. I reluctantly sold my Maverick 17 Master Angler backup boat to a great father-son team of Gary and Garret Parker.
There was no fishing report last week, but one important thing did happen. I reluctantly sold my Maverick 17 Master Angler backup boat to a great father-son team of Gary and Garret Parker.
Estero Bay Inshore Fishing Report by
Larry Hendricks
(3/01/2007)
Filled the well with one throw of the net. Found some hungry canal tarpon and medium size snook.
Filled the well with one throw of the net. Found some hungry canal tarpon and medium size snook.
Fishy, Can I Buy A Bite? by
Butch Rickey
(2/26/2007)
I know we've had periods of hard fishing in years past, but boy I'll tell you, this past week or so has erased the memories of previous episodes of lockjawed fish.
I know we've had periods of hard fishing in years past, but boy I'll tell you, this past week or so has erased the memories of previous episodes of lockjawed fish.
Prefishing Flatsmasters Qualifier Redfish Tournament by
George Howell
(2/22/2007)
Week of prefishing for redfish tournament. Plus tournament day details. Spent several days on the water this week prefishing for the Flatsmaster's Qualifier tournament Sat. the 17th. The tournament was for 2 redfish, artificial lures only.
Week of prefishing for redfish tournament. Plus tournament day details. Spent several days on the water this week prefishing for the Flatsmaster's Qualifier tournament Sat. the 17th. The tournament was for 2 redfish, artificial lures only.
Week ending 2-10-2007 by
George Howell
(2/11/2007)
Cold day charter and 2 days of scouting for my next red fish tournament
Cold day charter and 2 days of scouting for my next red fish tournament
Fishing Between Cold Fronts For Snook by
Butch Rickey
(1/30/2007)
That's what winter fishing often gets down to; fishing between the fronts. And, that's what it was this week.
That's what winter fishing often gets down to; fishing between the fronts. And, that's what it was this week.
Sheepshead Surprise by
George Howell
(1/29/2007)
Chasing redfish with the incomming tide led to a day of large hungry sheepshead instead.
Chasing redfish with the incomming tide led to a day of large hungry sheepshead instead.
Pine Island Sound Report for Week Ending Jan 14th by
George Howell
(1/17/2007)
Week of tournament prefishing. this week was all about keeping up with fish before and after the cold front, and adapting to their changing habits.
Week of tournament prefishing. this week was all about keeping up with fish before and after the cold front, and adapting to their changing habits.
Light Tackle Gag Grouper! by
Butch Rickey
(1/14/2007)
I stopped at Shack Baits Monday morning and bought a few dozen hand-picked shrimp, just in case the fish didn't want to eat plastic, again. I also decided to see if I could catch a few shiners at the causeway, even though I wasn't carrying the right net for the job.
I stopped at Shack Baits Monday morning and bought a few dozen hand-picked shrimp, just in case the fish didn't want to eat plastic, again. I also decided to see if I could catch a few shiners at the causeway, even though I wasn't carrying the right net for the job.
Exude RT Slug and Shrimp Usually Best by
Butch Rickey
(1/10/2007)
We were tossing the shrimp and the trust Exude RT Slug, which is usually all you need. But, on this day they weren't interested in anything but those shrimp. I tried rigging them for surface, suspended, and bottom fishing, but we just couldn't get anything to eat them.
We were tossing the shrimp and the trust Exude RT Slug, which is usually all you need. But, on this day they weren't interested in anything but those shrimp. I tried rigging them for surface, suspended, and bottom fishing, but we just couldn't get anything to eat them.
Sanibel Fishing For Schools Of Bluefish & Mackeral by
Butch Rickey
(12/30/2006)
I managed to run two trips this week. We had two days of wet weather at the beginning of the week, including Christmas Day. I knew Wednesday would be a tough day even if the weather cleared out, because the fronts always shut down the bite.
I managed to run two trips this week. We had two days of wet weather at the beginning of the week, including Christmas Day. I knew Wednesday would be a tough day even if the weather cleared out, because the fronts always shut down the bite.
Redfish, Redfishing has been steady by
Terry Pitz
(12/05/2006)
Redfish, Redfishing has been steady. I've been doing best on tides that have good current. Shrimp, shiners & cut bait has been working the best for me. The schools can be from ten to fifty. Fishing reds on the flats can be a casters' dream. On the lower tides, they become very visible with their tails sticking up in the air. Fishing for tailing reds is great fun!
Redfish, Redfishing has been steady. I've been doing best on tides that have good current. Shrimp, shiners & cut bait has been working the best for me. The schools can be from ten to fifty. Fishing reds on the flats can be a casters' dream. On the lower tides, they become very visible with their tails sticking up in the air. Fishing for tailing reds is great fun!
Casting Rattletraps At The Mangrove Shorelines by
Butch Rickey
(12/02/2006)
After a major cold front last week, we were now on the front side of another one, which meant warm, moist air pulling up out of the south, and very moderate temperatures. We were looking at a high in the mid 80's.
After a major cold front last week, we were now on the front side of another one, which meant warm, moist air pulling up out of the south, and very moderate temperatures. We were looking at a high in the mid 80's.
Pine Island Redfish by
Butch Rickey
(11/26/2006)
Geez! This is getting tedious. This was to be a busy week. but in typical November fashion, big cold fronts and big winds claimed most of the week. I managed to get out Friday, only. And, what I though would probably be a stinker of a day turned out to be a good one.
Geez! This is getting tedious. This was to be a busy week. but in typical November fashion, big cold fronts and big winds claimed most of the week. I managed to get out Friday, only. And, what I though would probably be a stinker of a day turned out to be a good one.
Pine Island Sound Snook Are Biting by
Butch Rickey
(10/21/2006)
The week began with two trips on the books, but ended with one. The week was a crazy one, as my father-in-law passed away. The funeral was scheduled for Thursday, which was my day with Peter Karas. We were able to move the trip to Wednesday.
The week began with two trips on the books, but ended with one. The week was a crazy one, as my father-in-law passed away. The funeral was scheduled for Thursday, which was my day with Peter Karas. We were able to move the trip to Wednesday.
Pine Island Snook Fishing Along Mangroves by
Steve Gibson
(10/17/2006)
The bite was hot as snook blasted glass minnows along the mangroves. When the sun got up high enough to light the flat, I began casting into sand holes. Using a 6-weight rod, sinktip line and olive-and-white Clouser Deep Minnow, I began hooking fat mangrove snapper on nearly every cast. Before the bite was over, I caught and released 25 snapper. The largest was about 14 inches, but all were fat as they could be.
The bite was hot as snook blasted glass minnows along the mangroves. When the sun got up high enough to light the flat, I began casting into sand holes. Using a 6-weight rod, sinktip line and olive-and-white Clouser Deep Minnow, I began hooking fat mangrove snapper on nearly every cast. Before the bite was over, I caught and released 25 snapper. The largest was about 14 inches, but all were fat as they could be.
Another Short Week Of Fishing by
Butch Rickey
(10/08/2006)
The first day on the water was Thursday, with Capt. Cliff Young, who owns Box Canyon Cabins, and charters out of Eagle River, Alaska. We first fished together last year around this time, along with his good friend Dewayne Brantley, and had a great trip.
The first day on the water was Thursday, with Capt. Cliff Young, who owns Box Canyon Cabins, and charters out of Eagle River, Alaska. We first fished together last year around this time, along with his good friend Dewayne Brantley, and had a great trip.
Backcountry Florida Fishing Report by
Butch Rickey
(10/01/2006)
Fishing was about as hard as it gets this week. For me, at least! The red tide lingered, the fresh water continues to come down the river, and I actually heard the media interviewing some business owners on Fort Myers Beach this week who said that this had been the slowest summer in memory.
Fishing was about as hard as it gets this week. For me, at least! The red tide lingered, the fresh water continues to come down the river, and I actually heard the media interviewing some business owners on Fort Myers Beach this week who said that this had been the slowest summer in memory.
Florida Snook Fishing Heating Up by
Butch Rickey
(9/24/2006)
With the tide already so high, there were lots of places to fish. I headed to a favorite southerly wind spot for redfish to see if we couldn't start right off with some fast redfish action.
With the tide already so high, there were lots of places to fish. I headed to a favorite southerly wind spot for redfish to see if we couldn't start right off with some fast redfish action.
Operation Open Arms Fishing by
Butch Rickey
(9/17/2006)
I headed straight up to the flats south of the power lines, where I had gotten great bait the week before. But, boy were things different, now. We chummed and threw, moved, chummed and threw, moved, and chummed and threw, and had maybe three dozen shiners of assorted sizes.
I headed straight up to the flats south of the power lines, where I had gotten great bait the week before. But, boy were things different, now. We chummed and threw, moved, chummed and threw, moved, and chummed and threw, and had maybe three dozen shiners of assorted sizes.
Backcountry Fishing Pine Island Florida by
Butch Rickey
(9/11/2006)
As I mentioned in the previous report, I had only one trip on the books again this week. It was a trip with my old friend of many years now, Marty Dietz, and his beautiful girlfriend, Janice. We had a blast, and wound up fishing Thursday and Friday.
As I mentioned in the previous report, I had only one trip on the books again this week. It was a trip with my old friend of many years now, Marty Dietz, and his beautiful girlfriend, Janice. We had a blast, and wound up fishing Thursday and Friday.
Snook Fishing Summer Fun by
Butch Rickey
(9/02/2006)
We were chumming before the sun came up. As it began to get light, I began tossing the net. The first half dozen throws netted us nothing but a few pins and small shiners. Certainly nothing to get excited about. We had a hard outgoing tide and a west wind. Basically, both were running in the same direction.
We were chumming before the sun came up. As it began to get light, I began tossing the net. The first half dozen throws netted us nothing but a few pins and small shiners. Certainly nothing to get excited about. We had a hard outgoing tide and a west wind. Basically, both were running in the same direction.