I live in Port Charlotte, FL on a canal with access to the Myakka River near El Jobean, FL and Charlotte Harbor. I own a boat and I love to fish. I'm new to Florida so I'm learning a new kind of fishing and I thought a record of fish caught, weather, tides, etc. for each trip would help me to learn quicker. That record is what you'll find in my blog which I post as soon as I possibly can so check before you're going out, my success or failure might help make your trip more productive.
Fishing Myakka River/Charlotte Harbor, Florida Thursday, March 20, 2008
Fish Caught: Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper
High Tide: 4:15 PM 1.3 FT Low Tide: 10:15 AM 0.0 FT Wind: 5-10 NW Air Temp: 59/77 Water Temp: 72 Clarity: clear
My Uncle Don and Aunt Nancy are visiting from Connecticut and wanted to see what the Myakka looked like from the water so the 3 of us packed a nice lunch and headed out about 9:45 AM. I wasn't able to net any bait so Don bought a couple dozen shrimp and we went straight out to the El Jobean bridge. I thought the tide would be hitting low and turning in but I guess the wind was against us and for the couple hours we were there it never turned in, it just sat slack. Don managed a couple mangrove snapper, too small to keep and I got a nice 18 inch spanish mackerel on a Berkley Gulp white swimming mullet.
We noticed a pelican kind of floating, swimming and dipping himself into the water in a most unusual way. After watching him for 15 minutes or so we decided he must have a piece of fishing line wrapped around his right wing and right foot. So we got a couple towels ready, a knife and the net and pulled the anchor to go see if we could help the poor thing out of its jam. I started the motor and pulled the anchor and looked back to where he had just been and he was flying away as if he had never been better. We finally decided that he was the same pelican I had tangle in my line on a cast a little earlier. I had only had him tangled for about 20 seconds and he seemed to slip free rather easily so I hadn't really paid any attention to him. But I'm thinking now my braided line may have given him a burn or ruffled or broke some feathers and that his unusual bathing actions had been an attempt to soothe or unruffle those feathers. It sure was odd.
We went out to one of the bays off Tippecanoe Bay and poled way back into very shallow water. I thought Don and Nancy would enjoy seeing the skinny back water and all the birds and wildlife back there. But we didn't find too much activity and no fish at all besides the mullet that were looking for what little sun made it through the clouds.
On the way back home we saw about 5 dolphins really stirring up the water, circling and jumping and splashing. I turned the boat towards them and slowed to an idle. They were in a playful mood and 3 of them turned and came towards us. They swam around and under the boat, stopping occasionally to stare up at us as we hung over the rail and talked to them. People can get pretty nutty in the way they talk to animals in those situations and I can't help but wonder if those dolphins just wanted a good laugh.
I had shut the motor and we slowly drifted away from the dolphins. But when I started the motor again and turned towards home the dolphins came back and started the circling and visiting. It was pretty amazing, they seemed to have something to say. It was at least 15 minute that we chugged along at nearly idle speed and they gave us quite a show. I'm wondering now if they had talked to that poor pelican and he told them of our good, but misguided intentions towards him. Whatever the reason they eventually let us go on alone and went back to their dancing.
The spanish mackerel was delicious blackened with a salad from my garden, italian turkey sausage, sweet potatoes and some good wine Don and Nancy had provided. It was another great day in paradise.
High Tide: 11:59 PM 1.75 FT Low Tide: 8:00 AM -0.5 FT Wind: 5-10 SW Air Temp: 69/87 Water Temp: 73 Clarity: clear
After we got back to the dock I was invited to go out with a friend, Dave, for a little night fishing. He was hoping to get some snook. Even though I was a little tired I took his offer, wolfed down a little dinner and he picked me up about 7:00 PM. We put in at the boat launch by the Coast Gaurd station in North Port and fished a few of his favorite spots on the Myakkahatchee Creek.
Within the first half hour Dave brought in a snook that was about 24 inches. Of course we had to release it because of the 28 to 33 inch slot limit. He also had several hits that he missed. During the next couple hours we missed several more fish including one that hit a live mullet on my line only 6 feet from the boat. I was back home by 10:30.
I haven't been night fishing in a long time. It was nice to get out on the water when most fishermen aren't. It is very peaceful.
High Tide: 11:59 PM 1.75 FT Low Tide: 8:00 AM -0.5 FT Wind: 5-10 SW Air Temp: 69/87 Water Temp: 73 Clarity: clear
I'd heard that their were redfish in Tippecanoe Bay so I chummed up some shiners and we headed out about 12:30 PM. I wanted to stop at the El Jobean bridge but there were a lot of boats and my favorite spots were occupied. So we went straight out to the very top of Tippecanoe.
I threw Gulp Swimming Mullet, a Heddon - Zara Puppy and free lined the shiners. I tried some of the deeper channels and oyster bars and sand flats. The only thing I saw was a couple fish, that may have been redfish, follow my Gulp to the boat and a lot of mullet jumping in the very shallow water where the sun warmed the water very quickly. I noticed my thermometer went from about 73 to as high as 77 degrees in spots where the water was still and shallow. When we got into the small areas between mangroves it got very hot, I had to put sandals on to keep my feet off the hot deck and our deck is white.
But, not a single fish. About 4:00 PM we went back to the El Jobean bridge and I used up the last of my shiners. The tides was still so it was impossible to keep my bait where I wanted it and we left there without a single strike.
It was nice to be on the water without the wind we experienced last trip. We noticed an awful lot (10-15) sea kayaks between the El Jobean boat launch and where we fished way up in the Tippecanoe Bay. They were all fishing, a lot with fly rods. We guessed there must have been some kind of group meet like a kayak club? Long way to paddle if they all put in at the boat launch.
Fish Caught: Jack, Sail Cat, Catfish, Mangrove Snapper, Stingray
High Tide: 3:45 PM 1.25 FT Low Tide: 10:00 AM -0.1 FT Wind: 20-30 SE Air Temp: 64/82 Water Temp: 75 Clarity: clear
Living on the canal, with the boat always there ready to go and being self employed gives us the freedom to take a break and head out to do a little fishing almost any time we choose to do so. So normally when we check the weather and it says 20-30 MPH wind we stay home or at least in our own canal. But today we had friends come down from a snow storm up in CT and it was the only day they could get out and we really wanted to give them a good day on the water.
So Tom and Arlene arrived at 9:00 AM and as planned several weeks ago, we headed out for an adventure. It was perfect timing to catch the low to incoming tide at my snook spot at the El Jobean bridge but with the wind so fast I knew we'd never be able to anchor. So I instructed my fishing crew on where I wanted them to drop the menhaden and told them I'd hold the boat steady under power and they should be careful not to get thrown off in the rough waves. It all sounded like a great idea.
BUT, as they were dropping their bait a huge gust of wind and a giant wave hit us at just the wrong moment and turned the nose of my boat in just the exact wrong direction. I was nose into the bridge piling with the wind blowing us hard towards it and not enough room to swing back out in either forward or reverse. I turned the wheel hard to the right, gave it some gas with the intention of pushing off the bridge with my hands to keep the rear of the boat and motor from hitting the bridge. As I rushed from the captains chair my hand tapped the throttle and everything happened a little faster than I'd planned. I managed to get a hand on the bridge but not soon enough to keep from scraping just a little along the wood bumpers. Of course the extra power sent Tom back pedaling to maintain balance. Lucky for me Arlene and Karen were both seated and Tom was coordinated enough to stay upright and on board. He later sad he saw what was happening and was expecting the get away, although not with the sudden acceleration, but being aware was enough for him to keep safe.
We abandoned the bridge fishing and headed across the harbor for the mangrove bays behind hog island. The wind was whipping straight up Charlotte Harbor and the waves were much larger than any I've been in before. A pontoon boat is a little like a bar of ivory soap in a tub full of kids. It was slow going and we got very wet. Salt spray was in the air in sheets, the wind was almost too loud to yell over and hog island was almost invisible through dripping sun glasses. After 8 hours with no food and water we finally started getting into the lee of the mangroves. Well, I guess it only seemed that drastic.
But once in the mangroves it was calm and quiet and sunny with just enough breeze to keep us cool. We spent the rest of the day idling around from spot to spot catching only a big jack, some stingray, and Arlene caught a catfish AND I LET HER KEEP IT (a private joke). The only sign of the pandemonium whirling outside of our mangrove sanctuary was when you cast your lure up above the mangroves. The wind would grab it an fling it way off it's intended destination, usually well into the mangroves. I've always found fishing in Florida to be much better on those beautiful, sunny calm days we're getting so used to. I always thought it was my state of mind that made it seem so. But over the last few years its starting to seem like the fish also enjoy those nice days to dine. I think even the fish in Florida are relaxed and mellow and choose to venture out only when its a beautiful day on the water!
Our trip home was no less brutal. But we motored very slowly directly across the harbor to the lee of the far shore before turning back north west towards the bridge. It made the trip a little shorter and we only got mildly wet. It was plenty warm enough so being wet didn't bother anybody and with 30 MPH wind we dried fast once we were out of the spray. We stopped in the Apollo canal and played with mangrove snapper, stingray and a sailcat and decided it was time for a still, quiet seat on the lanai out of the wind and a cocktail. I won't say it was a beautiful day on the water, but it was exciting, it was fun, it was a very nice visit with Tom and Arlene and it was a beautiful day amongst the protective mangroves!
P.S. Arlene took some photos she'll email and I'll post them later.
High Tide: 11:00 PM 1.5 FT Low Tide: 7:00 AM -0.25 FT Wind: 10-20 E Air Temp: 50/81 Water Temp: 71 Clarity: clear
I think Jim at Fines Bait and Tackle in North Port felt bad that the shrimp he had were on the small side and gave me twice as many as I paid for because I had at least a dozen left from the 2 dozen I bought on Saturday. So we decided to go back to the Apollo Waterway and use them up.
We got to the same dock that I caught that monster redfish yesterday and on my 3rd cast I hit the gap between the dock and the boat lift. Karen said "nice cast, that's the spot" and at that moment something picked up my shrimp. The line started that steady track under the dock that usually means a big fish. I set the hook and sure enough, it was another monster. Or maybe the same fish? It stripped line off my real for 5 or 8 seconds and then the hook came loose and I lost it.
We tried several other locations in that area and fed all our shrimp to little mangrove snappers without ever getting one in the boat. I had a couple other hits that may have been bigger fish but I just couldn't seem to get that hook to stick so around 5:00 PM we used up the last shrimp and headed home.
It was a little windy to be out on the open water but it was another beautiful day in the shelter of the canal.
I'm heading down there for a week on friday the 7th. Thanks for posting your reports they are very interesting. I've been coming down there for 3 years every march and staying with my grandparents on a canal near the myakka down there. I fish the canals alot and over in tippecanoe bay or whatever you call that huge bay just past the bridge. I love bass fishing but i hate that there isnt any launches on the river itself. So I stick with catching redfish and snook all week. So if you see a green and gold nitro bass boat around during the week give me a holler. By navbass09, At
March 5, 2008 5:59 PM
Thanks for the note. I am actually hoping to get out to Tippecanoe Bay today or tomorrow (Fri the 7th). I have been told that redfish are biting on shrimp in that area. Maybe I'll see you out there. I'm in a 23' Crest pontoon boat and I'll have a boat load of friends from CT. Where are you coming from?
P.S. There is a launch up at Snook Haven off River Rd near Rt. 75 exit 191 (I think) in North Port. By twlack, At
March 6, 2008 6:33 AM
Im coming from pensacola, fl. I know of snook haven but i think my boat is too big and my grandpa said the river is too low that far up. So i think we'll stay in the bay area. I've never done good near the bridge, always done good in a few select canals and back in the mangroves of tippecanoe. I've never tried apollo like in your posts but thats just up the bay from where we'll be so I might try that canal a few times. thanks. I'll look for you when im out. By navbass09, At
March 6, 2008 6:08 PM
I will be renting a place in EL jobean in Jan 2008. Any help on what to fish for or how to would help Is thr trout and sheephead fishing good this time of year? By LINDA R, At
March 7, 2008 3:57 PM
Hi Linda, Trout are always around some where. But catching them in El Jobean is not always a guarantee. We haven't seen very many around for a long time and when they have been there they've been small. I think it may be because of the unusually warm winter and maybe next year when you're here (I assume you meant Jan 200"9") the trout will also be around. As for sheepshead I don't usually fish with shrimp so I don't catch them. But on my March 1st trip I did have a nice sheepshead follow a shrimp to the top. I didn't mention it because I didn't catch it.
Follow this link for all the reports that include trout:
High Tide: 9:30 PM 1.5 FT Low Tide: 6:00 AM -0.25 FT Wind: 5-10 NE Air Temp: 48/79 Water Temp: 70 Clarity: clear
We finally got a chance to go out fishing and the wind didn't pick up to stop us. It seems like it's (the wind) been watching us and plotting to keep us on shore.
It was a strange tide, coming up slowly all day long. I went to get some bait early in the morning but couldn't find any. So we went up to Fines Bait in north Port and bought a couple dozen, mostly small, shrimp. I guess cold snaps make it very hard to get larger shrimp. But they also say to fish with what is available because that's what the fish are eating.
So we took our small shrimp and when the tide was just high enough we slid the boat off the lift and headed straight to the El Jobean bridge. It was around 1:00 PM when we got anchored and started drifting shrimp and casting Gulp at the bridge pilings. We spent about 2 hours feeding small mangrove snapper. I got about 7 in the boat the largest was just about keeping size which is 10 inches. But the rest were much smaller down to 5 inches. Anyone that fishes for snapper knows they are experts at taking a shrimp off your hook and avoiding being hooked. So as you can imagine I was busy with these little things. I also hooked and boated a small skate. Not many people in this area call them skate so I did a little looking and if you're interested here is a great site about fish and this page in particular is about skates and rays. After a couple hours we gave up and headed back to our canal.
It was still early (3:30 PM) and such a beautiful day that we decided to throw some of those little shrimp under the docks on the way up the Apollo Waterway. My second cast I had a nice bite but missed it. As my shrimp just got to the surface a nice Sheepshead grabbed at it but missed and turned back under the dock. A few casts later I felt a heavy tug and the line started moving at a steady pace under the dock. When I set the hook I thought I'd gotten wrapped around the dock piling. But when I finally managed to get the fish out from under the dock and it hit open water it took off. I realized then I had a nice fish. I yelled to Karen to get the net and as she came along side me the fish rolled and she yelled "that's not a fish its a whale." Well it wasn't quite a whale but it was a beautiful redfish and it gave us quite a fight before finally sliding into the net.
The bad news is it was 2 inches over the slot limit of 18 to 27 inches so we had to throw it back. So no fish for supper but another great day on the water!
