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).