Fort Myers Beach, Florida

Human remains were found near Marco Island Saturday afternoon. They were found just north of the Goodland Bridge.

Today is Sunday, May 31, the 151st day of 2009. There are 214 days left in the year.

The search for an elusive black bear in South Florida is over.

The housing slump and hurricane season could add up to more trouble for communities like Lehigh Acres, Fla.

Wichita police say that abortion provider Dr. George Tiller has been shot and killed at his Wichita church.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the U.S. financial system is in much better shape these days and there is more stability in the overall economy.

Authorities say a late-night fire at a small, wood-frame house in St. Petersburg left a man dead and a woman homeless.

Researchers are reporting their first big successes in getting the immune system to fight cancer, after 30 years of false starts.

The most important part of your hurricane plan is a hurricane kit that includes the basic life support you will need after a disaster.

As the 2009 hurricane season nears, many homeowners are finding insurance more expensive. Others are finding it hard to get at all.

The 2009 North Atlantic Hurricane Season officially starts on Monday, 1 June and continues through 30 November.

With the new fishing regulations coming into effect for grouper, I decided to take a quick fun trip offshore over the holidays. I accompanied Dr Dan Moenning and his father and father-in-law in search of dinner. we traveled west for over 12 miles before we ever found bait a stark contrast to my last offshore trip when bait was thick as molasses. After a few stops we had a couple of dozen squirrel fish and about a dozen hand size blue runners. On the first grouper hole we managed 1nice keeper red grouper, we moved to another and picked some under size gag grouper. On the third and final stop of the day 2 more short gag’s and 3 nice keeper red grouper. We also caught around 15 nice lane snapper up to about 2 pounds.

On a side note to any on out there with some old TD numbers they have held on to, Dan had acquired a new program to convert TD numbers , having tried this on a number of occasions, without success, we reluctantly fished some spots we converted with the new program. This new program converted our numbers dead on the money. At the moment the program is unavailable to the public, but will be coming as an update to certain manufactures GPS systems in the first part of 2009. I will report the names after the release, so anyone looking for it will know how to get it.

Also tarpon season is around the corner I have been booking trips already, but have a lot of availability. Give me a call to discuss any dates the end of May is already pretty jammed up. But the beginning of May and June is mostly open.

Hope Every One Had A Great Christmas And Looking Forward to A Prosperous New Year

Capt Andy Boyette
1-888-880-0006

By nospam@example.com (Capt Andy Boyette)

Every year at this time, after spending some great fishing days inside the backcountry flats and tarpon filled holes of Charlotte Harbor, I take a annual trek offshore. With a break in charter action and the right weather conditions Capt Scot Hughes and myself took a break and headed offshore in search of the annual kingfish action. With light winds and warm air temps and water temps in the low 70s we headed about 12 miles west of Boca Grande to an undisclosed wreck. With no bait in sight in the harbor we figured we could sabiki some bait offshore and slow troll it near the wreck and pickup some Kingfish. About halfway we found a nice pod of threadfins about the size of two football fields and proceeded to fill the live well. Once on the wreck we immediately marked plenty of suspend fish on the color machine and deployed some frisky baits behind the boat. First fish to the boat was a small king about 7 lbs. Not exactly the kingfish we where hoping for but kingfish none the less. Next couple of drifts bring the same size king fish, when suddenly another hookup looks to be much bigger fish. Not running like a kingfish, after about a 20-minute, fight and some imaginative guesses about what could be on the end of the line, we boat a 25lb Amberjack Really great action on the light tackle we where using with multiple fish landed over the next hour, the largest about 40lbs.

Kingfish should hold in the area for another few weeks and the Amberjack we encountered will stay on these near shore wrecks until the warm weather returns in the spring. The grouper bite has been fair close to shore along with the snapper and like the amberjack should stay close as long as the weather stays cool.

Inshore fishing will be in a transition until water temps stabilize. With the bait supply drying up your favorite plastic and jig combination should bring plenty of trout action. Big redfish should start showing in the potholes where chumming with cut bait like ladyfish will pay off. Snook fishing in the canals and in the rivers should be good. After cold mornings warming afternoons will be the best time to be on the water.

A short video of our amberjack action can be seen at AmberJack Fishing Video

Capt Andy Boyette
1-888-880-0006

By nospam@example.com (Capt Andy Boyette)

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
1-888-880-0006

By nospam@example.com (Capt Andy Boyette)

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
1-888-880-0006

By nospam@example.com (Capt Andy Boyette)