Boca Grande, Florida Fishing Report

Capt. Andy Boyette
August 3, 2001
Boca Grande - Saltwater Fishing Report

Fishing Report from Southwest Fl

It seems as if the two year drought here in Florida may be coming to an end, we have had 20 inches of rain in the past two weeks. Most of this rain came over a two day period, about 14 inches. This caused some spotty fishing days with all the fresh water flushing into the harbor. But towards the fist of this week things picked up hot and heavy and I had some amazing days on the water

I took Tony P. and his friends Ed and Linda, from Bartow Florida they booked a room at the Marina Inn at Burnt Store Marina for a few days and wanted to try their luck on the flats. Tony hasn't fished in quite a few years and had never fished the Charlotte Harbor area. The fist day was really breezy and we got a late start so we cut it short and headed back in after only a few jacks and some small snook. The next day we had are bait caught before 7:00am and headed to west wall and started working the banks I had seen some nice reds right before the rains and I figured they would be held up in some of the deep holes. The heavens were raining down the blessings on us because within the first five minutes of looking we got on school of nice keeper size redfish. So I dropped the anchor and figured we would catch a few. Well within in four hours we caught and released 67 redfish. I can tell you that was the best day of red fishing I had ever come across. and I know Tony and Ed will never forget it , because I know I won't. This was truly a day that don't come that often. Hey guys I'm glad I was there with you; we were, with out a doubt at the right place at the right time. If you ever get to Bartow Florida make sure you stop and check out Tony's antique shop the Hodge Podge, and don't forget to ask him about his Redfish trip. The store is located in the downtown area at 270 South Wilson Ave., and he can be reached at 863-534-8800. He also sells from Ebay and can be found on Ebay by looking for captnb3.

I tried the reds again the next day with Mike A. form Texas. Mike is a regular client and I have fished with him a lot, he was in town so I called him and told him about the reds and we decided to go. Well when I tell you that you don't have days like that often, you really don't! Those reds had left and we looked and waited for two hours before Mike decided, because of a small tropical wave heading into our area to call it a day and get the boat out of the water. I agreed but instead of just picking up and leaving I decided to troll along the and cast our baits up to the bushes until we reached the mouth of Turtle Bay. This gave Mike a good ten minute fight with a nice 40 inch 30lb snook on eight pound test. Good catch Mike you can be proud of this fish. After catching and releasing the spectacular fish we called it a day.

"GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WITH BAIT"

Capt. Andy Boyette

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