Super Fishing Dec 24th

I have been fishing offshore lately with Tommy Robinson as I have for 10 years. Jack,Mike,Michelle,and Nick bearmon fished Dec 24 and had a awesome catch. We were releasing keeper Gag Groper toward the end of the day because the fishing is so good. The winter storms are striking and stirring the pot both offshore and in the backwater.

T Tower Sun Up

I fished with Jordan on Sun December,6th. the T-Tower off Everglades was our starting point for our Hydro Sport 36'. The Amber Jack and Mutton snapper were slow to bite but we landed a few. We moved South to try our luck with a little natural bottom. The Grey snapper, Mutton snapper,and true Black grouper were everywhere. We caught enough for dinner, plus a few for fun and called it a day. We watched the sun come up and set on the way home. With the sun down and the tourists cruising the city dock I filleted our catch and looked forward to a shower and some fresh Snapper for dinner. Capt.Zeke.

Grouper,Amberjack,and Snapper

I have been fishing offshore with Tommy Robinson for the past week. Here are some of the pictures that I have accrued over the past few days.

Early Morning Fishing Naples Fl.

Randy Eddy of Lacrosse Wisconsin and I fished Gordon pass Monday the 16th. I found a few mullet for bait and we set up on the bar on the North side of Gordon in Naples,Florida. It took about 20 min for the tarpon to show up and after that the battle was on. I had the rod for the in initial strike and handed it off to maneuver the boat around for the chase. Randy fought like a champ,him fishing bass tournaments back home and sponsoring multiple sclerosis tournaments,he knew the battle dance. After about 25min the line was sheared maby from a channel marker the fish swam too close to during the battle. It was great fun and a good story for the good old boy. Capt.Zeke

Keewaydin Under the Stars

Connor Dunn, Wayne Ethier,and I camped on Keewaydin Issand on a piece of private land Sat the 14th of November. The skyes were clear and the air was chilly and made for a perfect night in the open air. We did not fish much during this trip. Although a few mullet found there way into the cooler. We headed home to watch the Dolphins game in on Sun morn and a little needed rest from our adventure. Capt Zeke

45lb Cobia Naples Fl.

Fall Cobia in the Gulf of Mexico

Jason Smith of Naples and myself caught live mullet for bait and headed off the beach for some hot Cobia action. The barracuda and shark were hungry and made for some great entertainment while we waited for our fish of choice. The weather was calm and there was only one boat in sight. I hooked this 45lbs Cobia and the fight was on 15 min later with 20lb braid line she was landed. After a few pictures we revived and released this truly powerful and awesome fish. Capt.Zeke

Port Of The Isles

Mike Barone, Wayne Ethier, Geo and myself departed Port of the Isles boat ramp at around 6:00am well before sunup. We watched the sun slowly illuminate the surrounding oyster beds and back bays on the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The gulf is only a few miles away and the water is coming in. Fishing the moving water in little rivers just before Chatham River the snook and snapper along with gag and Goliath grouper were feeding. The shark and tarpon were really active on the later outgoing flow at the mouth of the river. Wayne hooked up more than any one using mullet and lady fish for bait. The bottom at 12 feet was entangled with debris from prior hurricanes and was havoc trying to get these fish to the boat, but it was fun trying. As mike slept on the deck we headed back north toward Indian Key and eventually Port of the Isles. The day ended up with a worn out crew, but that's when you know you had a good day on the water in the middle of nowhere Everglades National Park, Fl. Capt Zeke

Squall Fishing

Jason Smith and his "keeper" Redfish after fishing through 40 minutes of torrential rains


Jason Smith and myself left Naples boat ramp on Tuesday the 22nd with the rain coming down. The Best part about fishing through the afternoon squalls is that there is usually no one around who wants to test there skills. We had all off Naples inter coastal to our selves, and the fish were biting. Ja caught a 26 3/4in red fish for dinner and that was in a torrential downpour. The big snook were busting mullet on the mud flat we were fishing so I got the top water plugs out and started walking the dog. It was very exciting getting slammed by large fish over and over. The bugs were thick and it got dark quick so we called it a night and started home to prepare some red fish for our reward for a real challenging trip.

September 10th Predawn Snook and Redfish

Marlene Chaplin and Tom Spencer of Naples and I left Bayshore boat ramp before the sun rose on Thursday the 10th of September. The double header snook bite happened seven minutes after arrival at one of our local fishing holes. I landed a 41 inch female snook in 24 foot of water and Tom's departed after a brief interlude which was captured in a few words of wisdom while I fought my fish for a good couple of minutes. After fishing along Keeywaden beaches for a 1 1/2 hours we landed numerous small snook and lost one huge sideliner. The redfish, five in total, were all over size and still feeding when we left the rock jettie. It was a beautiful morning and I am sure Tom and Marlene will feel there forearms tomorrow!!

Tom Spencer and his Redfish and the Captain With the Release



The Captain and His 43" Oversize Female Snook

Barracuda September 2, 2009

Brian and his 20lb barracuda with Capt.Zeke

Marco Island Snook Season Opening Day September 1, 2009

Jason Smith with 25 Inch Snook and Connor Dunn with 20 Pound Goliath Grouper

The bait and the head pin out of Gordon's Pass yielded enough bait to start the day. Marco Island had a slow out going tide which produced forty pound tarpon, twenty pound jew fish and a few small snook. Time ran out and after three hours of fishing the tide went slack and we made our way North. The Gulf was pretty calm and the water temperature was 81 degrees. It was a good trip and Connor Dunn and Jason Smith of Naples, Florida said they had a great time.

Sunset Snookin August 25, 2009

Dave, Captain Chad and I left Naples boat ramp for a sunset fishing expipition on Tuesday the 25th. We found some pinfish and sugar trout at the head pin out of Gordons Pass snd headed offshore to try our luck. The weather was rainy and there was only two other boats in sight. The action started off hot with Chad catching a huge female snook close to 40in and barely getting it away from a very big bariccuda. After reviving her to give her a better chance of getting back down we released her on her way. The action slowed to a crawl with a few mackeral and rain heading our way we called it a trip and headed back in. With nav lights blaring we made our way home safe and sound with another succesful trip under our belts.

Everglades National Park at Daybreak August 23, 2009

(Turner River at the break of dawn)
Bill Faulkner a captain who fishes out of the park on a regular basis was gratious enough to take Mark butler and myself out on Saturday the 22nd. The sweet water was more productive than the outer points because of the tide differance. The back waters were really high and the small tarpon and snook were there but not overly agressive on the bite. Outside was a completely different story with a westerly wind at ten knots that kept the water stirred and extremely low. Black drum were the most prevelant fish around the outer islands, but were reluctant to strtike without some shrimp. Bill is an artifical fisherman only, which makes it more of a challenge and really tests your skills. It was a beautiful morning and a great feeling running through Chatham river to the Gulf of Mexico and seeing all the birds and alligators which are only some of the critters lurking out in the middle of nowhere.


(top) Mark Butler 26in sweetwater snook and captain Bill Faulkner (below) 16' hellsbay flatsboat

Sunrise Snook on August 15, 2009 Adventure

Capt Chad and I splashed the boat in Naples at 5:00am Saturday. It was still dark when we arrived at our spot in 25' of water out of Gordons Pass. Schools of bait were everywhere and the tarpon and spanish mackeral were busting simultaneously on the shiners. We caught snook, jew fish, spanish mackeral and king fish in what turned out to be an extremely exciting and productive early morning fishing adventure.

Saturday 8th Manatee Family

Mary carol graciously invited me on her 24' for a Doctors pass to Goodland adventure. We usually leave after 10:00am on that boat so its usually a no pressure day ( for the most part). We couldn't have asked for a better day with just enough wash to keep you cool on these summer days. The ride was peaceful with surprisely little traffic for a Saturday. The group of manatee nine in total were just doing there thing at the mouth of Hurricane pass so Madi girl and I joined them for a splash. The one big bull was looking for a little love chasing one of his cows around and pussing water like hippo would. Manatee are some powerful, massive and slowly graceful when they play. The twin babies were very curious of Madi girl and I and came right up to us. It was a great way to start the day!!


(In Order): Chad Smith, Mary Carol Fitzgerald, Seth, Geoff, Madi girl, Me and Cara

July 29th and 30th Lobster Mini Season

Capt. Jordan, Mike Chad, and myself left for Miami on Tues night to test our skills for the opening of mini lobster season. We started off meeting some friends for the opening night at 12:00 for some bullyneting. That was interesting because I personally have never seen it done. There was not much luck on our end but seeing the large swath of boats, hundreds of them, all lit up looked like a large city on the water was a sight to behold. We snorkeled, and dove for two solid days. It was so exausting but well worth the effort. There is a limit per person per day which we accoomplished both days. No one got hurt except for the firecoral and sunburn so we were fortunate, there were casualties in the keys!

July 25, 2009 Friends Sunshine and Beaches in Naples

On July 25, 2009 we departed the Cove Inn Yacht Club on Naples Bay for a typical Saturday morning cruise with friends. We went to the back beach on Keewaydin Island where only two other boats accompanied us on our own private piece of nature. The water was crystal clear and warm and the snook were numerous in the shallows which made for some fun angeling. The girls were pretty and the dog was exhausted. The day could not have been better and there is no finer way to wind down than a cold beverage poolside at the Chickee (Cove Inn).

July 16, 2009 Offshore Three Day Fishing Charter

We departed the Naples city dock before sunset on Thursday July 16th. Our voyage to the outer depths of our fishing grounds in 200 foot of water was in search of American Red Snapper, Grouper and Cobia. The charter group and I fished aboard the Captain Marvel with Captain Mike. Here are some of the pictures that were taken during the offshore trip showing some of the excitement that was endured during the trip. Everyone had a great time and the weather was flat calm and a mild breeze kept us cool during the second night.



(top Picture): Captain Zeke (bottom Picture): Greg and a 36" Gag Grouper



(Left Picture): Captain Mike and Larry (Right Picture): American Red Snapper

July 12, 2009 Marco Island Fishing

Captain Chad and I fished the morning bite on Marco. The bait was tough to find at the head pin. Fished for tarpon in twenty foot of water for a 1 1/2 hours with no hook ups. Found bait and traveled inland to fish the deeper cuts and docks with small results. I found this jack (pictured) on the backside of Marco on a high outgoing tide. It was a great fight with a very powerful fish! The jack was revived and released. We traveled to the Marco bridge (pictured) for some well deserved shade which was 20 degrees cooler that being out in the sun! The fishing under the bridge was exciting with two hugh hook ups .... nothing boated.

Sir Buck Work In Progress

Southern Viking Charters newest addition to the fleet ... Sir Buck .... a 33 foot Chris Craft House Boat will be utilized as a camping mother ship vessel to our fishing skifs. She is a work in progress and will be available hopefully by the end of 2009. Make your reservations for 2010 now!!