Fort Myers Fishing Report

For those who think they have to wait till next year to fish for tarpon you better think again. Just like years past the tarpon fishing is as red-hot as it gets. Tarpon ranging anywhere from 20 lbs to well over a 100 are scattered throughout the area. The key to success is patterning these fish daily since they are moving and switching diet from day to day. Any weather change puts these fish on the bottom sight unseen. So confidence in the area will likely determine success. Ladyfish, threadfin herring, and swim baits are bait of choice.

Redfish are in schools now and can also be found under just about any mangrove on high-water. Cut bait works best for under the bushes, for those who just can't fish without live bait you can throw the net just about anywhere and catch enough livey's to fish all day.

Snook fishing is ok if you are looking for keepers you have to catch a lot shorts. Live bait definitely will keep their attention as they fatten up for the winter.

Kingfish are showing in decent numbers and the run should last well in to December or a the least until our first severe cold snap.

Booking for 2009 tarpon season has already started for me. My clients as well as new comers to the sport are finding out that booking early increases your chances of securing the date or dates you want. I have personally booked quite a few new clients this year through the TV coverage this area is receiving. Check It Out On Video Tarpon Fishing Video
Capt Andy Boyette
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Tarpon have continued well into July with the only variable being the weather. Heavy rains that backed up in Charlotte Harbor made tide changes and currents more difficult to predict. The tarpon fishing becomes very tidal at this time of the year with most of these fish moving from inshore to off shore as the tide comes and goes. Fishing for tarpon has been a lot like turkey hunting you see them in an area and you move in and set up and with a little luck you get a few shots. Then you move to the next area stage up and wait for another couple of shots. Most of the trips I done early in July where hit or miss the fish where there but not very cooperative the opportunities where far and few between and those who capitalized on a opportunity had success.

The upcoming month of August should be much better as the morning rains and afternoon showers will be less numerous and weather patterns will stabilize. Boca Grande and specifically Charlotte Harbor will continue to host large schools of tarpon for those anglers looking to score a late season tarpon on light spinning tackle or possibly a fly. I personally continue to fish for tarpon well into September with great success. This style of fishing truly is more like hunting since these fish will move on a daily basics and stalking them requires a level of skill acquired through patience and virtue.

Redfish should also begin to school up in some well known traditional community holes. Snook are still on the beaches and the mangrove snapper fishing will be good in and around the docks and bridges and canals. Look for a good run of mackerel with all the bait that is in the area and a very healthy fall fishing season.

For Charter and other information please visit my website send me a email or call me on the phone.

Capt Andy Boyette
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Prior to the cold front that past by first of the week where temps dropped into the 40s Pine Island Sound was stating to show some decent action with Snook and Trout with the occasional Redfish. Bait fish was making a good showing but unlike the past few years it is not in the usual spots. Tarpon began showing in small numbers on the beaches and I have heard from other guides they have been catching a couple a week. I went in to the big Pass today and marked a handful of tarpon and there where several boats drifting live bait.

Bull and Turtle Bay have been fairly reliable with a mixed bag, but I struggled to put fish in the boat today. Several of the trout we caught did not even fight, indicating that the cold must have affected them more than I thought.

Upper Charlotte Harbor has a steady supply of bait in and around the two bridges. Snook fishing continues to be good in the rivers and canals, and I expect until we get a week or longer of warm days they will be in no hurry to leave.

I have been steady booking tarpon trips and have very limited availability for May. I stll have openings in June so if you are planning a tarpon trip this year you should be getting your plans together. I expect another phenomenal season

Prior to the cold front that past by first of the week where temps dropped into the 40s Pine Island Sound was stating to show some decent action with Snook and Trout with the occasional Redfish. Bait fish was making a good showing but unlike the past few years it is not in the usual spots. Tarpon began showing in small numbers on the beaches and I have heard from other guides they have been catching a couple a week. I went in to the big Pass today and marked a handful of tarpon and there where several boats drifting live bait.

Bull and Turtle Bay have been fairly reliable with a mixed bag, but I struggled to put fish in the boat today. Several of the trout we caught did not even fight, indicating that the cold must have affected them more than I thought.

Upper Charlotte Harbor has a steady supply of bait in and around the two bridges. Snook fishing continues to be good in the rivers and canals, and I expect until we get a week or longer of warm days they will be in no hurry to leave.

I have been steady booking tarpon trips and have very limited availability for May. I stll have openings in June so if you are planning a tarpon trip this year you should be getting your plans together. I expect another phenomenal season.

Capt Andy
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Spring like weather patterns continue, with the mildest winter I can remember in recent history. Red fish fishing is not as good as it should be with reds being a hit or miss, however big redfish are showing in the potholes. The slot-sized reds are harder to find and not in good numbers. Cut bait and scented plastic are still the best. Snook season opened and some slot fish are being taken in the upper Myaka as well as the Peace River. Smaller snook are more abundant on the flats and deeper cuts. Trout fishing is pretty hot with plenty of gator trout mixed with slot size, a good day well consist of 30-50 fish. Non-stop action can be found drifting and casting 1/8-1/4 ounce jigs with jerk baits or gulp shrimp.

Grouper fishing continues to be good close to shore as well as the snapper. Drifting cut or live bait will take home plenty of dinner. I also hear a lot of success trolling plugs near good bottom or structure. Interesting fact the there could be new regulations on the horizon for offshore fishing so it is a good idea to get involved and be vocal on your position. If not no complaining when the season is closed for half the year like is being proposed.

As always tarpon fishing is a subject I bring up. With the tarpon that where being caught in December and the amount of tarpon up the rivers now, the upcoming season I expect to be phenomenal. I have been booking steady and have more on the books at this time than any other year in the past; I hear the same from many other veteran tarpon guides, I still have a lot of room on my book, but at the pace I am booking, timing will become an issue if you are planning to fish with me. I have stressed this in the past and this year is no exception good tarpon guides book up early and become very limited. So if you are thinking about fishing there is no better time than now. It allows you to secure the date that works best for you.

Capt Andy Boyette


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Spring like weather patterns continue, with the mildest winter I can remember in recent history. Red fish fishing is not as good as it should be with reds being a hit or miss, however big redfish are showing in the potholes. The slot-sized reds are harder to find and not in good numbers. Cut bait and scented plastic are still the best. Snook season opened and some slot fish are being taken in the upper Myaka as well as the Peace River. Smaller snook are more abundant on the flats and deeper cuts. Trout fishing is pretty hot with plenty of gator trout mixed with slot size, a good day well consist of 30-50 fish. Non-stop action can be found drifting and casting 1/8-1/4 ounce jigs with jerk baits or gulp shrimp.

Grouper fishing continues to be good close to shore as well as the snapper. Drifting cut or live bait will take home plenty of dinner. I also hear a lot of success trolling plugs near good bottom or structure. Interesting fact the there could be new regulations on the horizon for offshore fishing so it is a good idea to get involved and be vocal on your position. If not no complaining when the season is closed for half the year like is being proposed.

As always tarpon fishing is a subject I bring up. With the tarpon that where being caught in December and the amount of tarpon up the rivers now, the upcoming season I expect to be phenomenal. I have been booking steady and have more on the books at this time than any other year in the past; I hear the same from many other veteran tarpon guides, I still have a lot of room on my book, but at the pace I am booking, timing will become an issue if you are planning to fish with me. I have stressed this in the past and this year is no exception good tarpon guides book up early and become very limited. So if you are thinking about fishing there is no better time than now. It allows you to secure the date that works best for you.

Capt Andy Boyette


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The New Year and winter arrived at the same time with mid 20 degree low temps and highs only in the 50’s. Water temptures fell quickly by more than 15-20 degrees in less than 24 hours. There where numerous areas that snook got caught off guard and small juvenile to mature snook where killed by the freeze. Fishing fell off as fast as the temptures and has only recently picked back up.

Redfish are starting to move back on to the flats after quickly fleeing the cold weather. Live shrimp and cut bait will work in the potholes on deeper flats. Trout are holding in good numbers in 4-6 feet with 1/8-1/4 ounce jig heads with scented plastics worked slow and on the bottom. Snook that escaped the cold are hold up in the rivers and canals and will readily take a live shrimp free lined.

The grouper and snapper bite is on fire off shore and is the best prior to a front or just after. Ledges and wrecks in the 80-foot range will give up a limit in a short time. Make sure to take frozen baits and a mixture of live baits. These fish change mood and can be seriously frustrating not to have live bait when they want or frozen if that is the case. A lot of times you can turn the bite back on by switching between the two.

Tarpon fishing is getting closer and I have been booking trips for the prime season with regular clients as well as some new clients. I expect to have another banner season since the harbor is still full of bait despite the recent freeze.

Capt Andy Boyette

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Tarpon in Charlotte Harbor, King Fish near the beach, Redfish tailing in Pine Island Sound, Snook moving up the rivers. The Florida weather as been picture perfect making fishing as hot as it gets this time of year with a variety of options. Tarpon near the 41 bridge in target able numbers last week moved in to Boca Grande Pass for a late season bite if you where lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time.



King Fish are in good numbers close to the beach and on near shore wrecks and can be caught with blue runners and other live baits. We hauled 25 stretch magnums this weekend in 50 foot of water and scored several nice kings in the 25-30lb range with smaller school fish mixed in.

The Picture perfect skies and light wind coupled with extreme low tides produced great tailing redfish throughout Pine Island Sound. With shrimp and soft plastic jerk baits taking numerous fish in the slot and plenty of oversize redfish mixed in.


Snook fishing is good close to the river mouths as t these fish move back in to winter grounds. Dock fishing and deep-water cuts are holding good numbers of fish. The bait at the mouth of the rivers is phenomenal and will help fatten up these fish for the upcoming months.

Capt Andy Boyette

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With the first cold front that passed and the shorter days the water temps are climbing down and snook know to fatten up for the winter when during cold fronts they will lay up for days with out eating. Snook are being taken in good numbers all across Charlotte Harbor with slot size fish being the normal. Redfish should be on the move towards winter flats where on a sunny day after a cool morning you will be able to find them tailing for food and warming up in the sun. Kingfish are still being caught close to shore along with grouper snapper and a few cobia.

I fished an extreem low tide yesterday for tailing redfish in Pine Island Sound. The day was less than banner but there where redfish tailing in four areas. Me and Capt Scott Hughes caught two fish to the boat, cast at numerous fish with no reaction, missed numerous hooksets, and pulled the hook on the last fish at the boat before landing what looked to be a top slot redfish. If It had been a tournment day we would have scored but not likely in the top total weight about nine pounds.

Tarpon Fishing Charters are starting to book now and some of my regular clients are picking some of the prime dates. Since there are two charters per day there is still plenty of dates to chose from. Call now to book your tarpon fishing dates.

With the first hint of fall arriving this weekend in Southwest Florida fishing should be about as good as it gets. Water temps are falling and fish are becoming more aggressive. Schools of redfish are scattered through out the area. Look for tailers on a low tide then work the bars on a rising tide.

Snook fishing is improving as these linesiders move back to the winter haunts. River mouths, island points, tidal creeks with good moving water should produce. Snook are fattening up for the winter and will take most offerings if presented correctly. If the fish you have found aren’t eating try tackling down and finesse fishing to entice a strike.

King fish should start moving south and the runs in our area have been bigger and better each year. However near shore fish have been seriously affected by what seems to be an everlasting redtide bloom, pushing these fish and the bait they eat further offshore. Start looking for water temps in the mid to lower 70’s with a good hard bottom and bait, you should have success.

A welcome weather change has came about with cooler weather you can stay warm with hot fishing. Snook fishing continues to be excellent with fish on the feed and fattening up for the winter. Slot size fish will readily take live bait and soft plastics as well as various top water baits. My favorites include the the skitter walk Rapala early in the morning and on cloudy days like we have seen for the past few days. With the fast early morning incoming tides we have had snook have stationed up on island points and deep water cuts adjacent to shallow water flat. A weed less jerk bait tossed in to the shallow water and worked back towards the deep water will pickup snook waiting for a meal to get washed into the deep water. The key is to present the bait in front of the snook not from behind.

Redfish are broken up into smaller groups and working the bushes on the high tide and picking up singles is the best bet. A jig head in the 1/8 ounce with a shrimp imitation or jerk bait will be easy to skip under the bushes. after making a good cats let it settle before twitching and than quick jerk until the bait is out of the target zone. Work every edge nook and cranny of the shore line and make several tosses into the same spot some times red fish will readjust after your first cats and be able to see you bait when they couldn't before.

King fish are definitely in the area and should hold well into November. Trolling always works but with fuel prices on the rise again you may want to catch bait and anchor and shut down the big motor. If you know fish are in the area and or you are in a traditional spot, once on anchor create a chum slick with menhaden oil and an occasional scoop of live or chunk bait and the fish will come to you. You have two options here the one being fly or just free line the baits a, a plus to this style of fishing is while you are waiting you can usually catch snapper and grouper if you anchor in the right spot.

As always tarpon fishing is always on my mind and the season will be here sooner than you think. I have been booking trips already and at this time have done so at the same rate as last year. I bring this up because I heard stories form clients on my boat that after booking with other guides at their given rate they found out later that there was a fuel surcharge. I personally don't believe in this practice so all trips booked will be at the rate at the time of booking regardless of the price of fuel next year, the rate you book at will be the rate. Hopefully the price of fuel will remain steady and there will be no reason to raise my rate.

Tarpon fishing is almost non-existent in our area now, as the fall patterns are beginning to emerge. Snook season reopened last month and have cooperated well, look for these fish to begin moving back to the creeks and rivers and deeper channels in preparation for winter months. Redfish have been schooling up in traditional areas with slot size fish easily taken most days. Trout fishing is picking up with keeper and oversize trout in the mix.



Kingfish should be making the fall showing and should be in the area through this month as well as most of next month. Mangrove snapper has been a good staple on most trips, with 20 inch and larger fish being taken. Grouper should start to move in closer as the days get shorter and the water temps begin to cool down.

I have already begun to book my 2008 tarpon season with regular clients as well as some new inquiries. Just to remind everyone May and June are prime months, and have received a lot of TV coverage over the past several years. This has had a positive affect on booking. It also seems that people are booking earlier every year.

I have also acquired an online travel agency to assist clients in making travel arraignments. A full service-booking agency for airline, hotel, car rentals, cruises and any other travel or vacation packages, for all your needs. Please consider shopping and comparing on our site

Snook season is open and the outlook is great with good numbers of keeper fish hanging out close to the passes and in deeper holes around the harbor. I found snook at the mouth of peace river south of Colony Point readily taking top water plugs early in the morning. Later in the day we switched to live bait and continued the action. Remember to release the fish you are not going to keep carefully and its one fish per person 26-34 inches. I usually only keep fish under the 30 inch mark.

Redfish are schooled up on the outsides of the bars and eager to take most anything thrown there way. Incoming tides are the best and the action will heat up the higher the tide gets. Most of these fish will be to big to keep, slot is 18-27 inches and these fish tend to be larger than the 27 maximum. Redfish are very hardy and will take the catch and release better than most but these bigger fish are the ones getting ready to move offshore and begin breading so take a little time when releasing them and make sure they swim away. Catch and release doesn't work if you don't insure a good release.

There are still some Tarpon to be had for the hard core poon-a-ticks so scout around and you will find a few pods still hanging around. Some of these fish are resident fish and have seen everything in a fisherman's arsenal, so finesse them with artificials or hunt down some larger live bait, threadfin herring works best.



We are Booking 2008 Tarpon Fishing Charters

Go Fish Charters and Guide Service can arrange a private or group Tarpon fishing, snook fishing, backcountry, flats near shore or inshore fishing trips.


"Good Things Come To Those With Bait"
CAPT ANDY BOYETTE

Fishing has been as hot as it can get through out the year, and has been one of my personal best. The snook, redfish, trout, and of course my favorite the tarpon cooperated all through the season. I spent numerous days and hours fishing with clients from all over and just had such a tremendous time, I couldn't even find time to keep a updated fishing report. Now with the summer months here things have slowed down enough I can find the time to be consistent writing and trying my best to keep you updated on the fishing scene in and around Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor area.

The redfish action is starting to heat up in Charlotte Harbor with some schools of oversized fish being caught. Snook are still being caught at the beaches and passes, especially on out going tides; remember however this is still catch and release for another month. Tarpon have left Boca Grande Pass but numerous schools and numbers worth targeting are still in the Charlotte Harbor. With high temperatures during the day the best fishing times will be early in the morning or late in the afternoon.


"GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WITH BAIT" ... Capt. Andy Boyette

Go Fish Charters and Guide Service can arrange a private or group Tarpon fishing, snook fishing, backcountry, flats near shore or inshore fishing trips.

If you are considering a stay in our area I recommend checking out the Marina Inn www.marinainn.net it is located on the eastern shore of Charlotte Harbor and has condominium accommodations at hotel prices.

"Good Things Come To Those With Bait"
CAPT ANDY BOYETTE

Go Fish Charters and Guide Service can arrange a private or group Tarpon fishing, snook fishing, backcountry, flats near shore or inshore fishing trips.



We do full and half day charters as well as night Charters

Low Tide Affair

Fishing over the past few weeks in our area has been a low tide affair. With negetive tides for the morning start it will give you an opportunity to locate productive pot holes as well as productive bars. Where water flow and deep cuts exist will be the best fishing.

Trout season is back open and big trout are prowling the flats. Shrimp draged on the bottom of deep potholes with a 1/8th ounce jig is very productive.

Pompano have been cooperative near the passes and the beaches water flow and clearty is the key soft plastic bounced off the bottom has been working for me.

Redfish have been scarce with only single fish here and there. Bull Bay has had tailing fish if your boat will get you in shallow enough. Small crab and grub bodies 3inch or smaller.

Snook have totally eluded me but should be found in the canals and around docks. Live shrimp free lined with no terminal tackle will work.

Good Things Come To Those With Bait

Capt Andy Boyette 941-769-1582