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 Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Fish Caught: Redfish, Lady Fish, Catfish, Skate/Ray
High Tide: 4:15 PM 1.2 FT Low Tide: 10:30 AM -0.2 FT Wind: 10-20 E Air Temp: 50/77 Water Temp: 68 Clarity: murky
Ran down to El Jobean Bait & Tackle Shop got some shrimp and we left the dock by about 11:30 AM. Down near the end of the Apollo canal I noticed a lot of action on the water in a deep trough were the water was rushing over a sand bar. It took me a half hour to find out it was a bunch of catfish, I've seen them breaking water like this before but its not too common.
I moved on to drift my shrimp under the docks with little result. I think I fed a few Mangrove Snapper but even they didn't seem hungry today. I did see a manatee come by but the water was so dark I could only see it's nose when it came up to breath even though it swam within 4 feet of our boat. As the water got a little deeper I moved over to an oyster bar, there's a channel that runs strong between two bars and sometimes the snook feed there.
No snook today but I did get a bunch more catfish and rays. I also got a few small redfish but only one reached the 18 inch minimum and I kept a couple ladyfish to put in my crab trap.The wind was very strange all afternoon. It would be calm when suddenly the palms on the west side of the canal would start rattling and a wall of wind would sweep across the canal blowing the boat into the tide on the anchor line.
It was during one of these revolutions that one of my rods started bending over. I though it was caught in the oysters and it was the motion of the boat pulling it over. But when I picked it up I felt some life on the other end of the line. I set the hook and realized I had something huge. It wasn't fighting like you'd expect from a snook or even a redfish. It just swam around a little while I tried to pull it towards the boat. I could feel it thrashing it's head but it was a slow powerful motion. I finally got it up to the boat and we started to see a shadow in the very dark water when the hook shot up and over our heads.
We'll never know what it was, it never surfaced or gave us a glimpse. It was about 4 o'clock when we ran out of shrimp and headed home, another exciting day on the water.
High Tide: 5:15 PM 1.25 FT Low Tide: 11:15 AM -0.25 FT Wind: 10-20 SE Air Temp: 53/84 Water Temp: 69 Clarity: murky
It was a windy day but finally it was warm. I know it's been very cold up north but we're not used to the record cold we've had either and it is so nice to be warm again. So, we chose to deal with the wind and get out of the house. I ran down to El Jobean Bait & Tackle Shop and picked up a couple dozen shrimp and we ate lunch and shoved off by about noon.
The tide had already turned in and was moving fast when we got to the end of the Apollo Waterway. Action was very slow. I don't think I had a single mangrove snapper steal a shrimp all day. I did find a lot of very small catfish enjoying my shrimp and I lost count of how many I had to unhook. I don't enjoy those slimy fish with their dangerous barbed fins. Anybody that ever got stuck by one knows how hard it hurts and how easily it can become infected.
So I've gotten very good at hanging the catfish by the line and grabbing the hook with my pliers. A quick flip in the right direction will unhook the fish and I never have to touch it or bring it in the boat. Except, these were very small, 6 inch, fish and they didn't always drop down into the water with my unhook flip. One of them flew over my shoulder and landed right inside Karen's boat bag. The boat bag is filled with reading material, wallets, sunglasses, sunscreen and some snack food. And now a slimy catfish that would not stand still for a second. What a mess, I finally grabbed a fin with my pliers and pried it (it's barbed fin stuck into the bag) out and tossed it overboard. Karen wasn't pleased.
I also hooked a few bigger rays and got one very small snook on a Gulp. But fishing wise it was a tough day.
I once again forgot my camera and camcorder and wouldn't you know a bald eagle flew lazily over our head giving me plenty of time to grab the camera, if I had one. And then it spotted a fish in the water and made a slow glide down to the surface, leveled at the last moment and swept forward about 6 feet with it's huge talons extended easily grabbing an unsuspecting mullet from the water. It looked so easy. I'd been working for several hours and I didn't have a thing to show for it. It was amazing to watch only 50 yards from our boat.
So I finally used up all my shrimp and we headed for the dock by about 4:30. Another wonderful day with the wildlife on the water.
Lost my boat, some of my mind, but not my fishing' lust and knowledge. 'Want to catch big cobia, black tip sharks, bull sharks, other catch the bait for the big'ns there, too. Super, easy trip & fun time. I have a spot not 10 minutes from shore via Port Charlotte Beach Complex launch. Also used to have flats boat, and know some good spots. If you'd like a fishin' buddy, please email me. I'll bring bait, beer; you bring boat. If interested, please email me at darrylwatson@live.com. By Darryl, At
August 9, 2009 4:55 PM
Lost my boat, but not all of my mind. Know a great spot for blacktips and cobia. Catch bait in same spot. Great little trip, 10 minutes from Port Charlotte Beach Complex launch. Biggest cobia I've landed there: 65 pounds. Bull shark (est) 150 pounds. Also familiar with great backwater fishing. If you'd like a fishin' buddy, I'll supply the bait and drinks; you supply the boat. If interested, please reach me at darrylwatson@live.com. By Darryl, At
August 9, 2009 4:56 PM
