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 Sunday, July 20, 2008
Fish Caught: Mangrove Snapper, Jack
High Tide: 7:15 AM 1.3 FT Low Tide: 11:20 AM 1.0 FT Wind: 0-5 E Air Temp: 75/93 Water Temp: 85 Clarity: murky
We got a nice early start leaving the dock about 6:00 AM with a nice comfortable 75 degrees and a nearly full moon. We weren't sure we'd go so we had no bait but managed to net some white bait from the canal on the way out. There has been lots of small bait, about 3/4 to 1.5 inches long, in the canal and around sun up they swim right on the waters surface in small schools making them easy to spot and net. Although it is a lot of work to throw that big net to catch 6 fish at a time but I got a couple dozen in the live well and worked up a good appetite which I sated on the remainder of the trip with my P&J sandwich.
It was just about sun up when we reached the sea walls at the end of the canal and I started throwing my Gulp Swimming Mullet at the fish that are always snapping against the walls at this hour. We were within about 6 feet of the sea wall when a school of something started popping up against the wall right in front of me. I flipped my Gulp against the wall about 6 inches above the water and it dropped in to the white water. A tiny twitch and something grabbed it. It didn't feel very big for a few seconds but then I guess it realized it was hooked and off it went. Under the boat, around the motor with me chasing behind feeding the pole around the bimini top, under the pontoon, down under the motor and I still had a fish on when I finally got free of the boat. It was still a battle but we finally netted a nice big Jack.
I threw the Gulp and drifted the white bait under a bobber for another hour or so with just couple tiny hits on both. So we decided to head to the El Jobean bridge to see what was going on out there. We haven't been out there much lately opting to spend a little less money for gas, but it was a beautiful morning so we made the trip.
Which wasn't worth the effort. I fed my bait to tiny mangrove snapper only managing to get one in the boat. We did see tarpon rolling under the bridge more than a few times. And a school of Jacks exploded the water right in the middle of the waterway under the bridge but I was too far away to reach them.
After I used up my bait we headed back to the canal and stopped at a few favorite spots to cast the Gulp. It was just a lazy hot summer day on the water and we got back to the dock about 11:00 AM for a quick swim to cool off before cleaning the boat. Another pleasant morning on the water.
High Tide: 6:15 PM 2.1 FT Low Tide: 12:15 PM 1.1 FT Wind: 0-5 S Air Temp: 72/90 Water Temp: Clarity: murky
There was a lot of bait swimming past our dock this morning when I went down about 6:30 AM. So I netted a bunch with the intent of catching the incoming tide this afternoon. But Karen was anxious to get out and it was a beautiful morning so we got the boat packed and were on our way by around 8:00 AM.
I put a green back under a bobber, one on the bottom with a small split shot and I threw my Gulp Swimming Mullet. I kept all 3 lines going and moved to several different spots on flats, under docks and finally in a deep hole I got one small sail cat. I did feed several other fish that were too smart to get hooked but it was a very slow fishing day. But I think it was mostly the tide, we really needed to start fishing about 1:00 PM. when the tide would turn in and rise quickly until about 6:15. It was still a great morning on the water.
Fish Caught: Lady Fish, Sail Cat, Mangrove Snapper, Skate/Ray
High Tide: 4:30 PM 2.5 FT Low Tide: 9:30 AM 1.2 FT Wind: 0-5 SE Air Temp: 71/90 Water Temp: Clarity: murky
My neighbor and good friend, Bimini, went out yesterday around lunch time and got chased back into our canal by the strong thunderstorms that started popping up. But before she ran for cover she hit a large school of redfish feeding in the mouth of the canal. She landed two small ones and broke the line on what she says was an easy keeper, maybe over slot limit.
So, this morning she headed out early and I happened to be on the dock. She twisted my arm, I grabbed my gear and we were off. We both had things to take care of for the 4th's celebration and agreed to be back by around nine. But we were too early for the fishing, the tide was wrong and the wind was not drifting us the way we wanted to go. There were plenty of tiny mangrove snapper but only one keeper. I also caught about 6 stingray and a ladyfish. Bimini brought in a very, very large sail cat. We thought it was a shark the way it was attacking her bobber and live bait.
With the 4th we both have places to be and people to see but I hope we'll time that tide better in the next few days to find those reds feeding on the flats. There has been lots of bait in the water lately and I knew it was only a matter of time until something big came in to fill up their bellies.
Thanks for the trip Bimini, it was a beautiful morning on the water. I think we did good to get home only an hour late. Well, maybe an hour and a half.
