Alpha and Omega Fishing Charters

Fishing Charters Charlotte Harbor Florida

May WaterLife Fishing Report

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. <*(((((>{