One Friday in April, I had a couple that contacted me to go fishing from Port Charlotte Beach. They were here to research waterfront property to purchase for vacation and when they finally retire. They are from Pennsylvania and have a dairy up there. We met at the ramp at ten AM where we started our adventure. It was a very nice day - a little overcast and a nice breeze - partly cloudy you might say. We left the beach complex where the marine contractors were replacing the fishing pier there using some heavy equipment. We were on our way to the Myakka cut-off where we stopped and anchored up the boat and tossed some of those Fishin' Franks live shrimp up close to the mangroves. The couple, the Adams, had lost a few shrimp to the bait thief's little snapper and pinfish. We were patient and finally there was a different bite and Mrs.Adams had something trying to rip the pole out of her hands. They are experienced fishermen/women and she had a firm grip but it was gaining line and then the fish bolted away from the boat. It was a good battle - she would reel and get some line back and the fish would strip some more line off the reel and then she would get it back. After a few of these runs, the fish was getting tired. She got it up close enough to see it was a nice red fish, where I got the net and coached her how to net the fish. It was a nice Charlotte Harbor red - 22" in the slot to harvest. The tackle we were using was a quantum 50 boca reel, with 20 lb. suffix performance braid with 20 pound leader, 5feet long with a quarter ounce egg weight and with a 1/0 vmc circle hook with a redbone 20 to 30 lb. 7 ft. rod. This is what is called a knocker rig and it has been very productive inshore for snook, reds, and snapper. Also this is what we use offshore for snapper with a heavier weight. Getting back to the fishing - we traveled through the cut-off behind Hog Island and went down the Cape Haze shoreline and drifted the grass flats and caught some nice trout and lady-fish to close out our fishing adventure. We returned to the dock and cleaned the red and trout which was plenty for two for a fresh fish dinner. I went home to see how my wife was doing spending the day with our grandchildren - two boys and a baby girl. They were fine and I was wanting to test a prop I had recently purchased, so I asked the boys if they wanted to go with me, one said yes. So we went and there were still some shrimp in the live well. So, on our way to put the boat in and my grandson asked if we could fish. I had put two rods that were for him and his brother - small Penn reels and ten pound line light tackle. Well we tested the prop and it worked just fine. We tried fishing just a few spots with no takers. The phone yep cell you guessed it, it was grandma what time are you coming home I told her soon. It was while I was on the phone with her we were reeling in the lines to go and one got bit so I handed it to my grand son. I told him to reel it in we were going to go home, he was ready. But there was a fish pulling the line out of the reel. It went up to the mangroves and came back out a went around the boat and back and forth behind the boat. My grandson said "help me" but I told him he was doing a great job -  just hold onto that pole. I got the net and we landed a 22 1/2" red fish. He was very excited and the first question he asked was "how big?". I measured it and the next question was "can we eat it?" and I said yes, your mom will be happy. Some special time with some special people on Charlotte Harbor. If you would like to have your own fishing adventure with Capt. Bart Marx call 941-979-6517 or e-mail at captbatr@alphaomegacharters.com And always remember that singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{

May in Southwest Florida is BIG FISH time. There are plenty of large fish to target this time of year. You have your tarpon migration happening where the large schools of tarpon come to our area. They come here to feed on the fertile waters of Charlotte Harbor where there are several passes that feed the Gulf of Mexico. The harbor is a nursery to all types of bait fish, crabs, and shrimp. This is a great example of the food chain in action where the smaller fish start and up to the large size critters. The harbor produces all these baits and when there are tide changes, these baits get funneled to the passes where the larger fish come to feed and in large quantities. The mackerels - king and spanish - are feeders on small bait fish and then they are eaten by the sharks. Also in the passes you will find the silver kings ( tarpon ) that are here to feed on the bait too that are flushed out to the gulf. May is typically the beginning of the tarpon season where you will see hundreds of boats trying to position themselves to hook into one of these high-flying fish. The rule is to bow to the king.  This means to lower your rod tip to let slack in the line so it is not pulled out of the tarpon's mouth as it leaps into the air. That is one of the big fish. Then you have your sharks - bulls, hammer heads, black tip, tiger and spinner just to name a few, that come to our area to feed on -  yup - tarpon. Also, this is the beginning of the snook migration for spawning. They move to the beaches in large volume. You can fish from a boat or from the beach to wrangle with one of these tackle testers. Out in the gulf, you can catch red grouper, lanes, and mangroves at 80 to 100 feet. Inshore you have your reds, snook and trout. This is a great time of year to go out and catch yourself an inshore slam, or a southwest Florida grand slam by adding a tarpon to this trio. The best time to go fishing is when you make time. So pick a date and put it on your calendar. You can't catch fish sitting on the couch. You would can go with Capt. Bart Marx or I can go along with you on your boat. Call 941-979-6517 or e-mail captbart@alphaomegacharters.com. Always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile.        <*(((((>{

May can be a tough month to go fishing in S.W. Florida, so try to focus on one species to target. You’ve got your big fish - tarpon, goliath grouper, and sharks that have come to visit our area in search of food. They are the ones that will make your back sore if you hook into the BIG guy. There are different approaches to battling the large fish of this trio. They come in all sizes from small to XXXXL -  a thousand pounds big. To battle with one of these species you should do some homework. Research the tackle required - like rods and reels, fishing line, leaders, and hooks. All these things have to be considered going into the battle. Like preparing for a title boxing match, there are things you can do months or days ahead to get ready. One thing to decide - are you going to harvest one for eating or not? This is very important as to be ready to take the hook out with some special tools or be ready to cut the leader if the hook in non-retrievable. If you are planning to release big fish you, may flatten the barbs on your hooks to make it easier to retrieve them. This is when it is important to keep tension on the line so they can’t throw the hook. Remember, with tarpon you must bow to the silver king. This rule goes against all natural fishing tactics of keeping your line tight. May is a good month to stalk tarpon with a fly rod as they are in feeding mode. There are other species that are good table fare too that should be hungry as well -  snook , reds, and trout to accomplish an inshore slam. Out in the big water, black fins or a sailfish may show up to play tug-of-war. These are just a few that could be target species. One thing for sure is you can’t catch them sitting on the couch or hanging out somewhere talking about it. So the best time to go fishing this month is when you make plans to go. Them fish are waiting to play and some of them play rough too! If you would like to go along with Capt. Bart Marx, give me a call 941-979-6517 or e-mail  captbart@alphaomegacharters.com We can go on my boat or I can go on yours. I instruct as we fish for those that are willing to learn. Always remember - singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{