hey frank ive been getting really good slot reds by pcbeach (muddy bay) and the bay across from pc beach like heading into ackerman waterway.
biting good on d.o.a paddle tails.
Gold Breamive found that gold bream color is the best redfish color you can use in north charlotte harbor and up river.
Frank:
My wife, Kim Pflaum, caught this drum off our dock in PGI on Sunday. The guy in the picture with Kim is our friend Captain Preston Wright who helped her with the net to bring it onto the dock. The net handle was bent in two.
Chris Pflaum
I just had an up-date from Capt Dwayne he aid they are really eating the crabs again right now. I wish I had some to sell, maybe tomorrow I can get more. But the pass he said is still about the jigs but on the hill, carbs are working good
Fishin Franks If you are right in the pass, it is all about the jigs, stay close to the bottom. Think f it this way, When you are out there you see a good lookin guy all muscled up on someone elses boat, looks good , But does not do you any good. Just fun to look at. Well think of the Tarpon that are rolling on the surface like that, fun to look at but not doing you any good. If they are going to eat it is going to be deep. This is going to stay that way untill the crabs start migrating thick then you can switch to bait in the pass. But for now it is Jigs. If the Tarpon leave the pass and go up on the hill, Shrimp is the number 1 bait for the last week, Threadfins maybe , Crabs ok, this changes every few days. But for now this shuld be the most accurate info
Red fish up around Gassprilla sound are big & there are lots of them ,
Dark water dark colors, DOA green with flecks are wacking the Reds in Catfish creek,
Chris & his buddies are Hitting Snook on the east side. Shrimp tossed up inder the Mangroves let them soak.
Hey Frank, the wknd of the Guy Harvey fest you were over at Laishley. My son Zach and his buddy stopped and talked fishin with ya for a bit. You told them of a bait rig you use for catching Bass. When we left we went right to your store and met Caitlyn. She knew exactly what you had explained to Zach and “hooked him up”. Well sir, kudos to you…the attached picture is of the third whopper he has brought out of the water since. Not only is my son hooked on fishin, i think he may be hooked on Fishin Franks too !
C. Battaglia
Good afternoon Frank,
I have been fishing out on the seawall by the El Jobean pier. We have been getting hooked up with sharks pretty consistently. We use lady fish that we catch for bait, which we almost get a bite from one of these every cast jigging with something shiny. Last night we caught two female bulls just after dark, both measured right at 3 foot to the tip. The other runs we got we were unable to confirm size, seemed big and sharky….lol… Tarpon are also rolling out there. Jack Cravalle also are pretty common right now. Oh and my favorite to eat, the sailfin cats are very nice sized if you use a big bait. We even caught a 24 inch one on a 6 inch sail fin we were using to try to get a shark.
I hope this helps, and thanks to all of the fishing franks staff for being a huge blessing to my family and I.
Ron
Hello Cayle May 8, 2012
I hope this email reaches you I got the best birthday gift from my husband, We met a wonderful person and we had the best day with you as our Captain you taught us things and being boat owners being out on the water we have never had a day like that you really made my Birthday Special and some people may say it was just a fishing trip but to me it was the best day I have had in a long time you took your time in showing us how to look for fish and how to get them you even used your own tackle witch was not expected of you as it is not cheap, you are very professional and encouraging no matter the size fish I got yesterday you were excited for me. With you we were ourselves we were able to laugh and joke and just relax, I never dreamed I would ever get a fish that big it was so amazing I would fish everyday if I had the chance I love it. My husband and I have made fishing our friendship even though he teaches me a few things I still cast better (LOL) we cant wait till June for Pat’s birthday to do it again maybe I will let him pull the BIG ONE this time since I had two. But the moral of this letter is to Thank You for what you do and how you treated us on that trip we will never forget it.
PS: We left something at Franks for you.
Thank you again for a wonderful day,
Angela & Pat Brun
Gregory Dyer
Trout…trout…and trout in the grass both sides of the Placida/Boca trestles…most under…but a few fatty’s following just about anything…they hit plastic…a spoon…and shrimp.
Hey guys, forgot to give you my report from Friday-I went out to englewood and fished the canals from the bridge down to almost to the pass. Didn’t dare venture out in the pass tho due to the roaring current and big shark potential and being in only a kayak. Caught LOTS of trout, mostly smaller, decent number of snook in the bushes and even pulled a small gag out from random dock.
Dave Narr
Spanish mackerel & Pomapno are still cruiseing the beaches along the gulf, Small Jigs will work on either one.
Sharks smaller in the Harbor cut bait on sinkers has been working a little better then free line, as the tides are moving a bit faster right now.
bigger & way Bigger sharks in the pass, Hammers out there right now over 16 feet, Burrr SHivers down the spine type fish, But cool as heck to watch.
This is the time to go out and watch a pack of 8 foot bull shark destroy a Tarpon
Red fish on the east side seem ot be back in & around the islands, While you are trying to find the Reds The Snook will keep you busy.
Whiting, Silver & Spotted Trout some Spotted Trout are pushing the 30 inch mark right now. Keep in mind you are only allowed 1 Trout over 20 inches,
We had a guy in the store who for got had 4 Trout but 3 of them were 25 to 28 inches, Expensive fish
Team Wounded Warrior 1
— with Ginger Graham, Fishin Franks, Cayle Wills and Chris Jericka
Capt Mike Fitzcharles on Team WW 2 holds up a bent gaff, the gaff was bent when the Shark tryed to pull Mike over board, When Diamond grabed Mike to help keep him from being pulled over, Their Shark then spun around and bit Capt. Andys boat, after that between Andy & Mike they finally got it under control, measured it as 8 1/2 feet to the fork and the tagging & realseing the leamon Shark got ready for the next one
Representing team Wounded Warrior 1 (along with Capt Cayle Wills & Chris Jericka)……officials from Guy Harvey’s Ultimate Shark Challenge taught us how to keep the sharks on the side of our boat, so we can measure, tag, then release them. If you all don’t hear from me by Monday Captain Cayle turned me into shark bait
Tomorrow..we go one more time..to win..
We were #1 today..and I want to say …
Thank you Guy Harvey, Brooks & Sean the Shark Brothers, Fishin Franks thank you for sponsoring some of us veterans for this event. When we come out, we are often forgotten about and are lost when we first enter back into Civilian Life. I am proud of the time I served and I am proud to be part of this event and conserving one of our most treasured oceanic creatures..Sharks.
Fishin Franks
Back to the Guy Harvey Shark Tournament more talks on sharks today.
We are wiating with “baited Breath” to see if Capt Andy, Diamond & Mike can hold onto thier lead today, there are some great teams, they are going t have to beat, Capt Cayle lost 3 nice Sharks yesterday, Good luck to all the Teams But Hey Go wounded warrior’s
I will be giving talks Saturday & Sunday about Sharks & Shark fishin at Laishley Park
yes Tomorrow & Sunday $ seminars a day both days.
11:am first seminar
1:pm 2nd
3 pm 3rd
There will also be demos on Shark Rods & reels
See you there.
Frank
At this months meeting of the fishin Club
you will bring a reel with you a spinning reel like the one
in the Picture.
We will show you how to lube clean & maintain your reels without
having to take them apart.
Wednesday May 9th at Luigi’s 6:30 pm
A few days ago Renay wanted to take her son Bass fishin, that is code for she wanted to Bass fish, I rigged her with a Dinger worm, 4/0 wide gap hook, told her just cast it out and let it sink until it hits the bottom wait a minute then just twicth the tip of your rod and take up the slack. and keep that going. This is one of two Renay caught.
Now yesterday Caitlyn wanted to go Bass fishing
So again rigged up the Yum worm explained how to rig it.
and how to cast & retrive. Well the proof is with the pretty Girls
So if you wnat to catch Bass, try the Yum dinger Green, Red fleck
I think it is safe to say, they work.
By the way
I know pass fishin is not for every one, it is the closest cross between NASCAR and fishing you will ever find, but lets put that aside for a minute, right now today, tomorrow go to the pass, Make it a sunny day and just watch, The sun on the water, the boats, Hey he said with a grin the bathing suits. And then 100 giant sliver fish each 150 pound break the surface of the water shinning in the sun.
White water and silver sides, flash, the blue green of the water in Boca is amazeing just to be there take it all in. if you do not have a boat go out to the Gasparilla State park at the south end of Boca sit on the beach, bring your binoculars and catch one of the most breathing spectacles in Florida Tarpon season. It is happening now. What the heck T.V. sucks the beaches are beautiful what are you waiting for? Just a random thought from the mind of me.
Fishin Franks
Fishin In the Harbor is Great cobia spawning , Cobia get together and swim in great circles or reef or even around markers where ever the is bait, Coma on who does want a snack after spawning, there is still a chance of seeing or catching Black drum during the last of thier spawn dance. Tarpon are just getting started checkin out the girls, getting ready for the big spring dance. Sharks, dolpins, sting rays, all have or are i that mode, Soon we will be hearing the splishy splash of tiny fins & tail all around the Harbor.
OK corny I know but I just could not stop my fingers on the keys.
Red fish in Turtle bay or Bull bay doing well, Shrimp under the trees, or white bait in the open.
Flounder on the flats of the east side, and up by the keys Red fish have moved back in.
Snook starting their move to the Barrier Islands getting ready for the spawn, We need some rain to get these Snook out of the rivers & canals so they will spawn Out by the gulf.
Keep the population growing.
BIg Trout I mean nice fish, in the cut off or out by three sisters.
On the fresh water side Talipa they can be tough to catch, here are a couple of things to try, 1 catfish dough ball baits, blood or blood & cheese. Seems to be working well.
The other I take some eagle claw snelled #6 hooks line them up. the I take a slice of bread smear a little bit of canned cat food on the bread, then mush into dough balls on the snelled hook, If you were to try and cast them at this point the dough would fly off, So let them sit in the sun and get a little crusty, once the balls are a little hard attach them to your line with a small snap swivel cast them out about 3 feet below a bobber. once the dough hits the water it becomes soft again.
For some reason it seems the Talipa realy like the mix.
Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge
Team Wounded Warrior 2
Sponsor & good friends
Team Leader Captain Andy Medina
Diamond Angler & Shark Handler
angler & Shark Handler
U.S. Army Today Diamond is a
Tours In Iraq & Afganistan Singer \ Song writer
Performer
Captain Mike FitzCharles
Angler & Shark handler
Mike In Vietnam Mike Today Fishin & Tour Boat Captain
Team Wounded Warrior 1
Sponsor & Good Friends
Capt Cayle {Sargent U.S. Marine Corp. } Over seas too many counties to list
Ginger Graham, Angler {Specalist U.S. Army } Korea
Chris J. Angler { Sargent U.S. Marines } Iraq
Red fish are on the east side keys, but you have to get way up under the bushes or find a loney pot hole with some deeper water away from the boat traffic, these loney holes are holding big schools of Reds, once you locate a hole, usally ny running it over and seeing the Reds blast out of it like hey have booster rockets in the buns. it takes an huor or better of quiet time before they will return to the hole, So the best bet is to just come back after you fish another spot a while.
Whwn you get back to the spot stay as far back as you can, So you can just reach the spot when ou cast, and wiat it out a while, they are spooky, after you cast the bait in there relax kick back, it can take 15 or 20 minutes for them to decide it is ok to eat that bait.
Tarpon fishin has been good in the Harbor Thread fins are the best bait right now, But I would not trust that, Blue crabs hooked through the corner of the point is a great back-up Tarpon like any other creature may just get in the mood for something different Plan B is always a good idea.
Boca Pass
A few bigger fish 160 pounds or better are in the Pass. most are in the 60 to 100 pound range. Capt Dwayne has had a couple Tarpon 170 to 190 pounds Landed in the pass using Jigs, Chartreuse heads with Siberian tiger bodies has caught a couple of the larger ones in the Pass this last week, But the red and green Tiger still is doing well.
Charlotte Harbor
The majority of the Tarpon in larger numbers are still up in the Harbor.
Tarpon can be almost impossible to find, On the windy days. The waves makes it impossible to very difficult to see Rolling Tarpon.
Trying to Hook up right now proves it is better to be lucky than good. it is a guessing games with this wind. Even with the large numbers of Tarpon If you are a 1/4 mile off the school you might as well be a 100 miles off. with Charlotte Harbor so vast an expanse of water,
The good news is that the wind will back off, the tarpon are here, Heart pound action thrilling jumps, and the best mental therapy you can get is just a light breezy day away.
Watch the weather if you go out today, one of those days where if it looks like it is going to get bad, It will, maybe close to the ramp or by a bridge, lots of Drum by the 41 & I-75 birdges Good lace to stay safe & catch some fish
Fishin Franks
Wounded Warriors,
I have a spot on one of the boats for a Veteran To fish the Guy Havrey Shark Tournament.
If you know a Vet who would like to fish the Shark Tournament E-mail me.
I need thier name, phone#, The Tournament is May 4th Captains meeting, May 5th & 6th Fishin If they need help with getting here, I will see what can be done. I will be announcing the teams on Tuesday So they have until Monday
But you or They need to message me So Let the fun begin
The Captains of Team wounded Warrior
Team 1 Cayle Wills Bad fish Charters, “Marine” & leader of the Teams.
Team 2 Capt Andrew Medina
These Captains are donating their Time & expenses To be a part of this Project and both have big hearts, & are just Good people, We have Veterans to fill in the Teams but all the positions are not filled, So if you or someone you know would like to be part of this again e-mail me.
Fishin Frank
A last note The Vet does not have to be wounded,
All Vets were ready to lay down their lives if the need arose.
To us all are deserving.
Our thanks to all Vets
Our Hearts to the wounded ones.
Sean & I are proud to say that this year our tournament “The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge” taking place May 4th weekend in Punta Gorda Fl will be supporting the Wounded Warrior Project! To raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs
Trudy & Ed sent me a picture woth a quetion
We have a Cobia question regarding how to boat it without a net.
LAnding A cobia without a net is tricky, hopefully you have a boga Grip,
No that would be too easy, A regular gaff works well, reach over the fish trying to
move the gaff over the fish from behind, then up to the gills , put the gaff hook into the gills
from back to front is easier,
Or if you have a good set of gloves you can grab the Jaw and bring it in, THe tail is an easy target, but almost more important to have gloves when grabed by the tail,
You can grab them by the gill, Tail or Jaw but
The abosolute best way is to use a net.
Good mix of gags on insore reef last week. Trolling was the way to go with the chop that kicked up. Reds were looking good on the flats. — at Cape Haze Reef.
Right now it is tough to call, every thing from shrimp to bait fish to cut bait, I would try to have a dozen or two shrimp, If we have any sel or handpicks , them try to catch some white bait or threadies, A pin fish would not hurt, maybe cut cat fish or lady fish. Sorry but each day I get a report from someone & all of them are useing something different, the good thing is that means they are not being shy about any bait, and they are just eating, So use what you have & try anything you can think of, weather it is what others are useing, it might be the next “Best” bait everyone eles will have to have
If you think this is confuseing , it is but that is what makes fishin , Fishin, sometimes you just have to guess or just that moment of perfect thought,
Bass fishin in the Port Charlotte Canals My best bet would be. Yum dinger worm 4/0 wide gap worm hook, cast it out and let it sink don’t be in a hurry to reel in Wait until it hits the bottom let it sit there , then after 20 seconds or so if you do not see the line moving start twitchin it back to you, slowly
Or you can simply use a yellow with black spot Shyster and cast it out and then slowly to moderate speed rel it in, the first is a relative new type plastic worm. The Shyster is an inline spinner bait which has been catching Bass for 60 or 70 years, both are cool, the other maybe best option is an original Rapala lure 11 size black & silver been working since before I was born and still is one of if not the best bass lures ever, cast it out reel it back >
Tarpon continues to be the Hot topic, with a side dish of King Mackerel, yes the drought conditions & the cool night time temps are bringing Kings into the Harbor,
They should have by passed us and headed for the Pan handle, but for the last 2 days in the Holes and the lower Harbor several people trying for Tarpon have been hooking Kings, some times fish just don’t know you are not fishin for them.
So the Pirate Harbor hole and marker #5 are both hot right now, for Silver Kings & King Mackerel.
Drifting live or dead baits, have both been predouctive, One free line & at least one bait under a float abut 4 feet down seems to be good right now,
60 poud florocarbon leader & a 5/0 to 8/o hook, Smaller baits use the 5/0 anything smaller than a 5/o just does not have the gap istance between the shank & the point to wrap the fishes mouth.
Tarpon is the story right now, they are thick in the Harbor & the Passes,
Every knows about Boca Grande Pass, but not as many fish Captiva Pass which right now you stand a better chance there than you do at Boca, same jigs , well same stuff works in both passes and there is usally almost no one there, how great is that.
Drifting baits whether in the Harbor or the passes seems to be a productive methoud this season so far, which I am sure the drift boat guys are happy about, If you are drifting baits in the Harbor for Taron, use a float I put the bait about 5 to 6 feet under the float,
This gets it down in the water, being that it is too hard to cats that much line out, I will just set it off hte side of the boat and then drift away from it.
While you are Tarpon fishin, expect Sharks, Cobia, EVen Jew fish are biting the drifting baits right now, So it is hard to say what is going to hit, All I can ssay is that you should get hit, & it should be a big hit
Fishin Club
This meeting is about Cobia, where to catch them & How to catch them. Special techniques to help your quest. Wednesday the 11th open meeting, for reservations call 941-625-3888 resevered seating for Tuesday the 10 th only Wednesday is fist come.
Hey frank just an update for your report they’ve been getting at least 4 kings a day, jacks, hammers, and tarpon are thick at sharkys. If you can tolerate the idiots anyway lol.
Andrew H.
Fishin Club meeting April 11th Wednesday 6:30 pm open seating
you may call 941-625-3888 for reserved seatin for tuesday the 10th
wednesday will remain open to first come first serve,
