Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor

Capt. Van Hubbard
September 18, 2007
Boca Grande - Saltwater Fishing Report

September fishing is improving every day.

It was so pretty we had to go fishin’.

Snook season opened on the First and it was crowded so we waited until Monday to check things out. The wind was gentle, the skies were blue so I had to take some friends out and enjoy the day. We started out seeing fish everywhere; jacks, mullet, ladyfish and bluefish, everything but gamefish. We netted a bunch of nice minnows and started looking for some snook and redfish. The water is beautiful clear and clean. Droughts may be bad for plants but it maintains perfectly clear water for fishing.

Like I said we looked a lot before we found a big school of small snapper to play with. Then a few small snook but not anywhere near the new slot. Finally I sat on a deeper edge for the last of the falling tide. I figured something would have to pass by and give us a shot. I chummed with the smaller minnows and saw a few pops and swirls but no bites. We tried small pinfish and got several small snook then a nice 24 inch red. While taking its photo Rod the rod holder screamed for assistance. The line was sizzling off and Bob’s friend Linda was on to a quality fish; finally. After a lengthily tug of war, the big snook came boat side; its big mouth open and head shaking. I slid the landing net under her and Bob went for the camera again while I measured her. I was concerned the big snook would be too big but she was just over 32 inches therefore under the 33 inch max. We landed several more snook some were close but not needed anyway. Then a nice 25 inch red to wrap it up and we called it a day. It was fun riding we observing 6 or 7 manatees, to many dolphin to count and some spoonbills but the catching helped make this a perfect day. We beat the rain in and cleaned up a mess of fish for dinner.

I took a few days off to visit my family and catch up around the house. My little sister enjoyed a weekend birthday celebration in St. Pete. I am from up north too. We joined a friend on his rig to share some fishing Tampa Bay with my great nieces. We caught some pompano, ladyfish, and sharks we had a ball. It was great to see old friends and haunts at O’Neil’s Boat Basin.

I took advantage of the slower times to expand my horizons. I am learning about kayaks. Grande Tours needed some help and I like the quiet fishing experience. I am spoiled fishing with natural baits mostly the last few years but as I’m always writing artificials produce fish. I did a get acquainted excursion with Mary, Grande tours manager and resident kayak fishing devote. She and I stalked reds and snook up Coral Creek. We got one each and some ladyfish. The catching will improve with the cooler season coming. I guided a wonderful couple from Atlanta that own and vacation on Boca Grande last Friday. We enjoyed the outing but did not hurt any fish. While eagles and everything was active Thursday it was dead on Friday. They wanted to learn about fishing from the beach at their Boca Grande condo so we rode out and shared some ideas with em. Their condo is in a great spot for pompano and beach snook. We will do better when they come back for the Holidays.

Greg, Steve, and Spike joined me Saturday, to see if we could find some hungry fish to play with. They were enjoying the area and we got lucky. We caught redfish for about an hour. They ended up with three nice slot fish and release several snook also. I think the manatees brought us luck. I went to church Sunday to let the big guy know I was thankful.

Monday Dave brought a friend also Dave down from Sarasota. I caught some minnows while they drove down. Weather was perfect and we got lucky again. Close to an hour of almost steady redfish. They ended up with two almost perfect 27 inch reds for dinner and a couple of fine trout; 23 and 17 inches. We looked around a found a few bigger reds but only smaller snook so far this week. We’ll see how tomorrow goes. Let’s Go Fishin’ soon.

Captain Van Hubbard.

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