In the last several weeks the weather has been dominated by high pressure off the northern Florida coast. This has resulted in a steady eastern breeze. Our permit and cobia trips have been limited due to the weather, as we have had to “pick our days”. However, the inshore fishing has been steadily getting better.
Steve Nale, V.P. of Great Dane Petroleum Contractors (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), entertained a few of his clients with a two-day trip. Focusing on permit, all caught and released big fish even though conditions were not the best. This was the first big permit for each angler. I am always tickled by the respect an angler immediately gets for this fish soon after the fight is over. Jack Lee and his wife Tammi had fished with me about three weeks before on a permit trip. Both caught permit till they had to take a break. Jack returned with his brother, Billy to tackle the permit again on a half-day trip. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and we had to return early due to the seas. However, Billy did get to land a nice fish about 14 lbs. Several other permit did not make it over the side as the hook pulled. A couple of sharks and two cobia rounded out the offshore catch. On the way back to Chokoloskee, we stopped at “Vickie’s Honey Hole”. As was expected, a nice snook in the 15 lb range attacked the bait. Regrettably, this fish want to stay in the water more than Jack wanted him out it. However, we did manage to land snook for Jack’s table on the next stop. I am beginning to think Jack is developing a problem … he is turning into a “permit-holic” like me!!! We did manage sneak out to the “Watermelon Patch” for a bit of permit fishing. On the way, we jigged up a few dozen threadfins. I had been catching cobia most every trip but not in good numbers. As soon as we got to the Patch, the permit came to greet. I tossed a crab directly to the lead fish that immediately turned on the bait. Somehow he missed on the first try. He turned back to the bait but instead of eating he spooked. A small cobia about 20 lbs gobbled the crab in his place. That ended the permit fishing. Both anglers were bowed up constantly from that point forward either on “brown marlin” (cobia) or big jewfish. The permit were there, we just did not have time to deal with them. John Driscoll and his wife Stephanie had a tough time getting snook to fit in the slot size. However, for his birthday he did land a nice snook in the 22-23 lb range. Although this fish was not caught on fly, as he would have liked, he did get a couple of shots at snook with his own hand-tied flies with his 8 weight fly rod. Stephanie brought a 28-inch specimen home to her fish-loving daughter, Kara. My wife Vickie, the head chef and first mate on Chokoloskee Charters Sunset Champagne Cruises wanted snook for dinner last Sunday … her own snook!!! In less than 30 minutes she had three snook, two trout, one redfish and four large jacks over the side. We were fishing in sight of other anglers, so every time she hooked up there was a lot of noise and flailing arms on the other boat. They seemed to be frustrated. Rather than continuing to disturb these fellows, we went to a nearby beach and shared a bottle of champagne and watched the sunset. The fishing is only getting better at the weather improves. It is going to be a wonderful fishing spring and summer. Call us to Plan Your Next Adventure! For more information or to book a charter with The Captain: CHOKOLOSKEE CHARTERS "Not Just Another Boat Ride" P.O. Box 824 Chokoloskee Island, Florida 34138 Contact the Captain at 239-206-1194
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Fishing is back scorching hot!!! It must be springtime!!!. Schools of snook are coming in from offshore. Tarpon are in the rivers and beaches. Redfish are on the bars. Did I mention the Permit … they're thick and most are in the 15 - 22 pound range!!
Terry Phillips of Smoketown, P.A. flew in to Everglades City. Even though the weather did not cooperate, they were able to bring back some snook, redfish and trout to their friends up north. Jack and Tammi Lee, of Cape Coral, Florida had a good day this last week boat snook, trout and Permit. The action was very hot with the permit. The fish were big. Both anglers requested that we take break so they could rest. These permit are true tackle-testers. However, Jack and Tammi were not out of the game for long! James Card of Winter Haven, Florida fished three days over last weekend. Focusing on permit for two of the days, he boated over a dozen fish ... all over 15 lbs. A few snook were also mixed into catch. We took a deep backcountry trip one day when a third angler was on board. Unfortunately, nothing but small "sandwich" size snook were found. It was, however, an eye-opening experience for both angles to see and fish that terrain. Even though he was complaining about the rod bruise in his stomach from the permit, James did jump a dinosaur about 125 lbs later that the evening. I believe he now understands my passion for the Silver King! Right James??!! Since the last writing, Chokoloskee Charters has hosted two different fishing/camping trips. Both were great successes. Supported by the Mothership (a 30 foot screen enclosed pontoon boat) for gear, food, drink and cooking, all twelve people had a blast!! The fishing highlight had to be the four large tarpon jumped by Bruce Hitchcock and Jim Webster of Broward County. HOWEVER, the food topped everything. As an example, on the first adventure ... Friday night we served Capt. Chucky burgers that are venison stuffed garlic and onions; Saturday's breakfast consisted of banana pancakes, bacon and eggs with mimosas; Lunch was blackened snook and shark on the grill; Saturday night we cooked a Low Country (Cajun) Boil with shrimp, crabs, sausage, whole garlic, onions, and potatoes served with cold beer, pull bread and a key-lime cake for desert! Sunday we had to repeat the breakfast but finished the evening with steak and lobster on the grill. I think you get the idea!!!! For those that have not tried this trip yet, it can be a life-changing experience!!! Fishing is only getting better!!! Come see us!!! |
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October 2005
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