I started early Monday morning in Surf City and got into a bunch of blues. It wasn’t what I was looking for, so I went back on Tuesday with club member Bill. We drove south instead looking for deep water at low tide. We decided to head back to where we started. It was another great day.

Bill started with a 32” striper. I was trying for fluke and lost a small one in the wash. So I went back to bass and one rod. Decided to put out another rod and was rewarded with my first keeper bass of the season at 28-1/2”. Then, it was bluefish, dogfish and skates. Oh my! Our friend Tom had the catch of the day with a real beauty, 43” striper. I caught another small striper before heading home . My wife and I had striper and bluefish for dinner. We both agreed the striper was the winner.

Our original plans were to go fluking but the exaggerated weather report kept John Stuebing and me shore bound. So, we decided to hit the beach instead. A quick stop at SC B&T for bait and we headed to 5th street in Surf City.

It didn’t take long for John to hook and land his first bluefish (or any fish for that matter) from the sands. A nice 27″ fish that was released. I then hooked into a ‘good one’ that I lost in the suds. I landed one ~24″ and had two other knockdowns. I bled my fish and brought it to the car to be iced. My bluefish cakes that night were outstanding! John also lost one and landed another.

A great time on the beach with fantastic weather and feisty bluefish.

Three months and hundreds of casts, with fewer than ten fish caught! I didn’t even see a fish caught during the annual tournament a couple of weekends ago and they were using grass shrimp – I did see a whole lot of beer swigged, however.
Perhaps it is the warming trend, only time will tell. I’ll keep casting and will report any perch over 12.00″.

Well, they arrived! Fishing on Wednesday, I caught two 12.5″ beauties! Can only get better from here.

I went fishing the incoming tide mid-island LBI with some friends using fresh clam and bunker for bait. I got 2 bass on clam, but both came off the hook. Then I landed this 32+” bass that hit bunker. A while later the ocean got really calm and the bite turned off. We left at sunset after catching a few dogfish. Seems the last few hours of incoming tide is producing fish. Side note: we didn’t see any bluefish.

Club member Bill and I along with friend and fellow angler Tom, hit the surf looking for action. And we were not disappointed. Bill caught two, the first and last of the day, 28.5 and 31.25”. Tom had a 29 and a 30”. Those fish were caught on clam. I was high hook with 5 fish 24,32,33,37 and the last was not measured but I put at 26”, Most of my fish fell victim to fresh bunker from SCBT. I also lost a big one when my braid parted. Oh well!

Water temp was 53 degrees. We fished from 10 am until 3 pm – about 2-1/2 hours of incoming and outgoing tides. All in all, it was a very awesome trip!

Brian, Tyler and friend Smitty went to the tog grounds this past Sunday morning. Tyler caught this 22” beauty which he safely released for another day. They caught several other big ones that were also released. But seven tog were brought home for the table.

I had a 4 man crew today as we headed out for a day of tog fishing one of the last 2 days. It was definitely a good morning! We got our limit with the biggest a 6.25 white chin caught by Carl.

Ran out for the first trip of the year to go after some tog. Chilly start for sure, but everyone was excited to go fishing. The pilothouse paid dividends on the ride out. We stopped at Little Egg Reef first and managed a few keepers, lots of short fish. Tried several wrecks, but didn’t seem to find nice quality fish. We ended up taking a ride further out to a wreck to find some nicer fish there, with several JUST undersized. Oh well, back in they went. Managed a total of 8 keepers for the day.

Water temp started out at 47 degrees and was 49  by the time we headed in. We used a combination of tog jigs and rigs with a traditional weight on the bottom. Green crab was the primary bait with a small amount of clam used from time to time.
Using the clam did result in some nice sea bass caught, and it was a shame to throw them back!
Looking forward to the next trip.

Me and the crew headed out on a tog trip this morning to LE reef. We had our limit before 12 so we decided to catch and release since the fish were really biting and they all were keeper size! I would say that we caught a second limit that we released. These fish were 16 to 19″ fish – it was unreal!

Bob Dodds asked John Stuebing and me to join him on a Brett Taylor 3-7 PM charter for bass and tog for Friday, 4/19. Despite the cold, the wind died down from the previous day’s storm to make for an enjoyable trip. We fished for bass along the sod banks inside BI by dragging a 2 oz sinker on a fish finder rig with a circle hook baited with three sandworms! Brett does not skimp on the bait! Bob had a nice 29″ bass and John had a 28.5″ along with a short and one that escaped near the boat. As for me, I need to practice my sinker dragging some more. I didn’t even get a hit.

We then tried for tog along the banks between Andy’s and the lighthouse. Nothing! Brett said the water was just too dirty for tog to see the crabs. Still a fun first trip!

My first trip for 2024 was on April 8th for tog. We fished LE reef and caught our 4 man limit. We also released 2 large females. One went 6 lbs and the other one I’m holding went 7 lbs.

What a way to end my 2024 final Dragonfly charter with Captain Mike Moran! Despite breezy conditions which actually felt nice with the 80+ temps, we went off into the shallows to cast pilchards and greenbacks to hopefully hungry fish. And they were hungry especially once the tide changed.

There were many boils, several stolen baits, a few lost on the way in, but my final count was three 30 – 32″ redfish, two beautiful snook (one over and one slot which I declined to keep), one crevalle jack and one nice 19″ spotted trout which went home with me. On light tackle and in shallow water, these fish really fight hard especially the jack!

What an end to my 2024 SWFL fishing adventures! Thanks again to Captain Mike of Dragonfly Charters.

Since my first trip to Graveling Point in early March, I have returned two more times. Each of those trips produced Stripers. Pictured here is one of the little guys making there way up the Mullica. On the last two trips, I caught two and three shorts to 20″.
I am surprised at how many fish are being caught. I see two or three keepers being caught every trip by somebody. Seems like everyone is getting shorts. The action has all been on bloodworms. I have been focused on the first three hours of outgoing but others have told me they are catching on the incoming tide.
Going to try and get out again this weekend if the weather permits.

Fished the first three hours of the outgoing tide at Graveling Point today. There were four other anglers fishing. There was one short Striper caught (not by me) within the first hour. That was all the action for the day. Everyone was using Blood Worms. Water was very clean considering all the rain. But it was also very cold.
Hopefully I’ll get another crack at it next week…

It’s been a relatively cool winter in Florida so far and the fish have not been on the bite. Yesterday everything changed and the fish were biting in Sarasota bay. My friend, Tom and I went out on my boat and got about 15 spotted sea trout each and I got a couple Spanish mackerel. We brought home 3 fish. The Spanish Mackerel were 25 inches and 29 inches and the trout was 19 inches. All were caught on paddle tail jigs. I think with the warmer weather the fish will continue to be on the bite. I’m going to try for reds in the shallows tomorrow.

Got my first redfish off the beach today. Fishing a pompano rig with shrimp, the rod went down and stayed down. Great fight and landed this 231/2″ beauty. Filleted and will be having it cooked up a Kretches’ on Marco tomorrow night. Also had a 14″sheepshead. Not as big as Ed’s, but I got to eat this one.

Just when I thought the winter of extremes in Southwest Florida was over (coolest, rainiest & windiest), my second trip with Dragonfly Charters experienced the lowest water levels anyone can remember. The reasons are the same as up north – strong east winds since we are on the west side of FL and a full moon.
Undeterred, Captain Mike and I set off in his 16′ skiff into the backwaters searching for redfish and snook. It didn’t take long before the 70 hp motor was lifted and the trolling motor was deployed. Shortly after, the captain had to use a pole but we still bottomed out. The captain went into the water and started to pull us along. I offered to join him but at his suggestion, manned the pole as we moved ~150 yds to deeper water – 3 feet deep!
Unfortunately, with the shallow water, the fish were really spooky. Large snook scattered as we neared them or cast nearby. At least the smaller ones took our shrimp along with several reds. Then I saw a disturbance and threw my shrimp ahead of it. Immediately my line went tight, and the fight was on. After several minutes, multiples swirls, tail slaps and several drag screaming runs, the beautiful red came alongside the boat. After a quick photo and measurement (~33″), the fish went back into the water, The captain commented that the only two overs caught this year so far, were today and on my last trip 4 weeks ago.
I had several short reds including one that was 1/4″ shy of the 18″ minimum size. It was an amazing experience including watching several ospreys diving and capturing fish all around us.

Went back to my previous spot today with frozen sand fleas and fish bites. Heavy wind required using Sputnik sinkers to hold bottom. Caught these two chunky Pompano at 14″. Filleted and taken to Cocomo’s in Marco and had them prepared Francais style. Delicious meal. Will be targeting these tasty fish for the remainder of my time here. Still have some fillets to fry up for tomorrows dinner.

I have been all but absent in 2023. Physical issues and just life in general got in the way. So a month on Marco Island is just what the doctor ordered. We arrived on 2/3 and I fish strictly surf along Tiger Tail Beach. The first two days fishing produced 3 black drum each day, ranging from 15″ – 22″. All filleted and fried up for a delicious dinner.

Today, 2/17 I walked down the beach to where I believed the sand bar tailed off from the beach into deeper water. I baited a pompano rig with live sand fleas and 15 minutes later landed the pictured 16″ pompano. Great fight on light gear. It has been filleted and we will be heading to the Capri Fish House where they will cook up two platters with approximately 2lbs of fillets. Two more weeks of fishing left before we have to head back to the deep freeze.

I use the term “Florida Cold” to describe the weather here in Cape Coral when it’s unusually cold and the natives are freezing! We’re talking mid 50’s to low 70’s with brisk winds. Nothing like what I read was happening up in Manahawkin. Anyway, yesterday the weather returned to normal, and the fish were biting.

I went out with Dragon Fly charters for my sixth time since coming to FL. Capt. Mike operates a 16′ skiff with a 70HP engine and trolling motor. We fished the inshore mangroves and had a blast! The redfish I’m holding was 31+” and fought hard on light tackle. The FL limit is one fish from 18 to 27″ so after the photo I quickly released it. I had other shorts but couldn’t get my slot fish. We then went looking for spotted trout using a cork with a trailing shrimp. Again, lots of shorts but then I caught the beauty in the photo that went 19+”. That one went into the cooler. We also caught short mangrove snappers, ladyfish (looks like a needlefish and is great for chunk bait, several short sheepshead and finally one nice keeper. I also caught a blowfish and showed the captain my video. That went home with me too.

We barely saw another boat, watched ospreys and eagles put on a show and encountered several manatees who were also in close for the warmer water. It was a great time and I will repeat it in February and again in March.