troy, MO USA

R.A. if you get a chance to go to Mike Lanes rodnreel.com check it out, it is really fantastic the way the locals and the guides trade info.  I worked in New Orleans for a year and 8 months and found a lot of good fishing locations by reading the post they post every day.  It can be real useful.  Bob

Friday, November 6, 2009 @ 11:56:59 AM

St. Petersburg, FL USA

I agree Bob. I would like to share info and maybe get a few new spots to fish around this area. The Spec fishing around here has slowed down over the last couple of weekends but it should pick up soon. We did catch 9 snook last weekend on top water so no too bad.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 @ 3:48:20 PM

troy, MO USA

thanks ra locals should use this space to communicate with each other.  It is a good source of info.  RE mike lanes rodnreel.com.  Is a fish and hunters spot over in new orleans it is a fantastic site for outdoors man.  Bob

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 @ 11:58:07 AM

St. Petersburg, FL USA

Bob, Not to many post here for FL fishing reports. Mostly LA charter advertisers.

Sunday, October 25, 2009 @ 4:25:33 AM

troy , MO USA

I am down here working I just located this site.  I was in New Orleans before coming over to this job.  I was a frequent user of the site over in N.O. But have not seen many on this site.  I have mt bay boat with me and fish the bay often but have not caught any fish of size would like some coversation with any one on the fishing here.  thanks moskeeter

Thursday, October 22, 2009 @ 12:04:28 PM

Venice, LA USA

GUATEMALA OFFSHORE REPORT FROM CAPT. EDGAR

After a nice Guatemala Winter that was full of surprises - with the Strike Zone and the Jacpot catching Dorado's, Marlins and Sails - we are preparing for the "High Season" in Guatemala that begins in October.

Sailfish Season starts in October and goes through

May 2010 and as Marlin Magazine cover page said - the

blue & black suit boys hit the Guatemala coasts too -making it the NEW hot place for Marlin as well.

Strike Zone was our first boat to start the season

fishing with our friends Jose Alonzo, Salatiel

Barragan, and Javier Rosales from Mexico this

past Tuesday and it was SWEET! We headed out

at 7 am from Marina Pez Vela as usual and by 8:15 the lines were in the water.

Imagine 7 straight hours fishing!!! WOW between

Dorado's and Sails our friends had a complete

workout. The total count was 6 sails and 15 dorado's - not a bad day at all....

Today was a nice day too - 5 Sails and 1 blue

around 250 pounds. The Marlin - really makes

the day worth it. Just looking at how fast they are and

how he hit the KONA was incredible. The

adrenaline was HIIIIIIIGHHHH!!! Sails were around

the 100 pounds and with 3 dorado's to share the day they had a tasty ceviche was soooo nice! Our friends

from Guatemala and two Americans were having fun

watching those sails jump around. Remember that

catch n release fishing with circle hook makes a

fantastic show to watch.

Come and join us and get to know this wonderful

country full of energy and warm people that will

make your trip worth every minute. Keep tight and

ready because the action is just starting.

Thanks Capt. Edgar for the report. I will be in Guatemala
from Oct 12 to 17 and hope to tag a few Sails.

We still have four spots open for the November trip when you can be a fishing star along with host Mike Lane and rodnreelTV show. Give me a call at 225-279-3800 or Capt Danny Pate a call at 225-205-3766.

LOUISIANA OFFSHORE REPORT : The fishing has been good when the weather let's us get out...The Big Yellowfin are starting to show up and the Blackfin are everywhere. October is a super month....I know football is in the air but on the STRIKE ZONE TOO you won't miss any games even when you or out in the Gulf 100 miles....sit back after bring in a 100+ lb Yellowfin and turn to your favorite game on our 48 inch TV in the AC with a cool beer and wait until the captain yells out "FISH ON"""..... A 50 yard line set an a fighting chair...a remote control with a football game on and a ice cold beer ......What more does a man need..........

STRIKE ZONE CHARTERS LOUISIANA & GUATEMALA

CELEBRATIING 21 YEARS IN THE CHARTER BUSINESS

www.strikezonecharters.net

Tuesday, October 6, 2009 @ 10:24:54 AM

Laurel, MS USA

A few buds and I are heading down to do some inshore fishing and attend a meeting.  Wondering if Gulf Breeze Bait and Tackle is still selling live shrimp? Any other good live bait shops?

Thursday, September 17, 2009 @ 5:06:39 PM

Venice, LA USA

WHAT A TWO MONTH RUN....This has been the best July and August that I have had in the 21 year history of Strike Zone Charters.  The weather, the anglers and the fish have been cooperating.  We have had to run a lot further than the norm but the reward has been GREAT catches of Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna.  The average 24hr trip on the 55' Strike Zone Too has been 12 to 15 Yellowfin with the largest in the last two months being a 141 pounder that came on the slowest trip of the Two Month RUN.  We have tagged eight Blue Marlin with three of them coming in the past three weeks.   Lots of Bull Dolphin in the first part of July.  And the AJ's have been the big hogs as usual.  And let's not forget the red icing on the top of the fish box...THE RED SNAPPERS (Who are in danger..... of killing themselves from over population)   

We are now waiting for the Blue Water and the big Yellowfin to move back home. It will  be nice to start fishing seven to twenty miles out of the pass.  I know this will make the oil companies sad but it will sure help our fishing pocket books.

Guatemala has been slow....Everyone is waiting for the up coming season (Oct to May).....When we have had boats out they have done very good....The last trip was with a local group and they went 5 for 10 on the Sails and had 16 Dorado's.  The problem is the same as it was in Venice years ago...It was only a few of us fishing from October to April(Capt Mike Fernett and Capt. Mike Adam's)....Now we have found this is some of our better months as long as the weather stays in tack.   Next year we are going to promote the slow months with some great specials on three day fishing trips. to Guatemala...We are getting ready for the Guatemala Run:::Seth Is heading down on Monday to bring some supplies and to make sure the boats are ready for October.   Capt. Kevin Aderhold and Seth Holl and going to start running one of the boats in Guatemala the latter part of this year.  They are not good on their spanish but they are real good on the Sails and the Spanish ladies.  

Get a group and come join us on a fun fishing trip on one of our luxury yachts, either in Louisiana or Guatemala.  If you can't find a group give Capt. Danny Pate a call and he will try and get you on one of the trips...WE WANT TO TAKE YOU CATCHING.

STRIKE ZONE CHARTERS LOUISIANA & GUATEMALA~~~~Celebrating 21 years in the charter business

225~279~3800      or       Capt. Danny  225~892~4790

www.strikezonecharters.net

 Seth Holl, CaptJW Berry Capt Kevin12 nice Yellowfin on a 24hr trip

Saturday, August 22, 2009 @ 1:01:06 AM

NOLA, LA usa

Does anyone know if it is OK to park a boat trailer at the lot next to Portofino on Pensacola Beach.  I seem to remember seeing a bunch of trailers parked there on an unfinished lot.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 4:54:28 PM

hattiesburg, MS USA

I am coming down to Panama City for my 10 yr old daughter to play in fastpitch world series this weekend and vacation for family through the week.  I am looking for some pointers on fishing St Andrews Bay.  I normally fish La marsh for trout under popping corks,  or live bait for red, so i am gonna bring my bay boat.  Not looking for someones honey hole just pointers to get me going.  Can u catch snook? Never have so just curious.  So little help much appreciated either here or by email....thnx

Saturday, July 11, 2009 @ 12:15:46 AM

Venice, LA USA

2009 FISHING TO HEAR RODEO in Venice, Louisiana
((Only NINE days left!! Please donate NOW!!))

Want to give kids the gift of hearing while fishing?

Win 1 of 20 offshore charters for you and 3 of your friends to participate in our 3rd Annual FISHING TO HEAR RODEO. You will be guided by the best of the best captains down in Venice.

Purchase your $20 raffle tickets now until July 19th. Get as many tickets as you want and know that it will be tax-deductible. Tickets can be purchased at www.fishingtohear.org and full details and info.

You will be directly helping Louisiana deaf children to afford 2nd cochlear implant surgery cost and educational expenses. We are a 501c3 non-profit and operate solely on the kindness of volunteers. If you would like to help, please contact us.
Go to our website at www.fishingtohear.org to see what we do NOW!
Thank you Rod N Reel for letting us get the word out!

Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 6:08:14 PM

Lafitte, LA USA

Seen many boat from Texas and Fl in Lafitte, La today. Must be a Tournament coming up.  We had a great day on the water today. The Doc's Fish Counter total are 35 reds, 15 trout and 2 drum. For more info go to: http://fishcounter.homestead.com

 Reds on the slab

Sunday, June 28, 2009 @ 12:24:15 AM

lafitte, LA USA

Lafitte, La is were the Reds at.  This week end we had 30 Reds(15 keeper) before 10:30.  3 were nice tournament reds.  All fall to a Mann crank bait 5 miles from the lanch.  Great father day for me and my sons.  For more photos go to my web site at: http://fishcounter.homestead.com

 fall to the Crank Bait Assassins

Thursday, June 25, 2009 @ 7:54:39 AM

Venice, LA USA

2009 FISHING TO HEAR RODEO in Venice louisiana

Want to give kids the gift of hearing while fishing?

Win 1 of 20 offshore charters for you and 3 of your friends to participate in our 3rd Annual FISHING TO HEAR RODEO.  You will be guided by the best of the best captains down in Venice.

Purchase your $20 raffle tickets now until July 19th. Get as many tickets as you want and know that it will be tax-deductible. Tickets can be purchased at www.fishingtohear.org and full details and info.

You will be directly helping louisiana deaf children to afford 2nd cochlear implant surgery cost and educational expenses.  We are a 501c3 non-profit and operate solely on the kindness of volunteers.  If you would like to help, please contact us.
Go to our website at www.fishingtohear.org to see what we do NOW!

**Sunday, July 19th drawing will be hosting free benefit concert with free food & featuring Bucktown Allstars for 3 hours of entertainment! Come join us and lets party for a great cause!

Special thanks to Rodnreel for allowing us to get the word out!

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 @ 10:15:56 AM

Venice, LA USA

2009 FISHING TO HEAR RODEO in Venice louisiana

Want to give kids the gift of hearing while fishing?

Win 1 of 20 offshore charters for you and 3 of your friends to participate in our 3rd Annual FISHING TO HEAR RODEO.  You will be guided by the best of the best captains down in Venice.

Purchase your $20 raffle tickets now until July 19th. Get as many tickets as you want and know that it will be tax-deductible. Tickets can be purchased at www.fishingtohear.org and full details and info.

You will be directly helping louisiana deaf children to afford 2nd cochlear implant surgery cost and educational expenses.  We are a 501c3 non-profit and operate solely on the kindness of volunteers.  If you would like to help, please contact us.
Go to our website at www.fishingtohear.org to see what we do NOW!

**Sunday, July 19th drawing will be hosting free benefit concert with free food & featuring Bucktown Allstars for 3 hours of entertainment! Come join us and lets party for a great cause!

Special thanks to Rodnreel for allowing us to get the word out!

Friday, June 12, 2009 @ 3:45:38 PM

Venice, LA USA

2009 FISHING TO HEAR RODEO in Venice louisiana

Want to give kids the gift of hearing while fishing?

Win 1 of 20 offshore charters for you and 3 of your friends to participate in our 3rd Annual FISHING TO HEAR RODEO.  You will be guided by the best of the best captains down in Venice.

Purchase your $20 raffle tickets now until July 19th. Get as many tickets as you want and know that it will be tax-deductible. Tickets can be purchased at www.fishingtohear.org and full details and info.

You will be directly helping louisiana deaf children to afford 2nd cochlear implant surgery cost and educational expenses.  We are a 501c3 non-profit and operate solely on the kindness of volunteers.  If you would like to help, please contact us.
Go to our website at www.fishingtohear.org to see what we do NOW!

**Sunday, July 19th drawing will be hosting free benefit concert with free food & featuring Bucktown Allstars for 3 hours of entertainment! Come join us and lets party for a great cause!

Special thanks to Rodnreel for allowing us to get the word out!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 @ 12:42:14 PM

Venice, LA USA

Fished with Tibby Bartram and friends Minnie and Mercedes a few days back, great day on the water. We fished the outside beaches south of Venice and put together a nice box of REDS and Trout. I’m fishing the clean to off-color water on the out side with live bait, find the bait-fish and you’ll find the Trout and Reds stacked up. I have a few days open in June and July is booking up fast………….  

For The Best That Venice Has To Offer
Born To Fish Charters
Is Here To Serve You
For Charter And Lodging Information                                                                                      
         Call Today --- Capt. Keith Kennedy --- 504-908-3108    Happy Fishing And Good Luck    

 BIG TROUTBIG RED --- SMILE

Thursday, May 28, 2009 @ 12:32:20 PM

Poplarville, MS USA

Thinking about heading out to Petronius this weekend. Does anyone know what the water looks like?

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 12:48:02 PM

Marrero, LA USA

Looking for a used High pressure fuel pump for a 2002 yamaha SX150TXRA part #67H-13907-00-00 Thanks for any help you can give.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009 @ 3:56:52 PM

Biloxi, MS USA

NautiKid, I see where you are from Mississippi. I have in the past few years looked at this state of Mike Lanes site to try to keep up with the Cobia migration. I have hardly ever seen many post on this site. Can you keep us up to date here back in Ms.? We are waiting and biting at the bullet for them to start getting close. We have made a few trips down to the Shoes, there is still a lot of Cobia hanging around down there, but it's a long run. Can't wait for them to show up along the islands.

Monday, March 2, 2009 @ 6:35:08 PM

Orange Beach, AL USA

Last Tuesday night our boat and storage shed was broken into, and our tackle was completely wiped out! Here's what's missing.....
1-Shimano Tiagra 130w LRS on a unltd class custom rod w/ bent butt
5-Shimano Tiagra 80w LRS on Penn International 80lb rods w/ bent butts
6-Shimano Tiagra 50w LRS on custon 50lb rods w/ 4 bent butts, 2 straights
6-Shimano TLD 2-speed 30w on custom 30lb rods
6-Shimano Torium 30's on Penn Powerstick rods
2-Penn 341 GTI's w/ Electra-Mate reels on them
1-Shimano Spheros 1200 spinning reel on a star rod
1-Penn 9/0 Senator black on a custom kite rod
All of the custom rods will have "Sea Mixer" written in them.  If anybody knows anything about this or can help any way possible, please e-mail me (captdev151@aol.com). We've estimated it to be 27k+ worth of ackle gone and anytime you take a hit like that it's a tough pill to swallow!  Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!!

Saturday, February 14, 2009 @ 9:36:46 AM

St. Petersburg, FL USA

Caught 18 specs yesterday on jigs. The tide was the lowest I've seen it in awhile. Of course now that the season is open none of them were keepers. Fun to catch though.

Monday, January 26, 2009 @ 4:55:26 AM

Panama City Beach, FL USA

Have been looking around for info on fishing the St. Andrews Bay area. Most guides here post only occasionally--once a month maybe like on CyberAngler.com. One captain hasn't posted since 10-29! So, it's up to the local guys who fish around here to put in their two cents. Here's mine. Been fishing some up in Burnt Mill Creek with some success. A couple of keeper reds in the last few trips, but mostly rat reds. Also finding a few keeper trout. Nothing to write home about but keeps me going again. Going to try again Sunday before the front comes through. May try in Crooked Creek or the ICW at Hwy 79. Been using Glow Gulp Shrimp in the 3" size bounced slowly on the bottom. If anyone else is in the area, send me an e-mail so we can start some kind of dialogue. I hit the trout pretty good this past spring and summer, so I'm learning more and more. Need some more info on this winter fishing, though.

Friday, December 19, 2008 @ 1:46:35 PM

St. Augustine, FL USA

No kidding. I just moved here from Mississippi, and everyday there would be at least a dozen new post on Mississippi rodngun. Does anyone from St. Augustine or Jacksonville read this site?

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 @ 10:03:16 AM

West Bay, FL USA

Fished West Bay Sunday.  Trout seem to be moving toward the creeks and getting into their winter pattern. Ended up with 7 keepers.  Sure would like to see more post on the website.  I know there are alot of trout fishermen in the area.  Share you knowledge.  The best time to go is the next chance you get.

Monday, October 27, 2008 @ 12:05:59 PM

Hartford, AL USA

Fished West Bay Sunday.  Trout seem to be moving toward the creeks and getting into their winter pattern. Ended up with 7 keepers.  Sure would like to see more post on the website.  I know there are alot of trout fishermen in the area.  Share you knowledge.  The best time to go is the next chance you get.

Monday, October 27, 2008 @ 12:05:03 PM

Fort Lauderdale, FL USA

As we arrive in the middle of October our fishing is on the slower side. Kingfish are here in good numbers but the full moon has affected the bite heavily. Strong onshore winds should make for good Dolphin fishing, but again the moon has come into play, causing these fish to be very picky about their diet as of late. We found a few yesterday after seeing them showering Bally-hoo in 40 feet of water. These fish were very aggressive and it was nice to see some active fish. Pitch bait was the ticket as these fish were moving quickly to the south from one bait school to another once we intercepted them.

The Kings we are catching are in about 200 feet the last few days. Very light leaders are recommended to get the finicky full moon bite. Wahoo which usually bite well on the moon have been scattered. There are a few Sailfish out in roughly 500 feet.
There is a large amount of bait in our area now and this will mean better chances for success once the moon phase changes over the course of the next few days.

Tight lines & good fishing /Always beats a day in the office
Captains Rick & Steve @ Marlin My Darlin Sportfishing 954-761-8202

 Fish and fun

Monday, October 20, 2008 @ 6:43:49 PM

St. Augustine, FL USA

Alright. I just moved here from Mississippi and as far as fishing goes no one seems interested and as far as the ones who are they don't help out much. Anything I can help you with though let me know man.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 @ 11:32:05 AM

gulf coast, MS USA

Does anyone post any replies on this site?  I see alot of people asking questions but few, if any helpful answers.......The MS and LA versions are very friendly and helpful....

Thursday, October 2, 2008 @ 1:49:30 PM

gulfport, MS USA

I plan to camp johnsons beach with a boat in
October.  This will be my first trip.  Where should I
fish? And what should I fish for?  How's johnsons
beach for camping?  Thanks for the help!!!

Thursday, October 2, 2008 @ 12:25:47 AM

Atlanta, GA USA

Going to Destin for a weekend in late Oct.  Looking to take my girlfriend and her father out for a 4 hr. fishing trip.  I fish out of Dauphin Island all year and don't know anything about any charters in Destin.  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks.

Friday, September 26, 2008 @ 12:10:03 PM

Miami, FL USA

Flats Fishing the Western Caribbean Via Cruise Ship

By

Jan S. Maizler



Assessing Cruise Ships and Cruise Lines -

I’ve always been a big fan of cruise ships as a means of angling travel. Though I do far more fly-in and lodge-based trips for pleasure or story assignments, I love the idea of throwing my bags in a cabin, heading out for the high seas, and letting other well-trained folks do the work for me. As an aside, I do know that many of my colleagues are anti-cruise ship, go-it-alone, wilderness junkies- but not me! There are many wonderful islands like Bonaire and Roatan that are visited by cruise ships, where the props of the ship’s engines or the thousand or more people unleashed on the port-of-call have absolutely no impact on the fishing habitat. This is even true for Key West harbor, where despite the huge number of ships docking there, the world’s best large permit fishing is mere miles west of the Harbor! There are ports-of-call like Belize where the ships lay offshore on anchor and tenders transfer all the passengers. This arrangement minimizes the impact of the ships on the habitat even more.

There’s a big caveat as to meaningful and enriching activities onboard many cruise lines during a day at sea while en route to a flats fishing destination. Most traveling anglers are a fairly sophisticated group who will find the inevitable bingo, gold-by-the-inch sales, poolside hairy chest and dating game competitions, ridiculous. Our ship - the Carnival Valor - reached an all-time activity low-point when (without asking) red, white, and blue cruise passenger teams were created along with daily competitive games drummed up through the loud speaker.  

For the time being, it’s likely that your days at sea on most of the more modestly priced cruise lines are best spent avoiding these mindless activities. Things change for the better on the mid-priced cruise lines like Holland America. On a southern Caribbean itinerary that we enjoyed two years ago, the ship offered hands-on cooking classes, art lectures on the Dutch masters, as well as music ensemble performances tastefully tucked away from any hubbub. Based on other cruises we’ve taken, it’s safe to expect that the highest priced cruise lines have much more tasteful activities and venues.



Caribbean Flats in the Wake of a Tropical Storm -

Our itinerary on the Valor was ideal for shallow water anglers: Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize, and Cozumel. All of these ports of call have fishable and viable flats. Although we chose July as a cruising weather month that was statistically more storm-free than August or September, the odds did not play in our favor. Just a week prior to the cruise, a robust tropical storm began a westward track across the Caribbean Sea towards and into the Yucatan peninsula area, our intended fishing grounds. On the actual boarding day of the cruise, the ship’s captain decided to stick with the itinerary, but it was clear to me that our path would take us into the freshly churned wake of the storm.

Although our first evening and the next day at sea gave us a tiny bit of breathing room, our actual turn from the western tip of Cuba into the Yucatan channel took us into the turbulence of the storm’s back end. Of course, the Valor is a huge and able ship, so safety was never an issue. As we headed southeast towards Grand Cayman, the squally effects of the storm were over by the time we sat down to dinner while the sun set on our first day at sea.

According to the weather channels on our cabin’s television, the aforementioned storm was forecast to become a hurricane after it crossed the Yucatan and fed on the warm Gulf waters. My concern about the weather as it affected the upcoming flats fishing was not what the storm would bring, but rather what it had left behind.


Book Early- Book Wisely -

If the planning maxim, “ the fishing trip begins the night before”, holds true for tomorrow’s angling, then surely arrangements for the traveling fisherman begins months before. What this means in actual practice is that I attempt to book fishing guides at every port of call at least six months ahead of the ship’s arrival date. It’s also crucial for cruise ship-based anglers to coordinate agreement between the ship’s arrival and departure times versus the island time the guide is using: there can actually be a one-hour difference in the western Caribbean.

For my trip on the Valor, I was able to succeed in booking fishing dates in Belize and Roatan, but the smaller number of flats guides in Grand Cayman and Cozumel islands as well as their availability, my personal circumstances, and prices of guided trips made self-guided flats fishing or other kinds of angling more of an eventuality. Because I’d visited “GC” many times before, I knew where to go and since I had lived in Cozumel for a year, a potpourri of already-known self-guided options awaited me there.



Grand Cayman Island -

Island Background -

To appreciate this flats fishing destination, it should be judged according to its’ modesty of habitat. There would not be any of the double-digit bonefish releases that I - or many traveling anglers - had at Little Cayman Island fishing out of Southern Cross Club. Grand Cayman is a larger island with a far-flung distribution of flats mostly concentrated on its’ northern shores along with pockets of sporadic beach flats along the island’s southern periphery. This can be seen be visualizing Grand Cayman on Google Earth. Indeed, planning all your intended angling travel destinations on this wonderful program should be considered mandatory!

Grand Cayman looks a bit like a western boot with the sole –and most populated area- of this structure facing the west. The tip of the boot faces north. On top of the boot’s shoe on the northwest portion of the island is a big bay called North Sound. This large scooped out area has a variety of bottoms and features schools of mudding-locally known as marling- bonefish. The Sound is generally fished by boat as opposed to wading off the highways.

My planning to flats fish in “GC” specified any guide who would wade fish the beaches for tailing and cruising bones. I made a decision from early on that I did not want to skiff fish for mudding bones by casting a minnow or fry-baited hook into five feet of water on an outing that would cost a few hundred dollars. The two guides that my search yielded, Ron Ebanks and Davin Ebanks (www.fish-bones.com) were respectively unavailable or off-island. So, I was on my own for Grand Cayman.

Arrival Day in Grand Cayman -

Although there were sunny and relatively cloudless skies free of rainy weather, a high-pressure cell behind the tropical storm was creating twenty-five knot east-northeast winds. It seemed as if these Caribbean seas and shores went from a pounding by storm to a pounding by high pressure. Ironically, the most sheltered Caymanian shallows were on the west side of the island an area known for its’ dense population and sparse flats fishing habitat.

Moreover, the gusty conditions were taking a toll on the water clarity as well as creating shallow water wavelets that made it hard to see tailing and cruising bonefish. Unfortunately, the coming days would reveal these to be the general conditions throughout the western Caribbean right up to the Belizean-Quintana Roo shorelines.

For the eight hours that I would have off the ship, my best shot as I saw it was to hire a van driver with good off-road knowledge to take me to whatever shallow water spots I felt that the available time and road traffic patterns would allow. I inquired of some folks at a marina near the cruise ship dock and was referred to a driver who seemed like a fair gamble after I interviewed him and off we went.

Despite all the spots I tried, the conditions were windy and the spotting poor. I also kept additional perspective by noting that this island went through a tropical storm a couple days earlier. Despite all the theories- particularly common in the Bahamas- that tout these storms as enhancing the fishing, I’ve always felt that the rapidly falling barometric pressure of cyclones is far less comfortable to flats species than a fair weather reading.

I told myself, “such is fishing” and headed back to the ship.


Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras -

Island Background -

This was my third trip to Roatan, the prior adventures being fly-in venues from Miami to San Pedro Sula to Roatan. I’ve excerpted some of my prior reprised writing on Roatan to provide some planning and results data on my first two trips:

“Many of you may not have heard much about Roatan. This island along with some others –collectively called the Bay Islands- lie forty miles north of the Caribbean coast of Honduras. If you traced a southward-moving line through the more famous islands off Belize, and then traced that line eastward by following the perpendicular shift of the landmass, you'd find Roatan.
The three characteristics that almost compelled me to visit Roatan were the following: Firstly, unlike most other Mexican and Belizean islands, Roatan's environment was lush, mountainous, and undeveloped. A friend told me that you could sleep on the beaches next to the mountains under brilliant starry skies and wake up to little clouds of hummingbirds as a prelude to your day of fishing. Secondly, the waters of Roatan boasted coral reefs second to none in the Caribbean, and the best thing was that this treasure was a mere 50 yards offshore! Imagine what a nice snorkel break this could provide during a day of flats fishing. Because Roatan has a diver's emphasis, it has fishing habitat that is relatively unpressured: this is the third big feature. My research yielded stories about flats that offered plenty of tailing permit, bonefish, and ocean tally. Its’ mangrove -lined bights were said to house plenty of small snook and tarpon. Last but not least, Roatan's drop-off is so quick; you'd be hooking tuna and wahoo five minutes from the shoreline.
In my research, I made a decision to stay away from the more touristy west side of the island that was so frequented by divers. I decided on the Tropical Beach Resort for many reasons. It was located on Calabash Bight, which offered tarpon fishing only 5 minutes from the lodge, and the most substantial flats were only 30 minutes away. The reef was only a minute’s swim from the shoreline, and I learned that the beachside resort was covered with palm, pecan, and noni trees. This would be a great place to kick back when not fishing.
The owners, Rod and Jean Christensen, had done an excellent job with amenities at Tropical Beach Resort. Each cabana had air conditioning, cable T.V., hot showers, and comfortable beds. The meals were first class with plenty of meat, seafood, and vegetables, and could be cooked American or Honduran style. The resort had two excellent pangas: one for the flats, and one for the reefs, with dependable Yamaha motors. I was sold on this perfect combination, and promptly made my reservations.

How We Did -
I was fortunate that Rod had secured the island’s top flats guides. Kevin Bodden would be guiding us on the remote rubble flats, while Perry Cooper would be guiding us for snook and tarpon in the interior mangrove shorelines of Calabash Bight.
Since our trip was during the rainy season, which corresponds to Florida's winter season, we encountered showers about half of the time. There was rarely much thunder and the fish seemed not in the least bothered by the rain. I spent three days fishing, and the other two sightseeing in the mountains, shooting images, and snorkeling.

Those three days of fishing provided more than enough action. The vast bulk of our fishing was on the extreme southeastern coast rubble flats off Helena, Roatan, Morat, and Barbareta.
I cannot recall seeing more groups of tailing permit anywhere, Belize included. Sometimes I would see as much as six small schools inside a football-sized field of flats- an extremely rare and precious sight for a flats fisherman! A properly cast fresh hermit crab used with eight-pound spinning gear was “grabbed” about half of the time; the final ratio of solid “takes” and hookups on bait was around twenty-five percent. I’m sure the hookup rate using fly tackle would have been dismally lower. The flat calm waters of the rainy season made our challenge greater. My biggest permit that I hooked was over 20 pounds and was lost when the fish frizbeed itself up and over the reef and down the drop-off. I suffered the same fate for an ocean tally of about ten pounds hooked on light spin. In retrospect, if I were to fish those rubble flats again, I would spool up my spinning reels with braided running line.
In and around the same flats out of Helena, there were schools of bonefish to 6 pounds, and small pods of tailing ocean tallies to 20 pounds. I caught and released seven bonefish and one permit on those flats. All three species of tailing fish were numerous.
In the remaining days, we explored the mangrove-lined bights, bays, and creeks for snook and tarpon. The fish were there, but were especially receptive to bonefish-sized bucktails tipped with shrimp fished on a 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. My results were two tarpon and about seven snook-five of them common snook, one tarpon-snook, and one swordspine snook.
While my friend Art Blank fished, Rod and I took the big panga out over the reefs for some snorkeling. These reefs are clearly some of the best in the entire Caribbean, and offered an incredible diversity of fish and different corals.” The excellent flats fishing and diving mixed into a habitat where lush forests carpet waves of rolling hills made me sure Roatan would be a destination I’d be returning to again and again.”
As a postscript to my first two Roatan trips, I have not been able to contact Tropical Beach Resort and believe they may not be in operation under that name any longer. There is another lodge in operation that is close to those southeastern flats. It is called Mango Creek Lodge. I have never fished with them, yet I did have a brief email exchange with a possible owner- Terry Kyle. Terry wrote to me that he would not use Kevin- who is probably Roatan’s top flats guide-because of the latter’s purportedly laissez-faire attitude as to commercial netting along the flats. I was never able to neither validate nor negate Mr. Kyle’s assertions about netting on the flats of Roatan.
My third trip on the Valor to this wonderful island was to be an entirely different experience. My pre-cruise research turned up a charter service on the northwest side of the island called Mad Max Charters (http://www.madmaxfishingcharters.com). In our email communications, owners Mirta Marozzi and Captain Gary McLaughlin expressed confidence that they could put me on loads of large bonefish in Sandy Bay, which was five minutes from their dock. Since this area was in a much more highly populated part of the island, my first reaction was astonishment over their claim. Despite my reserve- I always relish the prospect of casting to big bonefish wherever they are- I booked a six-hour trip with Gary. It would eventuate that they would prove me wrong.

Arrival Day in Roatan -
After the Valor docked and cleared customs at Coxen Hole, I debarked the vessel and walked outside the security area. Gary was waiting in his SUV for the twenty-minute transfer trip from the ship to Las Rocas Resort (www.lasrocasresort.com) where his two boats were docked.
When we arrived at Las Rocas after a quick drive through the island’s lush hills, I must say I was quite surprised when we jumped into 24-foot center console boat to do our flats fishing. Gary noticed my puzzlement and explained that the Sandy Bay habitat was composed of beach flats that run about three feet deep. He said his plan was to use the windy weather to drift this vessel across Sandy Bay. Although our target area was in the lee side of the islands, the east-southeast 25 M.P.H. winds were strong enough to do the trick even in the island’s “wind shadow.”
Parenthetically, part of our original plans called for the novelty of catching a bonefish and a blackfin tuna within one hours’ time. This was possible because of the island’s rapid drop-off with blue water only a minute or two offshore. I decided against the offshore “leg” when it was obvious that a seasick prone nephew who accompanied me would have a hard time of it in the large whitecapping waves only a few hundred yards offshore. In addition, Gary’s boat was sporting two brand new engines in shakedown mode. Although our prior talks gave me great trust in his knowledge, I reverted back to the “better safe than sorry mode.”
Gary fired up the engines and pointed his sleek vessel to the west. I’d have to say that five minutes travel time was exaggerated- we were there within two minutes at the most. As Gary idled towards the beach, I noticed quite a few swimmers and three vessels to the right of where we were heading.
My expressions are rarely poker-faced and when Gary looked my way, he said not to worry as the bonefish and even permit in this area are totally acclimated to human activity, including the sounds of outboard motors. I decided to withhold judgment since I’d seen bonefish calmly ambling around the moored skiffs at Casa Blanca Lodge on top of having fed bonefish bread - no lie - off a hotel dock in Bonaire.
Before we got to the flat, Gary put the engines in neutral and insisted that I replace my Backbone jig with a 1/0 hook and 2 BB-sized splitshots. He took out a large shrimp from his ice chest and baited me up. Once we were on the flat, we spotted a small pod of large bonefish immediately. I made a good cast in front of them, but they swam right over my bait. This frustrating pattern was to maintain itself for four hours of fishing- the bones simply were not eating. Gary’s theory was that their reluctance was probably due to the recently passed tropical storm and that the current high winds created too many changes in the weather for the fish to be comfortable.
I decided to forgo another 2 hours of this Déjà Vu flats frustration and asked Gary to drop us off back at the ship. I was impressed with the fact that these fish were consistently larger than the bonefish on the less-pressured southeastern flats of Roatan. I also hoped I’d get a chance to fish for these bonefish when they were in more of a biting mood although casting to bonefish so very close to beachgoers did not feel optimal to me.



Belize City -

Belize City Background -
My third port of call with the Valor was Belize City, which is in the epicenter of a shallow water angler’s marine paradise. I had been to a fly-in land-based lodge on the prior Belize trip and include a reprised excerpt below:
“My prior research on the exciting destination of Belize urged me to choose the Belize River Lodge (http://www.belizeriverlodge.com/) because of its perfectly centralized positioning for the angling habitat, lush jungle surroundings, immediate presence of excellent staff, amenities (phone, fax, and wireless internet) and mahogany-finished lodgings that are imbued with Belizean angling history. I was sure that owners Mike, Marguerite and their daughter Misha, along with their 25 employees and six house guides, would provide a solid family atmosphere in the midst of such a stunning tropical fishing paradise.
When the fishing week came to an end, I asked myself - where did the time go? I felt that the Belize River Lodge exceeded all my expectations with rave results including delicious native cuisine, Swiss-clock efficiency and knowledgeable guides in well-appointed pangas. I especially enjoyed returning to the dock alongside the lodge at day’s end, knowing that a pre-dinner snack of tostadas, salsa and ice-cold Belikan beer awaited me only a few steps away.
The five-day results in the angling department were superb, especially considering a bit of downtime for rain showers and my friend Art’s photographic sessions. My results were six snook, one tarpon (with eight other fish jumped), ten bonefish, nine permit, thirty ladyfish, and more dog and cubera snapper than I can remember. This does not include the multiple cutoffs by whopper snook or surface plugs launched skyward by near misses from rough and tough jack.”
So, it came as no surprise that I chose Belize River Lodge again to provide me with a light tackle skiff adventure in the nearby rivers, flats, and bays on this trip as well. I knew from my prior stay that Mike had live-aboard and cruise ship programs in addition to his lodge, so I made the cruise ship reservation months in advance. It was determined that my guide would be waiting for me at the Raddison dock barely five minutes from the ship’s tender dock in Belize City.


Arrival Day in Belize City: Disappointment in Paradise -
Though I’d made arrangements with my press credentials to be on the first tender to Belize City, my first glance from the promenade deck above revealed the sea conditions to be fiercely rough. Those very same winds that whirled around me on the other two islands found in Belize a head-on solid wall of western shoreline to keep blasting. Despite this unfortunate situation, I boarded the tender, which, in turn, had difficulty coming alongside our ship due to the rough seas.
Once the tender got within a mile of shoreline, we entered a huge swath of dirty chocolate-colored water that could only mean the discharge of muddy river water. The very same advantageous diversity of Belize’s habitat, which include (unlike the prior island stops) rivers that run back to jungle mountains that now ironically provided another negative post storm effect. The harsh winds and dirty river runoff made this day’s flats fishing possibilities nil. This was definitely a day when the philosophical approach I took came to my aid.

Cozumel Island -

Island Background -
When I lived in Cozumel back in the sixties, things were very different than they are now. There were no “hip” cookie cutter venues like Senor Frogs in San Miguel and the town was more Mexican than American. My residence on this island preceded the hordes of flying bridge sport fishermen vessels that would invade the area in late spring to intercept what would be one of the most dense sailfish “pushes” from the western Caribbean Sea into the Florida straits.
Most of my fishing in Cozumel in those past days consisted of bottom fishing. Since there were some good numbers of bonito and blackfin tuna at the time, I’d practice “running and gunning” for game fish “bustups” in native fishing boats that spent all of their time underway going through the water rather than over it.
As for the flats fishing, the lagoons to the north were neither well explored nor popular at that time. Those northern shallows grew as potential and actually explored habitat when the flats fishing revolution exploded in popularity in the eighties. That was long after I left, but I certainly learned about those flats and the guides that fished them as the process provided for. While there were/are claims that these Cozumel flats are “vast”, I would have to disagree and simply contrast them with Ascension or Chetumal Bays over on the Quintana Roo mainland to make my point.

I also feel that the flats fish stock numbers are greater on the mainland because there is so much more shallow protected coastline for the bonefish, tarpon, and permit to move along safely. I doubt there is any cross seeding across Cozumel Channel from the island to the mainland and back, simply because of the blue water predatory dangers from the larger game fish like barracuda, sailfish, and sharks, etcetera.
On the present Cozumel flats fishing scene, there are primarily smaller bonefish schools, along with scattered small tarpon, snook, and barracuda. The typical transportation venue involves a truck drive from San Miguel (and back) all the way to pangas that are docked on the fringes of the northern lagoons.
The current operations that appeared most active were www.aquariusflatsfishing.com, www.cozumelbonefishing.com, and www.fishingcozumel.net. I’d chosen Carlos Vega’s Aquarius Travel outfitter to coordinate a flats fishing trip to the north of island. As was my custom, I was in the planning mode via email as early as seven months before the cruise. I’ve included his contact data below -

Aquarius Travel Sport Fishing Representatives
Web-site: www.aquariusflatsfishing.com
E-Mail: aquariusgrandslam@yahoo.com
Toll Free: 1-800- 371-2924
Direct Telephone: 954- 317-3743
Fax Number: 954- 623-8620
Cozumel, México
Carlos and I were on the verge of booking a trip when I found out from family members who would also be on the cruise that my presence would be “desired” at an on-island celebration.  Out of respect for Carlos and his guides, I put the charter into suspension mode, which was antithetical to any decent planning in the world of angling travel- with all the costs and time invested on planes, boats, and trains, one should never wing it! Additionally, the realization that I was not the first traveling angler to be snared on the horns of family versus fishing at home or traveling did nothing to lessen my frustration. So Cozumel as a fishing port of call remained a troubling question mark throughout the process.

Arrival Day -
On the morning of arrival at Cozumel, some discussion with family made it clear that some scheduled celebrations were indeed planned at one restaurant and a café on the island. It was clear that declining these events as the “lone wolf” would lose me major points on this trip and more importantly, future getaways - pun intended!

Before breakfast, I took my usual walk on the outside promenade deck for a look at the marine conditions. The sapphire seas were still wavy and windy. Although I knew I wasn’t fishing, I told myself that this just maybe might have made the panga ride out to the flats and the fishing itself a bit iffy. I ignored the fact that I was consoling myself. Later that afternoon, I sipped a margarita amongst family members while we laughed at silly recollections. Some additional thought and perhaps a few more libations eased me into an acceptance that where I was right now was okay, too. I realized also that I could console myself that even though my return to an old island home would be fishless, that need not stop me from dreaming about action-filled Caribbean fishing either of the past or in the future!



The author, Jan S. Maizler, is a past IGFA world record holder for bonefish on two-pound test line and permit on four-pound test line. He has caught and released over two thousand bonefish in his angling career. Jan has been fishing in salt water since 1962. In 1977 he published his first flats fishing book entitled "Flats Fishing". Since then, he has written eight books and published hundreds of articles on angling in many leading websites and magazines, including "Florida Sport Fishing Magazine", "Florida Game and Fish", "Destination Fish Magazine", "Center Console Angler Magazine", "BoatU.S. Trailering Magazine", "Saltwater Sportsman", and "Florida Sportsman”. His newest book is "Fishing Florida's Flats" by University Press of Florida.

He has been a long-time angler and resource of Miami's Biscayne Bay, a fishery that offers some of the largest bonefish in the world. Jan has traveled the world over in his angling pursuits. For more information on Jan, search his name, Jan Maizler, on Yahoo.com or Google.com. Jan can also be visited at:
 
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com
http://flatsfishingonline.blogspot.com

 Cruise Ship Fishing

Sunday, September 14, 2008 @ 12:42:47 PM

hammond, LA USA

I am spending the week at the wonderful vacation spot of Destin Fl and am itching to do some surf fishing somewhere. Does Anybody in the great state of Florida have any suggestions of where to go? Help near water have to fish!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 @ 7:51:18 PM

Lafayette, LA USA

I will be in Sanibel next week.  Any advice for wade fishing or surf fishing in the area?
Thanks

Tuesday, July 29, 2008 @ 10:55:49 AM

venice, LA USA

2008 FISHING TO HEAR RODEO

*Update= we have 2800 more tickets to sell to make our goal!  10 more days to go...Get your tickets now! (www.fishingtohear.org)

Want to give kids the gift of hearing while fishing?

Win 1 of 35 charters for you and 3 of your friends to participate in our 2nd Annual FISHING TO HEAR Rodeo.

Purchase your $20 raffle tickets now until July 27th.  Get as many tickets as you want and know that it will be tax-deductible.  Tickets can be purchased at www.fishingtohear.org

You will be directly helping deaf children to afford implant surgery denied by insurance and the New Orleans Oral School,501c3, to give tuition scholarships for these special children!  We hope to see you there!

Go to our website at www.fishingtohear.org to see what we do NOW!

Wednesday, July 16, 2008 @ 7:24:35 PM

Cantonment, FL USA

Results from the Team Trails Redfish Delacroix Tournament

1 Paul Smith/Danny Smith 15.40
2 Mac McElroy/Andy Rodriguez 15.32
3 Raymond Reiser 15.31
4 Jason Leblanc/Jeremy Leblanc 14.72
5 Scott Ritter/Bobby Abruscato 14.69
6 Jason McCrossen/Matthew Harding 13.75
7 Pat Reichley/Nelda Reichley 13.35
8 Barnie White/Jason Miller 13.32
9 Chris Babin/Ted Tassin 13.05
10 Charlie Murray/Jeff Roberts 12.31
11 Gary Wilson/Brent Gros 11.92
12 Skip Floyd/Brian Mamer 11.79
13 Brig Booth 11.41
14 Chris Schieble/Mike Bushman 11.39
15 Brian Metcalf/Dwayne Mills 10.70
16 Brandon Parker/Bruce Howle 8.92
17 Joe Vanhooser/Jimmy Bowden 7.27
18 Brad Seal/Ric Guccione 5.35
19 Erik Nelson/Brian Steinried 5.25

The next Team Trails Redfish event on 26 July will be out of Hwy 90 Pearlington launch site.

Sunday, July 13, 2008 @ 5:04:27 PM

Port Fourchon, LA USA

COUPLE OF SEATS OPEN ON OVERNITE TUNA TRIP JUNE 28TH. FOURCHON, LA.

Had three people cancel on overnite tuna trip out of belle pass marine , Fourchon, la. on 28th of June.  Interested give me a call or email.

Capt. Tony Zara(407)247-6100

Sunday, June 15, 2008 @ 8:58:42 AM

Maurepas, LA USA

Going to Perdido for the 4th of July. Looking for great advise for offshore. How is the fishing off the coast? Anyone knows how far is the grass out?

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 @ 9:31:54 PM

Metairie, LA USA

Looking for contact information for a Captain Joe out of Destin Fl. Possible boat name is Rodeo. My brother in law has used him a couple of times and we would like to book a trip on the 29th of this month.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008 @ 3:20:31 PM

Biloxi, MS USA

Bill S, Shoot me an email. ccm883@aol.com. I'll turn you on to all the info I got. I went two weeks prior just for an info trip. By the way I live in Biloxi.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 @ 9:00:12 AM

Abita Springs, LA USA

I'll be going to Destin in early June.  Does anyone have any pointers to catching some mackeral or Lemon fish close to shore.  I have a 19 ft bayboat so I was not planning on going to far offshore.  Any help would be great.

Monday, May 12, 2008 @ 9:07:41 PM

Panama City Beach, FL USA

Fished in the gale force winds this weekend in St. Andrews Bay around Panama City. Sought out the lee shoreline and found the trout. Caught too many to count. Drifted with the wind in 2.0 to 4.5 ft of water, using a Cajun Thunder cork, an 18" leader and a glow D.O.A. shrimp. My dad and I came home with a two man limit of really nice specks.

 Double Limit

Monday, May 12, 2008 @ 7:24:01 PM

mobile, AL USA

L.D.W.F. AGENTS CATCH FISHERMEN WITH 909 RED SNAPPER

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents wrote over 100 fishing citations to 20 men on Bayou Fourchon located in Lafourche Parish on Monday, April 28.

Agents stopped the charter boat, "The Captain Charlie", which was occupied by 18 paid fishermen, the captain and one deck hand. Agents boarded the vessel to conduct a creel and license check of the fish and persons aboard. Upon receiving consent from the captain of the vessel, agents allegedly found 27 ice chests holding 909 red snapper.

Agents counted and measured every fish aboard the vessel and found that of the 909 red snapper aboard the vessel, 287 of them were under the minimum 16-inch size requirement.

The recreational limit for red snapper is two per fisherman, and the captain and deckhands are not allowed to possess a limit. Agents also discovered that none of the 18 fishermen were Louisiana residents nor did they possess valid Louisiana non-resident basic and saltwater fishing licenses.

The 18 subjects that chartered the vessel, along with the captain and deckhand of the vessel were cited for 106 alleged violations. The citations included angling without a non-resident basic and saltwater fishing license, federal charges for possessing undersized and over the limit of red snapper, and taking red snapper during a closed season. The red snapper season is closed until June 1, 2008.

The following fishermen were charged:

David Harrelson, 52, Lockport, La., (Captain)
Donald R. Humphrey, 45, Golden Meadow, La., (Deckhand)
Artesza Portee, 35, Autell, Ga.
Glover Jefferson Jr., 69, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter Bailey Jr., 61, Atlanta, Ga.
Robert Kemp, 72, Atlanta, Ga.
James E. Williams, 65, Callaway, Fla.
Clyde E. Raiford, 68, Fayetteville, Ga.
Baxter R. Maddox, 67, Atlanta, Ga.
Leslie H. Durham, 45, Douglasville, Ga.
Cleveland B. Kemp Jr., 56, Conyers, Ga.
Harry Crosland, 67, Decatur, Ga.
Willie T. Epps, 72, College Park, Ga.
Lawrence Kendrick, 60, Atlanta, Ga.
Walter L. Gibson Jr., 38, Union City, Ga.
Warren R. Brownlee, 36, Palmetto, Ga.
Andrew R. Smith, 70, Decatur, Ga.
Kym D. Haywood, 44, Hapeville, Ga.
Charlie W. Patrick 68, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Earnest Sessoms, 79, Atlanta, Ga.

Agents seized the 909 red snapper, which weighed 2459 pounds, and were sold for a total of $9221.25.

Monday, May 5, 2008 @ 8:58:24 AM

biloxi, MS USA

I'm going to Destin next monday. Does anyone have any tips for me on landing a cobia?

Tuesday, April 29, 2008 @ 5:22:28 PM

Panama City Beach, FL USA

Caught 53 speckled beauties Sunday morning in West Bat drifting in the 3.5 - 4.5 foot range using a Cajun Thunder cork with an 18" leader and a D.O.A. glow shrimp. Took 3 1/2 hours to finally get my limit of 5. Took about 22 fish before I got the first keeper. Best trout fishing in this area that I have seen before. Check out the 5 girls in the box.

 5 Girls

Monday, April 28, 2008 @ 1:44:44 PM

diamondhead, MS USA

I was looking for some information from anyone that has taken a charter trip or runs a charter buisness out of Mexico Beach, FL. I am looking for a 4 hour trip for me and the wife at the end of the month.

Monday, April 14, 2008 @ 7:08:37 AM

Miami, FL USA

Spring Sanibel Adventure

By

Jan S. Maizler



A Growing Desire-

Too much time had passed since I’d fished the waters of my “second home”, Sanibel Island, Florida. My incessant desire prompted me to contact my friend (and fishing guide extraordinaire) Captain Mike Smith in January- months before the traditional snook and tarpon season commenced in May.

Mike quickly sensed the familiar magic spell and allure that Sanibel fishing had on me as well as his many other clients; but he recognized that even the most pressing angling desires had to be matched with realistic timing in achieving a successful trip. In that light, he felt that the earliest and most decent opportunity would appear in the month of March, which usually marks the emergence of the new year from the most severe and persistent cold fronts. As usual, he wanted our fishing day to be on either the new moon or full moon: two times of the month when the increased current and tidal levels create more optimized game fish activity. I chose late March to fish with him under the double influence of personal desire turbocharged by deadline requirements.

Still, March as a Sanibel snook and tarpon month always carries the risk of cold fronts as well as featuring lower water temperatures than in April or May. Mike’s go-to plan for us was traveling to and fishing the warmest water possible. He explained that this would mean we’d be taking a long run up the Caloosahatchee River and fish “downstream” of the power plant’s heated discharge. In addition, because there were drought conditions in the last year, the salt water extended far upstream which made an inland habitat for snook and tarpon quite “salinity-hospitable.”

Rumble Time-

And what a good strategy that turned out to be! March 21st was a cold day with 25 M.P.H. northeast winds, perfect for the inland planning so well anticipated by Captain Mike. I met him and his gleaming and live-bait filled Lake and Bay boat at 9:00 a.m. at the Punta Rassa boat ramp. I was stoked and ready to go since I’d arrived at the historic Island Inn the day before and charged my batteries by some restful shelling, a macadmia-encrusted grouper dinner at the Inn’s Traditions restaurant, and a good night’s sleep in one of the Inn’s delightful Gulf view rooms.

Mike fired up his 225 H.P. Yamaha engine and off we rocketed into a one-hour travel period that would have lasted half the time but for the restrictions of three no-wake zones. During those periods when we dropped off warp-speed, Mike explained that we’d be “combat fishing” dock, piling, and bridge structure for snook that ran from 8 to 25 pounds. Towards that end, we’d be using tarpon-sized spinning rods that utilized 30-pound PowerPro braided line, 2 feet of 40-pound fluorocarbon leader, and a 1/0 Owner J-hook.

When we arrived at the first spot (and one of the most challenging), which was a maze of pilings along a seawall, Mike told me to use absolute “zero-tolerance” pressure on any hooked fish until it was out of the structure and then immediately go to a more moderate battle tactic as it got closer to the boat and out of harm’s way. This was essential since the light leader and smaller hook, which were so necessary to draw a lot of strikes, could only take a limited amount of extreme strain. I mentioned to Mike that this seemed more like combat fishing with one arm only!

Mike started chumming with live whitebaits and the boils of striking snook, tarpon, and jacks began almost immediately. When the dust settled, I succeeded in jumping 6 tarpon, released 3 jacks to 5 pounds, lost 7 snook to the pilings, and released snook of 8, 12, and 18 pounds. Because of the delicate leader, the last 2 fish sheared the leader before Mike could get a good grip on their lips for posing a picture, although the fish were “on the leader” for quite a while to qualify for releases.

On one of our last and least-daunting spots that featured only mild structure, I released 6 small snook in a row.

Although the trip took five hours and involved chumming and fishing with hundreds of live whitebaits, it seemed like barely an hour had passed! Yet, as usual, this trip was a typical Captain Mike Smith charter that was successful, pleasant, and gratifying in a way that makes fishing with Mike so enjoyable!


The Island Inn-

This venerable lodging on Sanibel Island began in 1895 and continues pleasing visitors over 100 years later. This wonderful resort facility sits in the epicenter of the island with 550 feet of Gulf beachfront.

The Inn’s accommodations feature 3 lodges and several cottages adorned in the Olde Florida manner. The rooms generally have a Gulf view, and all are equipped with kitchens, telephones, cable TV, air conditioning, as well as screened-in porches or balconies.

Activities include world-famous shelling, croquet, shuffleboard, tennis courts, and a heated pool. The aforementioned Traditions Restaurant at the Inn is one of the best eateries in the general Fort Myers area.

I found that my stay at the Island Inn was entirely gratifying and created the kind of unique experience that only a “native” destination with such a fine history of excellence can do.



Contact Data:

Island Inn
3111 West Gulf Drive
Sanibel island, Florida
1-800-851-5088
(239)-472-1561
http://www.islandinnsanibel.com/
E-Mail: info@islandinnsanibel.com

Captain Mike Smith
1-239-573-FISH (3474)
http://www.mangroveislandcharters.com/

 Sanibel Snook

Sunday, March 30, 2008 @ 12:27:48 AM

Dauphin Island, AL USA

This is a copy of a letter I am sending to my representatives in the Senate and Congress. Please people jump on the band wagon and make some noise!

Dear Senator Sessions

  I am writing to you today as a humble constituent with grave concerns over the issue of Red Snapper management by Dr. Roy Crabtree and National Marine Fisheries. I ask that as you read this letter that you please forgive the emotional tone of my writing as none of my frustration is directed at you but at those who threaten my lively hood with unjust and unnecessary regulation.
 
  Please allow me to begin by telling you who I am and why I hold the positions I am about to convey. My name is Jonathan L. Dunnam and I am a thirty nine year old, second generation captain and I own a charter fishing vessel which is operated out of Dauphin Island, Al. I have had my captains’ license for nineteen years and was a deckhand throughout my teenage years. So as you can see I have my whole life invested in this business. I started out working for other people and then went on to buy a small boat to start my own charter service. I eventually stuck my neck out and invested in the boat I own now which is a large boat with a large mortgage. I have worked hard my entire life to get to where I am. I have never been one to complain, I just take what God gives me and do the best I can with it. I consider myself to be a patriotic citizen and a productive member of society. I love my country and support its government, however, I write this letter to inform you that my government is failing me and the entire country, with the mismanagement of the red snapper fishery by the National Marine Fisheries.

  I stand this very day on the verge of bankruptcy due totally to the unrealistic and unfair practices of the NMF using flawed data to set seasons and quotas. I have survived hurricanes and down turns in the economy but how can I survive such severe restrictions as a two month long season and two fish per person bag limits. I am a conservationist first and foremost and if the red snapper stocks were in trouble I would be the first to call for tighter restrictions. The fact of the matter is that red snapper stocks are at their highest levels of anytime during my lifetime. Even the NMF has stated that the fishery is rebuilding. So I hope you can understand my frustration with these unnecessary regulations that have such dire consequences for not only me but the entire for hire sector and all other associated businesses. In the Magnuson Stevens Act it clearly states that regulations shall be fair and equitable. There is nothing fair and equitable about being forced into bankruptcy or selling a business that has taken a life time to build.

  It is my opinion and the opinion of many others that there should be an investigation by congress into the actions of Dr. Crabtree and the National Marine Fisheries. With such egregious discrepancies in NMF’s stock assessments and what is actually in the Gulf I think something has to be done to rectify their data collection. NMF has admitted to using flawed data in the management of red snapper. With my and countless others livelihoods on the line, I simply cannot afford to be regulated by inconclusive or incorrect data or by a set of arbitrary dates and quotas to rebuild the stock by. The fact is that no one knows what the stock was in the 1950’s, so to pick a target number out of the air is unrealistic. With management measures so off base with reality it leads me to believe that there are alternative agendas at work here. As an example of this; Dr. Crabtree has announced that he will cut snapper season due to the expected increase in red snapper harvest due to Florida and Texas not abiding by the federal seasons and limits. Dr. Crabtree however offers no concession for higher fuel prices, the slower economy or any expected bad weather that will most assuredly reduce the amount of effort in the fishery thus reducing the harvest. This is a prime example of the cherry picking of data to justify these extreme regulations. Why is it that it is so easy for Dr. Crabtree to incorporate Florida And Texas state water harvest into the management model but has no means to do so with weather, fuel prices and the economy?  All the stock assessments are done in the Federal Exclusive Economic Zone which state waters are not included in. If state waters are not included in stock assessment then how can it be included in harvest data? The same thing applies to artificial reefs and oil and gas structures. They are not included in the NMF stock assessments but fish caught from these structures are included in the harvest data. This is a totally lopsided means of management.

  This is not really that complicated of an issue if someone would take a common sense look at it and put personal and political agendas aside. There is no reason that both the fish and the fisherman cannot be saved here. Reasonable limits and seasons that achieve the ultimate goal of a healthy fishery and monitoring of the fishery is all it would take.

  I, unfortunately have a small voice and little influence. That is why I turn to you, my honorable representative in government. You are in a position to take up this cause and make a difference in the lives of so many who depend on fishing to support themselves. Our coastal economy is also largely dependent on the fishing industry and will surely suffer if Dr. Crabtree is allowed to continue with his incompetent management of the NMF. I hope and pray that you will take action. Please initiate an investigation into Dr. Crabtree and the NMF. I also humbly ask that you ask congress to revise the arbitrary dates in the Magnuson Stevens Act that call for over fishing of red snapper to end by 2010 and that the stock be rebuilt by 2032. IT has already been determined that the stock is rebuilding therefore these dates put an undue economic burden on the charter industry along with countless related industries. They also compromise the God given right of access to your average fisherman.

  Thank you for your most valuable time and I appreciate your public service to this great nation.

God Bless
Captain Jonathan L. Dunnam

Thursday, March 27, 2008 @ 9:29:25 AM

Covington, LA United States

I am going to Marianna Florida to fish shellcrackers in Merrit's Mill Pond on the full moon in April.  Can anyone give me any contact info on Bait Stands or who I could call for info on the area?  I used to fish there often but I haven't been back in about 25 years.  Any info would be appreciated.

Saturday, March 22, 2008 @ 5:52:19 PM

Slidell, LA USA

Hello ALL!  Our Lady of Lourdes School is a 501(c)3 Non-profit organization located in Slidell, LA. Our entire school and church were destroyed in Katrina and 98% of our student body was directly impacted with personal devastation as well. As we continue to work through our own devastation, we have provided our community partners, like CCA, a place to regroup and hold meetings and events.

Our Live Benefit Auction will be taking place in April to support our continuing rebuilding efforts and WE'RE ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT!   

Please consider donating items such as gift certificates, gift baskets, cash to help us manage the event, artwork, or any other miscellaneous, retail items.   

We’re looking forward to a great turn-out on Saturday, April 26, 2008 at our annual Our Lady of Lourdes Food and Music Festival, and would love to see you and your family join us for the day.  I also invite you to visit our website at ollonline.com to learn about our plans for ‘Rebuilding OLL’ – photos, site development plans, etc…  If I can answer any questions regarding your donation, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at jackelyngallo@bellouth.net or call our school at (985)643-3230.

God Bless You and have a wonderful day!

Friday, February 22, 2008 @ 8:15:31 PM

Venice, LA USA

Good Day

Im sorry about the chop shop pilot i put together for Towers of Life but i wasnt going to spend a enormous amount of time organizing over 400 tapes, but you get the picture.

I have the largest collection of video from the platforms east Alabama to west of Texas that exist.I spent over fifteen years collecting the life that surrounds our rigs in hopes of educating the public,science and industry of the positive affects these structures hold.

Just about anyone can sit behind a desk and guess what happens down there but holding a camera for 3 to five days a week with a minimum of five to six dives each day really tells the story. I am going to give you a fish eye view of how incredible our ecosystem is.

I will bring you through primordial soup like micro organisims to our large variety of mamals that live in our gulf to your living room.

This peice is great for all ages expecially the kids and grand kids so they in the future can help stop the distruction of these fragile ecosystems.

I strongly believe they should be viewed as rare trees and protected or used in other eco positive ways such as wind and wave energy,mariculture ect....

I will be selling this DVD by March 31 to the public exclusively here on RodnReel.com so that you to can enjoy what i have been so lucky to experience in my 20 plus years of diving the Gulf Of Mexico.

I will also be donating a portion of the proceeds to "Project Rebuild Plaquemines" as well.

Thank You

Monday, February 18, 2008 @ 2:58:44 PM