tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67897301881477091092024-03-21T02:03:53.313-04:00SoulMate ChartersWhile aboard SoulMate with Captain Rob Modys, you'll find insight and guidance that suits your level of fishing expertise. Not only can he provide tips for experienced anglers, he also offers special instruction for novices and children. Capt. Rob is also an IGFA certified guide, with the ability to document your world record catch.
Whether it's the thrill of catching snook and redfish or exploring Southwest Florida - you'll leave glad for having spent a day on the water with Capt. Rob.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-26960172510122095632015-05-02T15:30:00.000-04:002015-05-02T19:24:04.098-04:00Hang In There, I'll Be Back<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikb8JJNUFZCxVt6Kk_-_2NPu35DeGPita_qtwRvBX5U6mAGEhyphenhyphentxPXDPSQ6DxSBWWbL9FMt0jKLnWk3yI4q2mII6dXjE4JD9QYJBQvjHJXJSyesjxhZdlQvh9Wl3fYSfbCATauMm3qso/s1600/landerman+Redfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiikb8JJNUFZCxVt6Kk_-_2NPu35DeGPita_qtwRvBX5U6mAGEhyphenhyphentxPXDPSQ6DxSBWWbL9FMt0jKLnWk3yI4q2mII6dXjE4JD9QYJBQvjHJXJSyesjxhZdlQvh9Wl3fYSfbCATauMm3qso/s1600/landerman+Redfish.jpg" height="218" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvz2678GVTBe_QukGO7vs-c22BNMEA3mtPH5cS0FrjK69QO3a5Erufk_IBPuAn9aPeZ1TBaYr_BCPWXxuqKtMEPwp_iBE-tY69Dtz88KUJSjjV9hpDQJeCvbB_agCJSdI4If8M7o67h0/s1600/Rob+&+JoNell+Benefit+Photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyvz2678GVTBe_QukGO7vs-c22BNMEA3mtPH5cS0FrjK69QO3a5Erufk_IBPuAn9aPeZ1TBaYr_BCPWXxuqKtMEPwp_iBE-tY69Dtz88KUJSjjV9hpDQJeCvbB_agCJSdI4If8M7o67h0/s1600/Rob+&+JoNell+Benefit+Photo.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQWwFzTZC6VG5XRUwmWE9GcpynTtjn-TKj1is8MKkF1JKMhajkM2DH2lVUvUyjajTDCqcAH4f7OWBsqFmz2x5uWZRLk4uVc8HcCwsLPxDC-WHSeO1eHQibf7BjkyIlA0ym8WYzu315Mw/s1600/Adam+Behind+the+Camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQWwFzTZC6VG5XRUwmWE9GcpynTtjn-TKj1is8MKkF1JKMhajkM2DH2lVUvUyjajTDCqcAH4f7OWBsqFmz2x5uWZRLk4uVc8HcCwsLPxDC-WHSeO1eHQibf7BjkyIlA0ym8WYzu315Mw/s1600/Adam+Behind+the+Camera.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>There have been a lot of questions from my charter customers. Where are you? Where are your fishing reports and photos? I wanted to get to a point where the diagnosis’ have been made and progress is being seen before dumping this on FB, and now is the time.<br />
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I’m going to start where it all started a little over 2 months ago. On February 25th I ran a fishing trip and after returning to the dock, discovered I couldn’t get out of the boat on my own power. I knew something was wrong but associated it with a bad case of the flu. You know, the kind that makes every muscle and bone in your body hurt. I flagged down “Marina Steve” Popovich and asked him for help to my truck. While walking to the truck it was realized by both of us that I wasn’t going to be driving anywhere. Once in the truck we both made the decision that a trip to the hospital emergency room was in order.<br />
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Long story short, February 25th was when a terrible monster called cancer grabbed me and shook me. I was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. It’s a blood / bone cancer that can be held in remission but cannot be “cured.” At least not at this point. But a lot of work is being done in that direction and I’m very hopeful and willing to do what it takes to reach that point in my life. There are many sufferers of multiple myeloma that are leading normal lives for many, many years.<br />
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I’m now working on weekly chemo at Florida Cancer Specialist and my numbers are getting better and better. I have an early May appointment with the Moffitt Cancer Center up in Tampa to talk about stem cell treatment. I’m working hard to get my life back in order and to continue doing what I love more than anything else; being on the water and running charters. However, I’m a realist and I know this is going to take a lot of work and time on my part. I’m determined to get back to running my company, SoulMate Charters as well as doing other things associated with working on the water. I have plans.<br />
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So please hang in there with me. I’m going to make this work and I’m a very determined hard working person. In the meantime I’m more than happy to find you a quality charter trip based on your needs and the number of anglers that want to fish. Feel free to continue to email me if you are looking for a summer charter. I’m happy to help.<br />
There are a number of ways that you can follow me through my “adventure.” I’ve set up a private page on FaceBook and can add you if requested. Just send me a message note via FB notes or an email to captrobmodys@gmail.com. I have a weekly radio show that airs each Saturday on the local ESPN network. Tune in! Locally it’s on ESPN 99.3 FM from 7- 10 am. If you are out of the local listening area, download the ESPN Radio App on your smart phone. I’ll also be posting on my Captain’s Blog via my website. Look for the icon on my website home page and click on it. I have a newsletter that I send out every month via Constant Contact and I’ll be updating that this week. If you’d like to receive the monthly newsletter just send me an email address. You may select to drop off the newsletter at any time. Lastly, I have a GoFundMe page. Yep, no income coming in right now and every little bit helps. Go to http://www.gofundme.com/q2rgyk.<br />
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Thank you to all my previous customers. Hang in there. I’ll be back.<br />
<br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-66109062297073825642014-09-15T07:56:00.003-04:002014-09-15T08:02:23.584-04:00Mako 21LTS, one year later<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It’s been a little over a year since I received the 2014 Mako 21LTS from Tracker Marine and Bass Pro Shops. There’s been a lot of water “under the hull”, so to speak, and I’m happy to report that she’s served me well.<br />
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I’m a busy fishing guide and even when I’m not scheduled for a charter I still like to hit the water on my own with friends and family. I’m guessing that I spent about 250 days out there looking for and catching fish.<br />
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The Mako, christened “Soulstice”, preformed well. There were quiet days and then there were the not so quiet days. Together we outran a few storms and navigated over some rough seas. It wasn’t intentional, mind you, but it really showed me what the boat is made of. She got us home, even in the worst weather. <br />
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After a solid year of use she’s just as fit as when she was delivered. I’ve had only a few issues here and there, but all easily repaired without a call to the service department. On that note... I’d like to point out that my year on a boat is equal to about 5 years for the normal user and that number is based on you fishing for at least one day every single weekend. This boat is solid!<br />
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The new version of the 21LTS will be in showrooms shortly. I’m looking forward to seeing it and wondering how Mako can improve on something that works so well to begin with. It should be a great addition to the lineup!<br />
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Note: Mako has restarted the Mako Funaments. These family fishing events were very popular over the years and unfortunately were shelved. Not anymore! Last year, two were successfully held and another two events were added this year. The next one in the series will be held September 18-21 in Islamorada, FL and following that, another will be held in Fort Myers, FL October 16-19. The Funaments are open to all types of boats and are a great way to take a look at the Mako boats under working conditions. There are also rides available and you might even get the opportunity to fish on one during the event! For more information go to <a href="http://www.mako-boats.com/fishingfunaments">www.mako-boats.com/fishingfunaments</a>.<br />
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Want to see my Mako 21LTS in action? <a href="https://vimeo.com/100360509">Click here</a>! Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-7577034754251653192014-02-13T10:43:00.001-05:002014-02-13T10:43:39.740-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past July I was honored to join the Mako Boat Team as a representative in the southwest Florida region. It’s a dream that every professional angler hopes for and it requires dedication and hard work to get to this career point. Thanks goes out to the folks at Bass Pro Shops, Mako Boats and Tracker Marine for making this happen.<br /><br />That being said, I was still quite nervous about taking delivery of the 2014 Mako 21LTS powered with a Mercury 150 four stroke engine. I was pretty happy with my good ol’ Skeeter bay boat I’d been driving since 2006, and deep down inside I was wondering... what if the Mako isn’t as nice a ride? Then again, it’s a sponsored boat and motor. In other words, it’s free. My fears and trepidations were soon a thing of the past. The Mako 21LTS is one hell of a boat. <br /><br />This first thing I noticed on delivery was the fit and finish. A great deal of care has been taken with the small stuff like latches, retractable cleats and the quality of the brightwork and aluminum rails. The storage doors are nicely aligned and piston lifts have been added so that if you drop a lid, it won’t slam shut. That’s a real plus when sneaking up on spooky redfish. The decks are non skid and there’s plenty of room on both the forward and aft deck for fishing. As a matter of fact, two anglers can easily share the space on the bow. There’s plenty of storage, including a large lockable rod locker.<br /><br />Then there’s the ride. The first word that popped into my mind on the first run was “smooth”. The Mako is all that and then some. A newly designed "Rapid Planing System" transom helps the boat get on plane with very little bow rise and that’s handy when you are trying to get the boat powered up in very shallow water. It also helps the hull ride level, no matter where people are sitting. As a matter of fact, there are no trim tabs on my boat and quite frankly, none are needed. The new hull design is also a plus for gas mileage. The boat runs flat and has very little resistance as it moves across the water.<br /><br />Fishing the Mako is great. It runs very shallow under power and I use a jack plate to decrease draft even more. With the motor up and the trolling motor down, I can easily move across a grass flat that an 18 foot skiff travels over. Pretty impressive for a 21 foot bay boat. The hull is very quiet with minimal water slap and tracks easily while using a trolling motor. There’s almost no sideways movement, even in a breeze. There’s also plenty of what I call “runaround space” in the center of the boat. Big fish have a bad habit of moving around you with burst of speed. That means you have to move quickly around the deck of the boat to keep up. The Mako 21LTS has an eight foot four inch beam and a small console. That gives you plenty of room to move without having to twist and turn to get around the console area.<br /><br />All in all I’m very happy with the Mako and I’d stack it up against the other bay boats in its class. If you are shopping for a new boat, take the time to visit Tracker Marine at Bass Pro Shops. They can go over the details and let you have a test drive. If you happen to be on Fort Myers Beach, stop by Fish-Tale Marina. I’d be happy to show you my Mako. Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-88801377936174928802013-05-03T08:42:00.002-04:002013-05-03T08:42:30.639-04:00The Fisherman cover photo and article from March 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Article originally published in The Fisherman magazine, March 14, 2013<br />
by Tom Schlichter<br />
www.thefisherman.com <br />
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<b>Captain</b> Rob Modys flashed a wide smile as Felicia Scocozza stuck the point to a solid redfish and struggled to keep it clear of the mangrove forest that reached out menacingly from the hidden shoreline. “Nice job!” he called out as Felicia first out-muscled the fish, then guided it away from an oyster encrusted stickup. Following a pair of solid runs, the six-pound copper delight eventually relented, posed cooperatively for a quick round of photos, and was gently released.<br />
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“That’s exactly the kind of fish you can expect with the back country action here on Estero Bay,” said Modys, who runs SoulMate Charters (www.soulmatecharters.com) out of Fort Myers Beach, FL. “We’ve got plenty of these fish around and they give a great account of themselves, but there’s more to tangle with in this part of Florida than most visitors realize. You’ll find sea trout, snook, sheepshead, pompano, jacks, ladyfish, grouper and even tarpon within a short ride at some point in the season. All this variety is one of the reasons I love being out here day after day.”<br />
<br />Modys may have been enjoying both the fishing variety and warm breeze as he slid the lively red back into the green-hued waters, but I assure you no one was happier to be casting along Florida’s west coast than Felicia and I. Our plane had been scheduled to depart from New York’s LaGuardia Airport the morning following Nemo’s battering, and we had to shovel through two feet of snow, chain saw some trees, push a plow and negotiate a single open lane on the Long Island Expressway for over 30 miles to reach our south-bound flight. That we made it at all to the idyllic ‘Tween Waters Inn, on lovely Captiva Island, was no small miracle. Finding our hosts so welcoming and the local waters abundant with fishing opportunity simply sweetened the pot.<br />
<br />“Lee County – the Fort Myers area and Sanibel and Captiva islands – really has a lot to offer,” explained Lee Rose of the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau over dinner at ‘Tween’s elegant Old Captiva House after we had settled into our accommodations. “It’s a family oriented area with miles of white sand beaches and plenty of outdoors fun to sample. You can try shelling, kayaking, biking, swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, take a dolphin cruise, explore the remarkable J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, shop, dine, practice photography and even enjoy<br />hermit crab races. All this, and our fishing is first rate, too.”<br />
<br />Indeed, it’s all there, easily accessible, generally affordable and just waiting for you to make the first move. There’s no doubting that Sanibel and Captiva, especially, sport tourist-based economies, but they’ve managed to do so in a friendly, ecologically smart way that draws both snowbirds and other Floridians for vacation – true testimony this area is worth a look.<br />
<br />“One good thing about fishing these back waters should you come for a visit,” explained Modys, “is that you don’t have to go overboard with tackle. Live shrimp, new-penny colored Berkley Gulp! shrimp or pumpkinseed pattern Gulp! mullets impaled on a 1/8- to 1/2- ounce jighead will get the job done at the terminal end while a seven-foot spinning rod matches most back country fishing possibilities.”<br />
<br />Generally speaking, rods for this fishing should have fast-action tips for sure hooksets. Choose a medium heavy version so as to not be out-gunned if a big snook or 20-pound redfish grabs your offering. Local anglers favor 20-pound braided line with a three-foot length of 30-pound-test mono leader. If using a popper cork ahead of a live shrimp or jighead and soft plastic combo, keep the leader length below the cork short – 14 to 18 inches - when working tight to the mangroves for redfish. If working in channels or flats further off the shore, as is common when hunting sea trout, a three-foot leader beneath the cork works best.<br />
<br />I’ve got to say that I doubt we could have picked a better home base for our trip than ‘Tween Waters Inn on Captiva Island (www.tween-waters.com). To be sure, the service was great, the pool had a Tiki bar, there were two terrific restaurants on the premises – Old Captiva House for fine dining and the more casual Crow’s Nest - plus a tackle shop, marina, gift shop, bike/kayak/paddle board rentals and clean, comfortable efficiency rooms or small cottages from which to choose. Still, the closer proved to be the location. Nestled ‘tween Pine Island Sound on the east side and the Gulf of Mexico on the west, the fishing possibilities within walking distance alone came close to making my head explode.<br />
<br />With limited time, I tried to stay focused on the back country possibilities, tempting snook and saltwater catfish from the marina dock with soft plastics whenever I had some down time, then taking a kayak fishing trip with Captain John Houston of Adventure Sea Kayak Wildlife Tours (www.kayak-captiva.com). “If you really want to have fun here,” advised Houston, “just paddle straight out and start casting a three to five inch brown curly-tailed grub on a 1/8-ounce jighead. You’ll catch plenty of sea trout out on the flats, especially in the channels. Work your lure with a sharp jigging motion and<br />you can’t help but connect.” Once you’ve had your fill of trout – if that’s possible – continue paddling across to Buck Key and work the mangrove edges, creek mouths and notches for redfish. For this, go with a live shrimp and popper set-up, or use a weedless spoon, curly tailed grub or live pinfish. Retrieve slowly using a soft lift-and-drop approach, and hesitate slightly on the strike to make sure you’ve felt a bite rather than a snag before sinking the barb. “If you just want action, the trout fishing and smaller reds can be amazingly cooperative once you get a feel for things,” noted Houston. “To cut the learning curve or target bigger fish, hire a guide for a day or two before trying it on your own.”<br />
<br />Both Houston and Modys noted that the best fishing in the area actually takes place in April, May and October, when catches of six to ten redfish per half-day trip are common and sea trout are both abundant and large. That April slot should be especially attractive as accommodations are readily available, it’s still pretty chilly here at home, and our local saltwater fishing isn’t quite up and running.<br />
<br />In any case, after a week spent in Lee County, I felt like I’d barely scratched the surface when it came to uncovering both the fishing and family fun possibilities. I would love to have spent additional time investigating the bridges of Sanibel and Captiva, where snook and sheepshead abound, poking in and out of the fishy creeks at the Ding Darling refuge by kayak, and exploring the surf options for jacks, pompano and more. The more I think about it, the more I realize additional research is in order. With the temperature outside still slipping into the 40s, sooner rather than later would certainly be my choice.<br />
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For more info on Lee County, Fort Myers or Sanibel and Captiva islands, contact the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau at 800-237-6444, or visit: fortmyers-sanibel.com.<br /><br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-26035072499895408562013-04-05T08:17:00.001-04:002013-04-05T08:17:18.813-04:00Brutal March turns into beautiful April<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It seems that most southwest Florida anglers are very happy that the month of March is in the rear-view mirror! Cold, blustery weather has given way to beautiful sunny days in April and the fish are feeding well in both the backwaters and Gulf of Mexico. It's time to get out there and wet a line!<br /><br />The vastly improving weather over the past week has really made a big difference in the bite and the quality of the fish. Sea trout are on the flats and most are over 15 inches in length. Live shrimp under a popping cork works best and you'll also get a nice mix of pompano, ladyfish, jacks and small sharks.<br />
<br />The redfish are starting to feed again near the mangrove islands and shorelines. Shrimp on a jig tossed close to the mangrove overhangs is the ticket. On the highest part of the tide, give cut ladyfish a try. The smell will bring them out of the bushes and makes them easier to find and hook up with.<br />
<br />The nearshore reefs are loaded with spanish mackerel. Any shiny artificial will work, along with live shrimp on brightly colored jigs. Move your offering quickly for a strike. There are also grouper, snapper, flounder, trout and a mix of other fish on the bottom.<br />
<br />Note... The water is warming up fast and this is when I like to get out the topwater lures and go after sea trout, redfish and snook. Both the Heddon Zara Spook and the Rapala Skitterwalk are favorites of mine. I look for natural colors and stick to the old rule, light colors on sunny days and dark colors on overcast days. There's nothing like a topwater strike to get your blood going!<br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-31531777359012373232013-02-02T10:46:00.001-05:002013-02-02T10:46:43.194-05:00Fishing Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Warm weather with the occasional cold front has been the rule this winter and it looks to continue. The fish seem to like it and the bite has been good. Remember, all grouper closes for season on February 1st. That includes red, black and gag as well as the already protected goliath. You can hook them, you just can’t keep them. Snook season opens February 1st on the east coast in the Atlantic waters but remains closed on the Gulf coast until September.<br /><br />The redfish bite moved up a notch over the past week. They are gathering up around the mangrove islands on the higher tides and are feeding on live shrimp, either free lined or on a jig. It may take several stops to find them, but once found there should be quite a few in the same area.<br /><br />The sheepshead are getting bigger and bigger. Most of the ones landed over the past week were in the 2 to 3 pound range with a few over 5. Even the big ones are great bait stealers so if you start getting lots of hits with nothing to show for it, downsize your hooks and shrimp offerings and try again. <br /><br />Sea trout are back on the flats. The rising water has been the best time to go after them using shrimp under a popping cork. Set up a drift to find them and then anchor up when they start hitting. They’ve been pocketed up so do your best to stay on them once found. You’ll also find pompano along with quite a few ladyfish and jacks in the same area.<br /><br />The nearshore reefs, rock piles and edges are giving up some good size sheepshead, sea trout and a few flounder on the bottom with a mix of spanish mackerel, bluefish and bonita on top. Keep your eye out for cruising cobia and have a rod ready with a live shrimp or crab. We are starting to see quite a few of them near the crab pot buoys.<br /><br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-29931532240962908042013-01-27T11:42:00.000-05:002013-01-27T11:42:10.737-05:00Fishing Report <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm7vixys3k0v0Pq1-DrvXlH2wCtsYvTNxJoyaek7pvqka72emLCHREVzWTE0OY56gJtcSYdeGJQ8hjWyZrbmFHpRkMPYE1w64sPGMXxg2OgxvqRe_OtUp1SyiepAEsBiZNJVWLBvwCv4/s1600/Big+Sheepie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIm7vixys3k0v0Pq1-DrvXlH2wCtsYvTNxJoyaek7pvqka72emLCHREVzWTE0OY56gJtcSYdeGJQ8hjWyZrbmFHpRkMPYE1w64sPGMXxg2OgxvqRe_OtUp1SyiepAEsBiZNJVWLBvwCv4/s320/Big+Sheepie.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Tides will start to improve this coming week as we move toward the full moon. That will put the fish on the feed and make for very productive fishing trips on Estero Bay and in the Gulf. Mix in some sunshine and warmer temperatures and you have the makings for a great day on the water.<br /><br />The overall bite was good this past week despite tides that were a bit slow. If you could find the moving water, the fish would be close by. The creeks and squeezes between mangrove islands were a good place to start and produced some good size sheepshead, mangrove snapper and black drum. Live shrimp on jigs moved slowly across the bottom worked well. The sheepshead are finally moving to their spawning locations and there are quite a few large ones in the mix. <br /><br />Sea trout were on the flats but spread out over a wide area. Drifting using popping cork rigs was the best way to find them. Live shrimp was the bait of choice but they’d also go after artificials like Berkley Gulp Shrimp and soft plastics. There were quite a few ladyfish and jacks in the same area, so action wasn’t a problem. <br /><br />The rock ledges and near shore reef bite is improving. A mix of sheepshead, mangrove snapper, spanish mackerel and sea trout are all biting on live shrimp and cut bait. The middle of the inbound or outbound tide worked best and don’t stay if you don’t get a bite.<br /><br />Redfish are still biting well around oyster bars and mangrove islands. Fish the top of the tide right through the change for the most action. Live shrimp on jig heads got the most strikes and it wasn’t unusual to pick up a stray flounder.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-14722688953514029092012-10-22T13:15:00.000-04:002012-10-22T13:15:34.241-04:00Fishing Report Mid October<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITOk-mdizr1TXkU-PfWZyNN535_O6sTFC6GF7P3MO5za9QBK5WkEzQkAgKfrUqKZ4Biu22fYOWo8j9aaH1oOTz5UomObnrgHWHpO5Ukv7rXXaizFXWyAhTYq6OIHhAtf5GFcFbwhsGxo/s1600/Brett's+Pompano.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITOk-mdizr1TXkU-PfWZyNN535_O6sTFC6GF7P3MO5za9QBK5WkEzQkAgKfrUqKZ4Biu22fYOWo8j9aaH1oOTz5UomObnrgHWHpO5Ukv7rXXaizFXWyAhTYq6OIHhAtf5GFcFbwhsGxo/s320/Brett's+Pompano.JPG" width="262" /></a></div>
If you have the time for a little fishing this week, you really need to visit the nearshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico. From the Sanibel Lighthouse flats to the beaches off of Naples, the fishing has been amazing. There are schools of spanish mackerel, bonita, ladyfish and jacks chasing bait just about everywhere you look. We’ve been using live shrimp under corks and artificial silver spoons for the best results. Look for birds and you’ll find the fish.<br /><br />If you make a stop on a rock pile, ledge or wreck, in less than 30 feet of water, you’ll be on grouper, snapper, pompano and a mix of reef fish. Cut bait or live shrimp on circle hooks with a little weight is all it takes. <br /><br />Stone crab season opened on October 15th and that means there are now rows of crab pot buoys in the Gulf. That also means it’s time to keep an eye out for triple tail. These hard fighting, delicious to eat fish like to ‘lay’ right next to the buoys, trying to imitate a bit of flotsam or seaweed. An unsuspecting bait comes along and it’s goodbye bait. The best method for this kind of fishing is run and gun. Simply put the boat on step and move along the rows of buoys, keeping a sharp eye out for the fish laid up against them. If you see one, turn around, set the boat up on the breeze and drift down to the target. Live shrimp on a small jig or circle hook cast close to the target works well. <br /><br />Redfish are feeding around the mangrove islands but only seem happy to eat at the top of the tide. That means you’re going to have to plan fishing for them very early in the day for the most success. Live shrimp on jigs and cut ladyfish have been working along with artificial Gulp Shrimp and D.O.A. shrimp lures. Dark colors work best.<br /><br />The trout bite picked up mid-week and should continue to improve as the water temperatures come down. What we really need is a strong cold front to push through to get them stirred up. You can find them on the grass flats of Pine Island Sound, lower Matlacha Pass and the mid sections of Estero Bay. Live shrimp under a popping cork will get their attention along with artificial poppers on top.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-11398162780093621302012-08-11T17:04:00.001-04:002012-08-11T17:04:53.421-04:00The Great Mini Golf AdventureI'm not sure what possessed me to set out upon a mini golf expedition. The idea sprang forth on a rather dismal day, which is rare in southwest Florida. My daughter Miranda was visiting, and while she slept in, I plotted and planned what I thought would be a memorable daddy/daughter outing. I decided we'd play five different mini golf courses in one day. I did a search on the iPad for available courses and hours and then mapped out a circuit we could follow that would let us play them in order. The plan was in place, time to get the teenager out of bed!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzYgyZ1hB8QBrpNLU9ENu2Qa_Hl7o_9WG84lU329XXgavM5vDNVHdD5P34oRm_FVRJJjXMmuIlEJasEprKIrI2yIQDt4FM-bTa1oEy4Ei_gQ4fIKCtKkCBoc3oYe59vl4hQnjT0BhNrM/s1600/Congo+River+Golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzYgyZ1hB8QBrpNLU9ENu2Qa_Hl7o_9WG84lU329XXgavM5vDNVHdD5P34oRm_FVRJJjXMmuIlEJasEprKIrI2yIQDt4FM-bTa1oEy4Ei_gQ4fIKCtKkCBoc3oYe59vl4hQnjT0BhNrM/s320/Congo+River+Golf.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congo River Golf</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We started the morning in Bonita Springs at <a href="http://www.congoriver.com/">Congo River Golf</a>. This is one of the newest courses in the Lee County area and is located on US 41. <br />
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The first thing that caught our eye was the layout. It's big and mountainous with a huge waterfall and lots of tropical plants. You start at the bottom of the Congo River and you work your way up to the headwaters. The holes are difficult! On a 1-10 scale, it earns a solid 9. We didn't score a single hole-in-one and I've got a feeling we aren't the only ones. As a matter of fact, a great many of the holes are blind shots that end up on on different levels from the tees.<br />
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The holes are all in great shape and despite the rainy day, there was very little standing water to slow the balls down. Rates were $12 per person for adults and $11 for children under 10. They also offered second round discounts and there was a scavenger hunt for additional discounts on the back of the scorecard.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIjX7ppgAR5BSRGz4eA-8RQ7OUBjXENpds8TZYgCHyAuSPJ7BlClz0ErREtRbWaBLEUjeMRo23g4fYRqgl62gdr0zY_VxK5TBgH6a9Bp8oJSAhSDHWAUg6SoKYVs8a_S01usPPY1obbc/s1600/Safari+Golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIjX7ppgAR5BSRGz4eA-8RQ7OUBjXENpds8TZYgCHyAuSPJ7BlClz0ErREtRbWaBLEUjeMRo23g4fYRqgl62gdr0zY_VxK5TBgH6a9Bp8oJSAhSDHWAUg6SoKYVs8a_S01usPPY1obbc/s320/Safari+Golf.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golf Safari</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Our second stop was<a href="http://golfsafariminigolf.com/"> Golf Safari </a>also in Bonita Springs. Located on Bonita Beach Road this was the oldest of the five courses we played.<br />
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It shows it's age but we loved the fact that it gave up quite a few holes-in-one if you made good shots. You could at least see WHERE the pin was located! This is also a great course for small children because the openings on the pins are larger than a standard golf hole. On the difficulty scale, we gave it a 4. <br />
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It plays mostly on a single level with some climbing near the end. Nothing too difficult, but fun. The putting surfaces are a bit worn and held some water but that added to the challenge.<br />
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The rates are $10.50 for adults and $9.50 for children 12 and under. They also offer mystery hole-in-one specials and you can play free additional rounds. Just show your initial receipt at the check-in counter. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv6s8zXThFcTU4K7eKdsLBxaE-ZypxJHXulQNx8XHoSMxzgVpSvGYU2pdb8EyqjIKvFBHgIRdDeX1owK_xYfonTfk87Ga31GEYndJbL_HyGRtE1h2I9qvLBxvPso-lvkOrNUKwrrT91w/s1600/Jungle+Golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv6s8zXThFcTU4K7eKdsLBxaE-ZypxJHXulQNx8XHoSMxzgVpSvGYU2pdb8EyqjIKvFBHgIRdDeX1owK_xYfonTfk87Ga31GEYndJbL_HyGRtE1h2I9qvLBxvPso-lvkOrNUKwrrT91w/s320/Jungle+Golf.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jungle Golf</td></tr>
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Our third stop was <a href="http://www.junglegolfminigolf.com/">Jungle Golf</a> located on San Carlos Blvd. near Fort Myers Beach. This is a good old fashion putt-putt course with challenging holes but doable hole-in-ones, if you're good. <br />
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The most unusual feature is the small to large boulders located in the middle of most of the holes. If you are a pool player you can use them to bank your shots. This one rates a 6 on the difficulty meter.<br />
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I liked the scenery. It was open and the climbs to the top weren't that challenging. It did offer quite a few blind shots but nothing too out of the ordinary.<br />
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The rates are $10.50 for adults and $8.50 for children 12 and under. They also offered special all-day rates and little golfers under 4 are free.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDrKj1s7JPt287_MGJ9Lm81LpA_uBxwZSmI1lKIFor0GMnYfbdyHOX-XRzIy0ggqra_9x347lenb00djvhkcCrYH26PAv9nheaalbpbUUtT5Y9NXTNkaEUOjZbdA_ZZnWg9yHw_1-RGg/s1600/Smugglers+Cove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDrKj1s7JPt287_MGJ9Lm81LpA_uBxwZSmI1lKIFor0GMnYfbdyHOX-XRzIy0ggqra_9x347lenb00djvhkcCrYH26PAv9nheaalbpbUUtT5Y9NXTNkaEUOjZbdA_ZZnWg9yHw_1-RGg/s320/Smugglers+Cove.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Course number 4, <a href="http://www.smugglersgolf.com/">Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf</a>, is located right next door to Jungle Golf. If it weren't for the difficult terrain, you could walk to it. <br />
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The pirate motif is a winner and we both loved the waterfalls and mysterious caves. There's lots of climbing so be prepared. There are also plenty of blind holes that require walking ahead just to see what you are shooting for. They even have bells to ring once you've played the hole to let the folks behind you know it's OK to putt! Smugglers Cove earns a 7 on the difficulty scale.<br />
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The rates are $12 for adults and $11 for children 12 and under. You can play additional rounds for $1.99. Want to feed alligators? You can at this venue. They have a gator pit chock full of them! And get this... you don't just toss the food to them, you put it on a small bamboo fishing pole and lure them to you from an elevated dock. Pretty wild!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAR-BxWbE-OJFlIn3ngpatvwKhkE8kpCv2Jhf02S1j4UtB1T5-AHf7HRy85OXQuDFyGqkL_wI6lk-j1l_-gAi9XN29CaceaFsPIPeyiwNgAfvz0JdZGPh0HnJ89FDgAlsUPGjNdyDhN7E/s1600/Castle+Golf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAR-BxWbE-OJFlIn3ngpatvwKhkE8kpCv2Jhf02S1j4UtB1T5-AHf7HRy85OXQuDFyGqkL_wI6lk-j1l_-gAi9XN29CaceaFsPIPeyiwNgAfvz0JdZGPh0HnJ89FDgAlsUPGjNdyDhN7E/s320/Castle+Golf.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Castle Golf</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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The last mini golf course on our list was <a href="http://www.castle-golf.com/">Castle Golf</a> located on Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. This one is tougher than it looks. We gave it a difficulty rating of 8. <br />
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The putting surface was good but held a lot of water due to the recent rains. It was also quite colorful. The putting "greens" ran the gamut from bright pinks and orange to pastel blues and purple.<br />
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There is a lot of moving water on this course and it was the only location that charges for lost balls. There are ball vending machines strategically located and it will cost you 50 cents a pop if you get sloppy.<br />
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Bring bug spray if you are playing during the rainy season. Castle Golf not only backs up to a mangrove swamp area, several of the holes are on boardwalks just above the water. We got attacked and played "speed" golf for a couple of holes!<br />
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The rates are $11 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. They also over specials and you can play additional rounds for $1.95.<br />
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All in all the adventure was fun. We enjoyed a great many laughs and some amazing golf shots. The final overall score after 90 holes of mini golf was Dad, 3 rounds to Miranda, 2 rounds. Would we do it again? You bet! <br />
<br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-37499324801253985712012-08-11T14:37:00.002-04:002012-08-11T14:38:17.176-04:00Fishing Report August 11th<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXz40LqM0mSo8k50uavcIXDJEftE_-NW7OV6fTDUUltEXrk_Owhema4w35qJHSxRzBJa6bv6_StYboPboMd5eNZI1SwcWhhaijdH8pwS-NS4WVEx6s9bwzISFfzS9WunamCb1_sTO0PU/s1600/Art's+Tarpon+Boatside+Photo+Capt.+Rob+Modys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXz40LqM0mSo8k50uavcIXDJEftE_-NW7OV6fTDUUltEXrk_Owhema4w35qJHSxRzBJa6bv6_StYboPboMd5eNZI1SwcWhhaijdH8pwS-NS4WVEx6s9bwzISFfzS9WunamCb1_sTO0PU/s320/Art's+Tarpon+Boatside+Photo+Capt.+Rob+Modys.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art, releasing a tarpon at boatside.</td></tr>
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It’s hard to believe it’s back to school time in southwest Florida. If you like fishing and you have some spare time, our local waters will be suddenly free of a lot of boat traffic during the week. The fishing pressure goes way down and you suddenly have lots of space to fish in. Time to plan a trip and enjoy the quiet before the peak season arrives.<br />
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The bite has been nice and steady in the backcountry waters of Estero Bay. The breeze has been pleasant in the morning so we’ve been taking advantage of the slightly cooler weather. Working the mangrove shorelines for redfish has been the go-to. They move out a bit to feed just after sunrise and will go after shrimp on jigs or cut ladyfish on circle hooks. Once the sun comes up, make your cast a little closer to the mangroves. You’ll also find some snapper, the occasional sheepshead and a few snook in the same area. <br />
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The bays are giving up some good sized trout. Shrimp under a popping cork works best in about 3 feet of water. Small sharks and some decent size pompano are feeding there as well. We’ve also jumped a few small tarpon along the oyster bar cuts. <br />
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The nearshore waters are still loaded with spanish mackerel. Head out a mile or so and look for the schooling threadfin herrings. You’ll see “puddles” of this large bait just about everywhere. The macs will be close by. If you set baits on the bottom you’ll find snapper, grouper, trout and flounder. Keep an eye out while near the bait pods. We’ve seen tarpon rolling in them and landed an estimated 75 pounder a few days ago.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-28170914244835758922012-07-30T10:08:00.002-04:002012-07-30T10:08:39.788-04:00Fishing Report<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqnevThyphenhyphen_bdNXv6nnf5ukrk69rWH0jardQ7L8nWxRDkP62yA85Ne1HkdDXNJwtxb2uDPEnocDHLvaK_WoY8sQgW9L22vC4Mfw-jRd_ZBvOJ52U1bQEZkChlgB4nf9s0uO96ja0Cxmua4/s1600/Pompano!+Photo+Capt.+Rob+Modys.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqnevThyphenhyphen_bdNXv6nnf5ukrk69rWH0jardQ7L8nWxRDkP62yA85Ne1HkdDXNJwtxb2uDPEnocDHLvaK_WoY8sQgW9L22vC4Mfw-jRd_ZBvOJ52U1bQEZkChlgB4nf9s0uO96ja0Cxmua4/s320/Pompano!+Photo+Capt.+Rob+Modys.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Libby showing off a nice Estero Bay pompano.</td></tr>
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Fishing in both the backcountry and Gulf waters near Fort Myers Beach has been very productive. Getting out early in the morning is best to beat the late morning heat and the afternoon thunderstorms.<br /><br />There’s been plenty of live shiners along the beaches and near the passes. Just keep your eyes open and a cast net on standby. The schools can pop up just about anywhere. The threadfin herrings are stacked up on the nearshore reefs. The Gulf water has cleared quite a bit, so the cast net is tough to use without spooking them. Go with a sabiki rig for best results.<br /><br />Speaking of the reef. The spanish mackerel are everywhere and hungry. Live bait, live shrimp or shiny artificials will all work. Heck, it’s tough to get a bait past them if you’re searching for snapper or grouper off the bottom. The passes are also loaded with macs. There are ladyfish and small jacks mixed in, which we’ve been keeping and using for shark bait. You’ll find the toothy creatures in about 14 feet of water. Anchor up, chum up and be patient. They’ll show up in pretty good numbers once the smell works it’s magic.<br /><br />The redfish bite in Estero Bay remains good but you have to get on them early. Once the heat of the day sets in, they pretty much disappear. We’ve been getting them close to the mangrove edges using live shrimp under popping corks and cut ladyfish on the bottom. There’s been a mix of flounder, trout, black drum and keeper size snapper in the same areas.<br /><br />Sea trout are on the open grass flats. Live or artificial shrimp under corks has been the go-to. Start looking for them in about 3 feet of water and as the day heats up, move out a bit deeper. We’ve caught quite few nice ones in 5 plus feet in the afternoon. You might even get a nice surprise from a big pompano!<br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-71052317722321560602012-07-16T15:09:00.001-04:002012-07-16T15:09:50.480-04:00Vacation In The Florida Keys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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JoNell and I packed up the Jeep and headed down to the Florida Keys for a week’s vacation on Marathon. We were invited to stay there with friends Alex Dolinski and his wife Brenda over the 4th of July holiday. Alex rents a house near Vaca Cut for a month to run charters out to the deep blue for mahi-mahi, wahoo, sailfish, marlin and whatever else may show up in the trolled spread. He blocked out time for us to fish, dine and enjoy a break playing on and in the clear water. <br />
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I know what some of you are thinking. “You took a vacation from fishing to go fishing?” Right. I did. You have to understand, I take people fishing and usually don’t get to wet a line myself. Don’t worry there are also plenty of other things to do while in the Keys. <br />
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The house Alex rented was perfect. Lots of room for everyone (Alex’s daughter Danielle was there and Ken, the owner of Master Bait and Tackle visited for a few days) and right on the water with a view of the Atlantic Ocean. The dock and deck was big enough to accommodate the boat, a Venture 34, and lots of porch chairs for evening cocktails and cigars. Speaking of the boat. The Venture was on loan from Andy, a friend of Alex’s. What a nice ride. Big and roomy with a tower for spotting fish and a head (bathroom) for the ladies. Fully equipped with all the electronics you could ask for and enough rod holders for 39 rods. Hmm... might need ‘em you never know. <br />
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We plotted the next day’s strategy each evening and then set out just after sunup. We’d motor out to where the water turned from sea green to a deep blue. The depth was from about 700 to 1000 feet. Trolling was the go-to tactic and I got a crash course on how to rig trolled ballyhoo and how to set outriggers. I’ve got to tell you, Alex is a great instructor. Once the baits were set it was time to watch for birds and weed lines. I soon found that Brenda has the best eyes for spotting birds. She almost always seemed to see them long before the rest of us did. The trick to trolling is to get the baits near the birds and weed lines in hopes of finding a hungry fish. Baits tend to hang out near the flotsam for protection. The birds find the bait and also follow moving fish. It’s a pretty amazing food chain.<br />
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Alex had already warned us that this particular year had been slower than most. No one seemed sure why, but the consensus was the overly warm winter might have something to do with it. He was right. It was slow, but when we did hook a fish it was almost always an event! The highlights... JoNell’s 30 pound mahi along with quite a few in the 12 to 15 pound range for the rest of us. We even managed to get a 22 pound wahoo, the first I’d ever seen or had the pleasure of eating.<br />
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When we weren’t fishing we were relaxing or eating or drinking or... all of the above. We hit quite a few places for lunch and dinner but my favorites were the <a href="http://lazydayssouth.com/">Lazy Days Restaurant</a> in Marathon and the <a href="http://www.nonamepub.com/">No Name Pub</a> on Big Pine Key. The Lazy Days was right on the water and had a chef that obviously knew what he was doing. They also had a “cook your catch” menu that was right up our alley. We caught fresh fish, but who wants to cook while on vacation? On two different occasions we took mahi and wahoo there for a seafood feast. Wonderful! The No Name Pub is one of those places you have to visit while in the lower Keys, but only if you can find it. Seriously. Their slogan is “ a nice place if you can find it”. They aren’t kidding. A GPS certainly comes in handy. Once found there are a couple of things on the menu you need to try. Number one, the Caribbean wings. Oh my. I’m a self proclaimed buffalo wing nut and these were the best I’ve ever had. Number two the pizza. They have delicious pizza. I don’t know why a little bar in the middle of nowhere with “no name” has great pizza, but just go with it. You won’t regret it. <br />
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Toward the end of the week JoNell and I opted out of fishing and headed down to Key West. We made a stop at <a href="http://www.schoonerwharf.com/">Schooner’s Wharf</a> to listen to <a href="http://www.michaelmccloud.com/">Michael McCloud</a>, <a href="http://www.mangoeskw.com/">Mango’s</a> for lunch, the <a href="http://www.hemingwayhome.com/">Hemingway House</a> to visit the 6-toed cats, <a href="http://kellyscaribbean.com/">Kelly’s Bar and Grill</a> for tacky frozen tourist drinks and a couple of cigar factories. It was a fun, relaxing day and good to be back in a place that has so many good memories for the two of us. <br />
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Back in Marathon we caught more fish, went snorkeling at Sombrero Reef, ate more food, drank more drinks and watched the 4th of July fireworks from the boat. Thanks much to our hosts Alex and Brenda for a great time. That was fun!Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-20070759088257768972012-07-16T10:52:00.001-04:002012-07-16T10:52:47.951-04:00July Fishing Report<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mid summer is already here and that means showers will occur almost each and every afternoon from now through September. The good news is, the mornings are usually rain free with light breezes and cooler temperatures. Work the mangroves of the backcountry early and then move out to the Gulf waters in the late morning. That will give you a break from the heat and the best opportunity to catch fish.<br />
<br />The nearshore Gulf rock piles and reefs are producing a nice mixed bag of fish. Spanish mackerel are leading the way and will take small bait offerings on jigs as well as just about any artificial that's flashy. You'll also get trout, pompano, grunts and sheepshead. For the latter you'll need to get through the macs. Cast away from the boat, leave the bail of the reel open and let the jig slowly sink to the bottom. Then retrieve the offering slowly across the bottom.<br />
<br />Grouper and mangrove snapper are also in the mix. We've been dropping wighted cut baits on circle hooks to the bottom. A stout rod is a good idea and be prepared for the unexpected. There are some big goliath grouper hanging out in less than 20 feet of water along with lemon, hammerhead and blacktip sharks.<br />
<br />In Estero Bay the redfish have been sparse but still doable if you get out early. We've only been getting 2 to 4 per trip but they have all been mid to upper slot fish. Live shrimp under a cork works well and helps cover a lot of ground. Once we locate a red I've been switching to cut ladyfish on circle hooks. The smell will usually bring in another fish or two and may even produce a nice snook.<br />
<br />In the ‘fun fish' category... Keep your eyes open for big jacks busting bait on the surface. They are schooling up early and late in the day and love a fast moving artificial bait imitation.<br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-36096293018906288072012-06-21T11:59:00.001-04:002012-06-21T11:59:32.816-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The early part of last week brought calm seas and a batch of beautiful weather, but a more tropical outlook is in the forecast. It’s back to southerly breezes with the chance of showers for the upcoming weekend. But don’t fret. The chance of rain and low pressure usually leads to a good bite, along with plenty of fish to catch for those that are willing to pack the foul weather gear.<br /><br />The nearshore bite was top notch before the winds picked up. The May Reef was giving up lots of spanish mackerel, big trout and a mix of sheepshead, flounder, pompano and snapper. Live shrimp on a jig head moved slowly across the bottom worked best. Switching to cut bait dropped to the bottom produced grouper and quite a few big sharks. <br /><br />The backcountry flats in Estero Bay are trout central. They are everywhere in all sizes. Live shrimp under popping corks is the go-to, but don’t forget to try artificials. Berkley Gulp Shrimp and D.O.A. Shrimp are both getting attention. <br /><br />Redfish are a bit more spread out along the mangrove shorelines. You’ll need to work hard to get them by moving from spot to spot. Cut ladyfish and threadfin herrings are working along with live shrimp on jigs.<br /><br />There’s been a noticeable uptick in the amount and size of flounder being caught in the bays. Over the years we’ve been getting one or two a week and they aren’t normally something we target in our waters. But over the past year the numbers are up. I’m not sure why, buy my anglers are enjoying it! We picked up 4 of them a couple of days ago along the mangrove edges while searching for redfish. The best tackle / bait combo seems to be a popping cork, short leader, 1/4 oz. jig and live shrimp.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-42738180280351065732012-02-15T16:31:00.003-05:002012-02-15T16:37:49.487-05:00Follow my fishing reports on FacebookFor those of you Facebook users... SoulMate Charters has a site on FB and I post weekly fishing reports, photos and what's happening on the water in the southwest Florida area.<br /><br />Simply click on the title of this article and stop by and take a look!Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-83315252266212508332012-02-15T16:28:00.001-05:002012-02-15T16:30:32.324-05:00Fishing in February can be tough but fun<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjossbUCOcItsFEJrzoetMqNUftxvTAJbhxk9rSKlBxdxE94LryE1eBQIEKjmtjewfp07G2wUHkpwVWbAha2fyH-Asxdi9nR1VK5woI1uoDi_oTTJxUSfQV8pm7VSZWqXRK6ZQiPIqsY3Q/s1600/Max+and+Jay+Yano+Trout+Photo+Capt.+Rob+Modys.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjossbUCOcItsFEJrzoetMqNUftxvTAJbhxk9rSKlBxdxE94LryE1eBQIEKjmtjewfp07G2wUHkpwVWbAha2fyH-Asxdi9nR1VK5woI1uoDi_oTTJxUSfQV8pm7VSZWqXRK6ZQiPIqsY3Q/s320/Max+and+Jay+Yano+Trout+Photo+Capt.+Rob+Modys.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709477806989729458" border="0" /></a><br />As I write this we are bouncing back from a February cold front with warm days and cool nights that are much more representative of our normal winter weather. However, it still feels much cooler to those of us that live here year round. My brother reminded me that before I took up guiding for a living we use to avoid fishing in the months of January and February. It was just too cold for man or beast to be on the water! Because of this we really never had to think much about tactics for finding fish in the winter months. We spent that time tying flies, repairing boats and fishing gear and watching football and basketball on TV.<br /><br />Our time for fishing was in the spring, summer and fall looking for tarpon, snook, redfish and trout. It was easy. We caught live shiners; we put them on a hook and threw them in front of the fish. Fish on! OK… Maybe it wasn’t quite that easy but it was a whole lot better than putting on three layers of clothing and not even seeing a tarpon or snook the entire day.<br /><br />But then I decided to take fishing on as a profession and because of the proliferation of winter guests during that time of year, I was forced to deal with the less than ideal weather and to learn the patterns of angling in January and February.<br /><br />So here is a bit of what I’ve learned.<br /><br />The best bait for winter fishing is live shrimp; period. Fish love shrimp, especially in the cold water months. It moves slow and provides an easy meal. Fish really don’t want to chase anything fast moving when the water temperature drops below 65 degrees. Their metabolism has slowed down so they are in no way as aggressive as they are in warmer water.<br /><br />The two best fish to hunt for in January and February are sheepshead and spotted sea trout. Both not only do well in the colder water, they seem to enjoy it. Sheepshead can be found around dock pilings and oyster beds as well as in deep pockets under mangrove overhangs. While I’ve heard a bunch of suggestions on how to catch them, I keep it pretty simple. I like small 1/8 oz. purple jig heads with 1/0 hooks. I then place half of a live shrimp on the hook and then cast to the target. The trickiest part is the hook set. You’ve got to almost anticipate the bite to be successful. They are the best bait stealers in the business! My youngest daughter’s advice is this. “When you feel a sheepshead tap the bait, count to 3 and go on 2.”<br /><br />Trout fishing in the winter is a bit different than going after them in the summer months. They move from the shallow water flats to deeper areas often very near to where you would normally find them in the warmer months. I suggest starting in depths a little better than 4 feet. The best areas seem to be where you have some grass beds mixed in with small sandy potholes. For example, check out the flat just to the north of the power lines in Pine Island Sound. My favorite way to fish for them is similar to going after the sheepshead. I use a 1/4 oz. yellow jig head with a 1/0 or 2/0 hook. I take the tail off of the live shrimp and then thread the hook through the opening where the tail use to be. You can run the hook up through the body or down toward the legs. I’ve found it really doesn’t matter all that much. Make a cast and use a very slow jigging action while retrieving the bait. You need to get down near the bottom but not so close that you are picking up grass on the retrieve. The winter trout bite is not much more than a dull bump so if you feel anything at all, set the hook. Oh yeah, I use the yellow jig because you never know when you are going to come upon a pompano while trout fishing. It seems their favorite color is yellow.<br /><br />While these 2 species are what I’d target on the coldest days, they are by no means the only fish out there. The water temperatures are going to move up and down quite a bit during February and this will bring the opportunity for catches of spanish mackerel, bluefish, pompano, ladyfish and a lot of small sharks. All kidding aside, it really is a great time to wet a line and it beats sitting inside watching fishing shows on television!Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-16917835477519817602011-09-02T15:08:00.013-04:002011-09-04T12:47:51.343-04:00Naples Botanical Garden<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEThs2Pwq5xxhkIoE2VZw2MTDalzXHDF9lUYbndkiaRfHcLTUPJyRbeP0frvSEDWUzo1laJxG0YeZTrMGzRRJtB3UcLlPPHmvPRN22_SnBAOrID0TSxFSMTWHJ6Af_nV5cRW3hyphenhypheninkv0/s1600/naples+botanical+garden.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 263px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEThs2Pwq5xxhkIoE2VZw2MTDalzXHDF9lUYbndkiaRfHcLTUPJyRbeP0frvSEDWUzo1laJxG0YeZTrMGzRRJtB3UcLlPPHmvPRN22_SnBAOrID0TSxFSMTWHJ6Af_nV5cRW3hyphenhypheninkv0/s320/naples+botanical+garden.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647862153407724322" border="0" /></a>Walking through the entrance to Naples Botanical Garden is a treat for the senses. There's really no way to even begin to describe its scope. For some reason I pictured something smaller like the gardens of my youth in Clearwater and at our current home in Fort Myers. Was I ever wrong.
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<br />The Garden grounds cover 170 acres that feature plants from the subtropics. This includes places like Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia and Florida. Everything from the wetlands and swamps to the dry and arid is represented and it's laid out in a way that lets you feel as if you are time traveling from one section of the world to another. There are huge water gardens with beautiful lilies and trickling waterfalls and large expanses of open lowlands with sawgrass. There are even rice patties planted and cultivated in the Asian area.
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<br />The Naples Botanical Garden was originally founded in 1993, closed for expansion in June of 2007 and reopened to the public in November of 2009. Expansion has continued and the result is a world class, award wining garden.
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<br />My visit was made possible as part of the Florida Outdoor Writers Association annual conference. It's held each year in a different area of Florida to help introduce writers to the featured location. During a group tour I was able to speak to executive director Brian Holley and came away with these interesting tidbits.
<br /><ul><li>Seventy acres of invasive melaleuca and Brazilian pepper were removed and turned into thousands of yards of mulch during the reconstruction. </li><li>Over a 1/4 of a million yards of dirt was moved around the site to make the highlands and lowlands. </li><li>During construction thousands of native plants were saved to be planted later.
<br /></li><li>There are currently over 7500 different kinds of plants.</li><li>There are currently 1000 plus orchids.
<br /></li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9vX4YcjVQs2l9vZsbzcuBUVnVeI_oFgXtm0A8x3UftcEBWTzJkAoqGVee6gwBEoqpB5rPmh4ApZIZ8_O95m2k54nFcpLmeVvGeBuSUG_jgTWqgvr3eAVRvQrdCaM6DyHV7-VQww08dw/s1600/Giant+Lily+Pads.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9vX4YcjVQs2l9vZsbzcuBUVnVeI_oFgXtm0A8x3UftcEBWTzJkAoqGVee6gwBEoqpB5rPmh4ApZIZ8_O95m2k54nFcpLmeVvGeBuSUG_jgTWqgvr3eAVRvQrdCaM6DyHV7-VQww08dw/s320/Giant+Lily+Pads.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647863701634214194" border="0" /></a>The pride in Brian's voice was evident, as it should be. This was a massive undertaking that you'll have to see to believe.
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<br />I walked the shell, stone and dirt paths though a good part of the area, but time was pressing and I soon realized that this is more than a quick tourist stop along US 41. I believe you could plan an entire morning or day at the Naples Botanical Garden and still not see it all.
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<br />The Garden is open from 9am to 5pm daily. Admission is $12.95 for adults and $7.95 for children 4-14 years old. 3 and under are free. There are also memberships available and members admission is free. Each Tuesday "Early Bird" hours are offered from 8am until 12pm. This gives amateur photographers and painters some quiet time and early morning light.
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<br />For more information go to www.naplesgarden.org
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<br />Capt. Rob Modys
<br />SoulMate Charters
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<br />Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-73042501491973841772011-07-07T16:09:00.014-04:002011-09-02T11:19:02.250-04:00Tarpon Lodge, A Trip To The Past<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF9TXPd_eyRfPqvq9WDR3sfnKXpfiWS8OBw2rWZ9xLfOm16MsOBNISDooUMeF47rAhnedYX1iLejydt5H3WwgIomEneM_3yb88Gr7v8CAX2V5Chr-ATqXJW7t1TSb-XoZPCl2z45_1I4/s1600/DSC_0006.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 209px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWF9TXPd_eyRfPqvq9WDR3sfnKXpfiWS8OBw2rWZ9xLfOm16MsOBNISDooUMeF47rAhnedYX1iLejydt5H3WwgIomEneM_3yb88Gr7v8CAX2V5Chr-ATqXJW7t1TSb-XoZPCl2z45_1I4/s320/DSC_0006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647780115403483378" border="0" /></a>I can't tell you how many times I've heard the expression, "Old Florida". Most of the time the description is close, but not right on the money. Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island, in my opinion, is the exception.
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<br />My wife, JoNell, has a fairly grueling travel itinerary associated with her job. She goes on excursions both near and far to preach the gospel of vacationing in the Collier County area of Florida. In the month of May, her birthday month, she traveled to New York City and San Francisco and spent her big day on the road, or in the skies as it were. She very much wanted to do something special for her birthday. She told me so, but our schedules just didn't mesh. The window of opportunity was made smaller when she told me she had another trip scheduled to the state of Texas in early June. What's a guy to do?
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<br />Call a friend, Rob Wells Jr., business manager of Tarpon Lodge.
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<br />JoNell and I had talked about staying at the Lodge many times but it just never happened. I've visited there for a number of fishing outings, including tournaments, and had lunch there on a couple of occasions, but no overnights.
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<br />My email to Rob was simple. I need to surprise my wife. We only have a few days to visit and I really want to make it special for her.
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<br />Rob got the ball rolling and booked us a 4-night stay in the "Cottage" along with a slip to keep the boat. I'd decided to drive it up there so that JoNell could get in a little fishing and shelling, two things she really loves to do. I also reserved 3 nights in a row at the dinning room. More about that in a minute.
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<br />We arrived separately, JoNell by car and me by boat. After unpacking we took a self tour of the grounds and got familiar with our home away from home. The Cottage was perfect. One bedroom with a king size bed, bath, living room and kitchen. There was even a porch, where I could enjoy my evening cigar and look out on Pine Island Sound.
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<br />Speaking of Pine I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2FKXyZl42VykW0aYuosKKipsm2SdyyW3t9kO7OMqmRustdqONEfQjodqS_EErjf2vwqh8hr_YhZi14GPP76xHkosDQkE18nmIuxna070gcmXSrFVsyiQXmg1VtOGHn0mVPsFinKPw4M/s1600/JoNell+Modys+19+inch+Redfish.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2FKXyZl42VykW0aYuosKKipsm2SdyyW3t9kO7OMqmRustdqONEfQjodqS_EErjf2vwqh8hr_YhZi14GPP76xHkosDQkE18nmIuxna070gcmXSrFVsyiQXmg1VtOGHn0mVPsFinKPw4M/s320/JoNell+Modys+19+inch+Redfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647780593335796066" border="0" /></a>sland Sound. It's one of the best fishing areas in the world and Tarpon Lodge is sitting right next to prime territory. I've been guiding in and around the Sound for the last 10 years and nothing anywhere else can match the diversity of fish found there. Tarpon, snook, redfish, trout and a myriad of other species call it home and most are more than willing to cooperate when a lure, fly or live bait is thrown their way.
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<br />We spent the afternoon relaxing. Goodness knows, we both needed a break. We walked the grounds and eventually made our way across the road to the Randall Research Center where you can learn about the Calusa Indians. The Calusa's were an ancient and powerfull tribe that once ruled the entire southwest region of Florida. You can walk a trail, reading informational signs, or schedule a guided trip.
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<br />As I mentioned earlier in this post, I booked 3 evening reservations for dinner at the resort's dinning room. That turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. JoNell and I soon discovered why it has a much coveted Four Star rating. The food and service were top notch. The selections all looked yummy and it was difficult to pick what to have as the main course. Beef or fish or shrimp or scallops or pork... you get the idea. JoNell summed it up nicely. She said she was very glad I had booked 3 dinner reservations so she could work her way through the menu. Not a bad idea!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d0OJwu46qVwFpG5V2kaIfHtB91MYaKGLbiXmGGG_PbHK-V3v23BJcGo_ysY7Pq-Mat7x9KH0-HGC5kvVillQRKapccImNexynYjbQFu5LlmNcaKpjCCLLPMItPcyKue-0UHvgKhyphenhyphenIG4/s1600/IMG_0219.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3d0OJwu46qVwFpG5V2kaIfHtB91MYaKGLbiXmGGG_PbHK-V3v23BJcGo_ysY7Pq-Mat7x9KH0-HGC5kvVillQRKapccImNexynYjbQFu5LlmNcaKpjCCLLPMItPcyKue-0UHvgKhyphenhyphenIG4/s320/IMG_0219.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647781377684780706" border="0" /></a>Days 2, 3 and 4 were spent boating, fishing, shelling and relaxing. We made runs in our 22 foot Skeeter bay boat, to the small islands just south of the Tarpon Lodge and caught lots of redfish, trout and a mix of fun fish. We visited North Captiva, an island without bridges, so boat access is a must. We walked and shelled an almost deserted beach.
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<br />Later that day we visited nearby Cabbage Key, another boat only location, and had lunch at the restaurant. They are famous for having thousands of individual dollar bills hanging from the walls, that are signed by visitors and left behind. They are also noted for their cheeseburgers in paradise. Rumor has that singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett penned his famous "Cheeseburger" song there and, as they say, the rest is history.
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<br />Don't worry. If you don't have a boat, there are charters available through the Lodge for fishing, sightseeing, lunch cruises and shelling.
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<br />The days went by quickly and soon it was time to pack up and head back to the mainland, leaving island life behind. It was apparent to both of us that more time would be needed on our next trip to the Tarpon Lodge. And there will be another trip back to old Florida.
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<br />Tarpon Lodge website is www.tarponlodge.com
<br />Cabbage Key's website is www.cabbagekey.com
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<br />Capt. Rob Modys
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Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-91744328106869180152011-05-13T13:35:00.002-04:002011-05-13T13:38:55.793-04:00Summer Skin Protection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7NRd8f-CdRFOL69f1mHSfgS1guR9draxhN-qVEaI9sFoM1qugTbHds2-a1TEHeSoDH_hP46q42wChWw9HQdo5JLldiy1uHA3OuxE-5ttISec6qHjIOwbT-AUTTcVU00DSqyPR0bdkUU/s1600/Blocking+The+Sun.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7NRd8f-CdRFOL69f1mHSfgS1guR9draxhN-qVEaI9sFoM1qugTbHds2-a1TEHeSoDH_hP46q42wChWw9HQdo5JLldiy1uHA3OuxE-5ttISec6qHjIOwbT-AUTTcVU00DSqyPR0bdkUU/s320/Blocking+The+Sun.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606256544202490994" border="0" /></a><br /><span jsid="text">I’ve spent a good portion of my life living, fishing and playing in the great outdoors of Florida. I’ve worked on the water for a number of years and with that comes the dangers of over exposure to the harmful rays of the sun.<br /><br />When I was a child we didn’t even use sunblock. Those were the days of the Coppertone girl with print ads and billboards showing a little blonde girl having her pants pulled down by a small dog to expose her bare, lilly white butt. The rest of her body was golden tanned! My how things have changed! With new science and research it’s been proven that the UV rays from the sun we worship here in Florida are actually quite bad for your skin. It’s no longer fashionable to have that deep dark resort tan.<br /><br />Because I work on the water almost everyday and I spend most of that time in the sun, I thought I’d pass along some useful information to help you protect yourself from over exposure to Mr. Sol.<br /><br />Sunblock. I use it everyday and recommend you put it on whenever you are planning a day outside. I like the white rub-on lotion vs. the spray-on version. The lotion covers your skin much better and there is little or no evaporation. The sprays seem to put most of the protection on the deck of my boat and are impossible to use in the wind.<br /><br />I personally use “Bull Frog SuperBlock” lotion with a 45 SPF factor. The SPF number is very important. An SPF 10 rating means you can stay in the sun without burning 10 times longer than you can without using sunblock. Be careful with the numbers. If your skin begins to burn in only 15 minutes then an SPF of 10 is only going to protect you for a little over 2 hours providing you don’t sweat. Yes, you can reapply but I’ve found that it’s best to put the sunblock on BEFORE you leave the house. It works much better on cool, dry skin then it does on sweaty hot skin. Make sure you put extra lotion on your nose, ears and the tops of your hands. If you are going to be on a boat you should make sure to apply extra sunblock to the backs of your legs. The reflection off of the deck is brutal.<br /><br />Clothing. It is important to wear proper clothing for protection from the sun. Many of the sport clothing manufactures are now making shirts and pants with SPF ratings on the labels. The highest I’ve seen is 30 and that’s a whole lot better than the typical SPF 5 that a cotton t-shirt will provide. The sporting / fishing attire is also going to keep you a lot cooler than street clothing. It’s also designed with light weight materials that breath and “wick” sweat away from your body. I’d recommend that you buy long sleeve shirts and long pants. The sleeves can be rolled up if necessary and most fishing pants come with zip off legs that turn them into shorts after returning to the dock. Here’s a tip for you. Buy lighter colored shirts and pants for summer wear. The light colors reflect sunlight while dark colors absorb it. There’s nothing hotter than a black shirt on a sunny day.<br /><br />Accessories. There are several items that you need to add to your arsenal that will help protect you from the sun’s rays.<br /><br />Get a good pair of sunglasses. The sun is brutal on the eyes and a nice polarized pair of shades will cut the glare and will also provide protection for a wayward lure or hook.<br /><br />Sun gloves have been on the market for quite some time now. They are fingerless and light weight and dry quickly even after being totally submersed in water. They are designed to protect the back of you hands from the sun and work much better than sunblock lotion because they won’t “wash off”.<br /><br />A hat is a must and the best are ones made with light colors and wide brims. I have a Tilley hat and would recommend it, hands down.<br /><br />The buff is a cross between a scarf and a full face mask. They are tubes of a stretch material that are lightweight and breath even in the hottest weather. You simply pull the tube over your head and then down around your neck. You can pull it back up at anytime to protect your face and even your ears if needed. They are simple and comfortable and easy to use. Just don’t wear it to your local bank branch office.<br /><br />Until next time... Get out there and enjoy all that our area has to offer.<br /><br />Capt. Rob Modys<br />SoulMate Charters<br /><br /><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span>Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-14863814904022420732011-02-10T10:39:00.002-05:002011-02-10T10:42:21.061-05:00Fishing Stories<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0SvaL3PNxttUik5Jgy630fC_fFAT8dgTB4JBF7aO62Z0hDSC0ZtPmTdQlXrWsV2DiwhE455QBJoapbI5-EM2xE-vEmn_OtehFNwgCWHS4OhkqzbeXj2UOlbMbVJy3sjBYlfmtPa6220/s1600/Everglades+National+Park.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf0SvaL3PNxttUik5Jgy630fC_fFAT8dgTB4JBF7aO62Z0hDSC0ZtPmTdQlXrWsV2DiwhE455QBJoapbI5-EM2xE-vEmn_OtehFNwgCWHS4OhkqzbeXj2UOlbMbVJy3sjBYlfmtPa6220/s320/Everglades+National+Park.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572086558028142210" border="0" /></a><br />Everyone loves a good fishing story and because of my profession, as a fishing guide, I get to hear more than my share. Some are believable and, well… some are not, but I’ve noticed that the best stories offer much more than just the “big fish” as a punch line. They usually involve a journey with good friends and lots of laughs along the way. Here are a few of mine from years past.<br /><br />In the spring of 1999 my wife, JoNell and I along with our friend Steve, were fishing the back waters of Islamorada in the Florida Keys. The target for the trip was tarpon and most importantly this would hopefully be JoNell’s first tarpon.<br /><br />The weather was incredibly hot so we decided to get a very early start. We were on the water just before dawn. After leaving the Matacumbe Marina we headed over to a small bay called Little Basin. We were still in sight of the docks at the Islamorada Fish Company when we noticed there were tarpon rolling everywhere! I made several cast with live pinfish and shrimp but all were refused. Steve was using a couple of different artificial baits with the same luck. It was madding! They just wouldn’t eat. I pretty much knew that the tarpon were in the area because of the fish scraps the Fish Company dumped in the area each morning. With that in mind, I cut up a pinfish and tried that. It was more of the same; no takers.<br /><br />While Steve and I were discussing what to do next, JoNell found a small crab in the bait well and announced she was going to give it a try. I told her it wasn’t going to work because the fish here in the basin were use to eating scraps and I doubted very much that they would go after a crab.<br /><br />OK, I admit it. She was right, I was wrong. The crab wasn’t in the water 10 seconds and a tarpon sucked it down! The fight was on and for the next 30 minutes or so she fought the fish like a pro. It weighed in at around 75 lbs. She had played and landed the first tarpon she had ever hooked. Not many folks actually land their first poon!<br /><br />Steve and I unsuccessfully threw those fish crabs and lots of other offerings for the rest of the morning while JoNell looked on and coached. The tarpon continued to roll all around us and if they were so equipped, they would have thumbed their noses at us.<br /><br />During the summers of the mid 1980’s a very good friend of mine, Garry from Kentucky, introduced me to small mouth bass fishing in the creeks near where he lived. It was an eye opening experience for me. I could actually go wading without the worry of being eaten (no gators) or stung (no stingrays).<br /><br />We spent a great deal of time in the Little Kentucky River near Frankfort. It was a beautiful place with huge birch, maple and oak trees and the rocky bottom of the creek was home to literally hundreds of small mouth bass. We fished with ultra light spinning gear consisting of a 5 foot rod, small reel and 4 lb. test line. There was no need for a leader. I’ll never forget the first time he handed me a rod. We wouldn’t even attempt to catch bait here in Florida with something so small!<br /><br />The lure of choice was a small plastic Rebel Crawdad with a plastic diving lip that you cast and then retrieved slowly, bouncing it among the rocks. The power of the strike was amazing! I’d put it on par with any good size saltwater fish. The fight was also surprising considering that most of the fish we caught were between 1 an 2 pounds.<br /><br />On one of our trips we encountered a cat that apparently owned the section of the creek we were fishing. He was big and tiger stripped and quite friendly for a wild cat living in the woods. It didn’t take long to figure out why he was stationed near this particular fishing hole. Every time we caught a small bluegill (they are a colorful version of our pinfish) he would come out of the woods and meow and give you that doe eyed look that said, “Please give me that fish.” We’d toss it in his direction and he would catch it on the fly and then proceed to devour it, bones and all! After 3 or 4 he would lay down by the creek in the sun for a nap. We continued to find him there for quite a few years after that first encounter. He’s long since disappeared but to this day we still refer to the area as the “Catnip Hole”. <br /><br />In the summer of 1978 my brother and I decided it would be fun to sail a couple of sailboats around Sanibel and Captiva on a kind of circumnavigation trip that would somehow also involve fishing. Pete commandeered a 28 foot Irwin from a friend and I rented a 27 foot Catalina from the Sanibel Marina. We loaded the boats with supplies (mostly beer and munchies) and set off around the Sanibel Lighthouse on what was suppose to be a week-long adventure with our wives. We trolled the Gulf and managed to come up with quite a few spanish mackerel. While anchored off of Cayo Costa, for a couple of days, we caught snook in the surf and lots of jacks and ladyfish.<br /><br />On day 4 the Catalina had a major mechanical malfunction and we decided the best thing to do was to sail back to the marina and pick up another boat. Unfortunately there wasn’t another one available so we were forced to scrap the rest of the adventure. Well, sort of. The girls had had enough so they headed for home, but Pete and I decided to sail the Irwin back up the Caloosahatchee River to her home dock. I’m not sure why we left the marina after midnight. Well, maybe I do know why but there’s no need to point fingers. Once we were underway I fired up the stove and started cooking a big pot of boiled shrimp. We were just about to start eating when the blue lights came on and the boat was bathed in bright light from big spotlights. We were being stopped by the Florida Marine Patrol.<br /><br />Those were the days of big time smuggling. I’m not talking about illegal aliens, I’m talking about drugs. I have no idea why we were even suspected of being pirates. Maybe it was because we were the only boat on the water after midnight and had no running lights, Jimmy Buffett music was blaring on the stereo and the smell of shrimp (bubble, bubble, bubble) was coming from the portholes. I don’t know.<br /><br />Shortly after the patrol boat tied up along side of us I offered the officers shrimp and cold libations. After a momentary hesitation they refused the beer, saying they were on duty, and accepted the offer to join us for fresh cooked Gulf shrimp. After a bit of friendly conversation and a quick check of the boats safety equipment, they sent us on our way without even writing a warning ticket for the lights. The moral of the story is: If you are going to smuggle anything into U.S. waters in the middle of the night make sure to bring plenty of fresh shrimp.<br /><br />Capt. Rob Modys<br />SoulMate ChartersCapt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-15678040068691266992010-12-15T14:38:00.004-05:002010-12-15T14:42:49.954-05:00Are You A Local? Take A Day Off<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaevKmj6Oen4SNWo_R4nSdv0AQ4hyQpPAgwUhRXf2V9Jz-x5QnLZxTMEPtkXXlJLKBkaoQmUMimSW_EhTGEBZ0DbATIuetKDsmi-ZdlGlnou_nAOaYqKmOL93CAv_5kFQD15Lux64UV4/s1600/Sunrise+Over+Lover%2527s+Key.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaevKmj6Oen4SNWo_R4nSdv0AQ4hyQpPAgwUhRXf2V9Jz-x5QnLZxTMEPtkXXlJLKBkaoQmUMimSW_EhTGEBZ0DbATIuetKDsmi-ZdlGlnou_nAOaYqKmOL93CAv_5kFQD15Lux64UV4/s320/Sunrise+Over+Lover%2527s+Key.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5550996544266107202" border="0" /></a><br />While driving to Fish Tale Marina a few days ago I crossed over the Little Hickory bridge. At the top there was a young couple standing arm in arm looking east waiting for the sun to come up and start another day. The wind had finally stopped blowing and the air was full of moisture so that everything was shrouded in a mist like fog. I knew the sunrise was going to be a colorful and beautiful one.<br /><br />We are so lucky to live where we live. Just about everywhere you look there is something to catch the eye. Rosette spoonbills are wading the flats and eagles soar overhead. Dolphins are working the schools of fish for breakfast and the ever present royal terns are diving for bait. It’s too bad we tend to drive right past these moments without stopping.<br /><br />This is the time of year when we really need to sit back and take a deep breath and enjoy our surroundings. I figure we have just about a month. January will soon be upon us and that will mark the beginning of the winter tourist and snowbird season and we locals won’t have time to do anything but work. It’s a good thing. Our economy depends on this time of year. But it’s very tough on family outings and most of our free time is spent trying to rest up for the next working day.<br /><br />So get out there and smell the roses. Take a weekday off and go to the beach. I don’t care what beach... just go. Pack a lunch, a good book and a beach chair and plop yourself down and enjoy the view. Turn off the cell phone. You can live for a few hours without voice mail and text messages.<br /><br />Go to a local weekend festival. There are all kinds of art fairs and events going on in our area and in most cases you can visit a least two in a day. No festivals? No problem. Head over to Matlacha and visit the dozen or so art galleries along Pine Island Road.<br /><br />Make lunch last forever. Go to your favorite watering hole and have a nice long lunch with your significant other. Arrive around noon and stay until three. Try several small things on the menu accompanied by your favorite libations and be sure to try something you’ve never had before. When you think it’s time to leave, order one more item off the menu.<br /><br />Go topless. Rent a convertible from one of the car rental outlets at the airport and then cruise the beaches with the top down. Start with a leisurely drive through Sanibel and Captiva Islands and then head over to Fort Myers Beach and cruise the strip. Stop along the way and visit a t-shirt shop and do your best to find something really tacky to put on a shelf when you get home. Something that says “Florida” on it and has sand in it would be perfect.<br /><br />Last but not least get up before dawn and find a place to watch the sun come up. Take a photo of it and then do the same thing in the late afternoon and watch the sun go down. Put those photos on the fridge or on your desk at work and refer to them often.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-51826702097159828172010-10-05T10:12:00.004-04:002010-10-05T10:21:29.905-04:00The Art Of Fly Fishing (It's All About The Feel)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw4_rA-JAlQ946vcCddGconWrUm2q0z6KlClBWaRgpsW36bHSWx4G2Pz_O9P5Ze1h-0zJd8726CUESWLmhpkzCRzBtRb0nwJZnaRpIB5NHSAcTp7Mug4aZ4vR4tlR8Kj3kVlVdjmMToU/s1600/Orvis+Mach+Reel.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfw4_rA-JAlQ946vcCddGconWrUm2q0z6KlClBWaRgpsW36bHSWx4G2Pz_O9P5Ze1h-0zJd8726CUESWLmhpkzCRzBtRb0nwJZnaRpIB5NHSAcTp7Mug4aZ4vR4tlR8Kj3kVlVdjmMToU/s320/Orvis+Mach+Reel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5524566811696618562" border="0" /></a><br />I remember the first time I picked up a fly rod. I was browsing in an Orvis shop in Louisville, Kentucky a little over 30 years ago looking for a new fishing hat. They had those really nice wide brimmed hats that kept the sun and rain off your ears and neck, a must for any fisherman. The hats were in the back of the store and I had to walk right past the fly rod display. I stopped and picked up a rod. The first thing I noticed was how light it felt. It was like holding nothing at all. The taper from the handle to the tip was more gradual and the rod was a lot longer than the spinning rods I used. It felt new and different!<br /><br />A salesman came over and introduced himself as “Mike” and he asked me if I would be interested in trying out the rod. They had a casting area out behind the store and he said he’d be happy to rig the rod up and let me give it a test run. I explained to him that I had never even held a fly rod until that very moment and had no clue as to how to begin to cast with one. Mike said, “No problem. I’ll rig it up and I’ll give you a quick lesson.” I really wish I could remember Mike’s last name. I’d love to thank him for putting me on the road to what has become one of my favorite ways to fish and a major addiction.<br /><br />Up until that day fly fishing was a mystery to me. I knew it existed because my Grandfather was a fly angler and I had seen it on fishing shows on TV, but the art of casting and rigging the outfit were beyond me. Over the next year I took some lessons and I slowly but surely perfected my casting. I actually started catching fish! It was great but most importantly it renewed my interest in fishing all over again. It was like being 6 years old and catching that first fish.<br />Now, years later, I’m often asked, “What’s so special about fly fishing and why spend the time and money to learn a new way to catch fish?” I answer, “It’s all about the feel.” That’s the only way I can explain it. I tell the person asking the question that they have to feel what it’s like to have a fish on a fly rod to truly understand what the addiction is all about. And it really is an addiction!<br /><br />Unlike spin fishing, the connection with a fish on a fly rod is much more pronounced. You can feel every little head shake and move, and when a fish runs you feel the power of it all the way up your arm. It’s almost as if the rod doesn’t exist. It’s just you and the fish. Therein lies the addiction. That’s why “fly guys” have a glassy look when getting ready to hit the water. They know that soon they are going to be able to feed their addiction and they really don’t want anyone or anything getting in the way. OK, I’m kidding… or maybe not.<br /><br />Seriously, fly fishing is really not that complicated. It’s just another way to deliver a lure to a fish. It takes time and effort so it’s a good idea to seek out lessons if you are serious about the sport. It’s very easy to develop bad casting habits right off the bat and a good instructor will nip that in the bud. There are quite a few shops in our area that cater to fly fishing but my favorite is Lehr’s Economy Tackle in North Fort Myers. They’ll take the time to answer your questions and will work to set you up with the proper equipment to do the job.<br /><br />I still remember my first fish on fly. It was a smallmouth bass that weighed just over a pound. It ran me up and down the stream and fought incredibly well for its size. It made fishing fun again. I was addicted.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-87173961198874609552010-09-02T10:21:00.003-04:002010-09-02T10:28:38.213-04:00Don't Forget To Look Around<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIhpy_C9_pSepd4x3HcC6pILQKrWyIIGbsDsbPdftmhM16JGVEbYwAIFQZYttiwl4qmfnw6OhtxhRLDD5YHkDV_YcrMo4w5k2SZpafL5AX4ngnDT8FjfG9lusaZDXxNN9jjXqk77HHbU/s1600/North+Captiva.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIhpy_C9_pSepd4x3HcC6pILQKrWyIIGbsDsbPdftmhM16JGVEbYwAIFQZYttiwl4qmfnw6OhtxhRLDD5YHkDV_YcrMo4w5k2SZpafL5AX4ngnDT8FjfG9lusaZDXxNN9jjXqk77HHbU/s320/North+Captiva.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512322356052322530" border="0" /></a><br />Sometimes we forget to look around. That thought came to mind a few weeks ago while on a charter with a young couple from Indiana.<br /><br />We, as anglers, tend to get totally wrapped up in “the trip.” We start mentally planning several days before the event by looking at tide charts, watching the weather and putting the entire fishing outing together in our heads. Long before the trip takes place we begin strategizing like a college basketball coach planning for March Madness. Where’s the bait going to be? Which way is the wind going to blow? Are the tides going to provide a good flow of water? What is Plan “B”?<br /><br />And then the day arrives.<br /><br />After a quick trip to the first stop, the bait goes on the hooks and the lines go in the water. One of the baits gets hit and the fight is on. It’s a nice redfish. A few minutes later a trout is caught and then another red is on. After a quick flurry of action it suddenly gets quiet. While I contemplate a move to a new spot, an osprey dives to the surface of the water and catches a trout for breakfast. But before he can get fully airborne a bald eagle dives from above and the battle for the catch is on. All eyes on the boat are on the birds and the fishing is forgotten. After several minutes the eagle prevails and flies off with the osprey’s catch. The young lady on the boat says she’s never seen an eagle in the wild, much less what just occurred. She’s much more excited about capturing the photo of what just happened than catching the redfish.<br /><br />Moments later several bottle nose dolphin show up and begin to coral mullet against a nearby sandbar. With explosive burst of speed the dolphin crash through the fish and consume their quarry. Once again the couple put down the rods and grab the camera.<br />As the dolphin swim near the boat the camera shutter clicks over and over and the young man says, “This is a lot better than Sea World!”<br /><br />I can certainly relate to their excitement.<br /><br />A few years ago my wife and I took a short vacation break in Colorado. We flew from Fort Myers to Denver and then drove to Leadville, an old historic mining town located 11,000 feet above sea level in the Rockies. For a flat-lander Florida boy, the mountain scenery was breathtaking. We arrived shortly after a late spring snowstorm so the area was still covered in a blanket of white, something not seen in southwest Florida. On our drive up to the mountains we saw wild elk and antelope and even encountered a large herd of buffalo. Fantastic! At every turn there was something wild and different to experience. For my wife and me, it was new. For the locals, it was an everyday occurrence.<br /><br />Colorado gave me a new appreciation for the natural environment that surrounds our home, and for the thrill it provides newcomers not accustomed to our saltwater estuaries. We tend to take our wildlife and scenery for granted while in the pursuit of the “big one.” That trip taught me to stop for a minute, take a look around and enjoy the moment as well as the great angling available to us here in the Fort Myers area.Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-20051613701004849772010-09-02T09:58:00.002-04:002010-09-02T10:13:31.248-04:00Getting Serious About BloggingOk... I admit it. I haven't found the time to blog as much as I'd hoped but I'm going to change that. I'm going to make this easy for the time being, both for me and readers. At least I'll give you something instead of nothing!<br /><br />I've written tons of articles for different publications and most are introspective and have very little to do with the mechanics of fishing. I started writing those articles back in 2006 on a recommendation from my wife, JoNell. At the time I was asked to write for a local fishing magazine called "The Nautical Mile" but the editor wanted something different. Perhaps a human interest side to fishing and the great outdoors. JoNell, in her infinite wisdom and public relations savvy, came up with "Reflections On The Water". The stories would be about the things that happen on the water, but mostly my observations. I loved the idea and wrote the first Reflections article in April of 2006.<br /><br />For my blog I'm going to go back and pull from that library each month, along with adding new material as the stories happen.<br /><br />Enjoy!Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6789730188147709109.post-39109564130762758252010-06-01T19:46:00.003-04:002010-06-01T19:52:05.136-04:00The Captain Gets To Go Fishing<h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">I rarely get to go fishing. I’m not kidding. I’m a charter boat captain and I usually leave the fishing up to the client while I spend my time giving instruction, tying on fresh rigs, baiting hooks, casting and hopefully, unhooking fish. If you’ve ever taken your family fishing then you have a pretty good idea of what’s involved during my day on the water.</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">A few weeks ago I was waiting at the dock for my passengers to arrive. The weather was what pilots and boat captains like to call, “marginal”. A low pressure system was developing over the Gulf of Mexico and the forecast called for steady rain. The good news was there was no mention of high winds or lightning. When my folks arrived at the dock the decision was made to reschedule for another day. I had explained to them that getting wet was most likely, but that the bite should be really good because of the impending bad weather. They really weren’t equipped though, clothing wise, so we set up another date and they were on their way to breakfast.</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">As I was walking back to my truck and trailer I got to thinking about how rarely I get to fish alone. “Hmmm”, I said to myself, “I’ve got a fully equipped boat sitting in the water with bait, food and drinks on board. I’ve got a full-<wbr>body Gore-<wbr>Tex foul weather suit and there’s rising water, overcast skies and a low pressure system building in the Gulf.” I put the truck keys back in my pocket.</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">There was a light rain falling as I pulled away from the dock. I decided to make my first stop at the end of the long bar just outside of the Sanibel Bridge. The pompano had started to show up there a couple of weeks ago along with lots of mackerel and bluefish. Not today… The sharks were in, big time! In less than an hour I’d caught and released several big bonnet heads, a couple of black tips and one 5 foot bull shark. The smaller game fish were nowhere to be seen and having had my fill of “shark fun”, I headed for one of my favorite areas; Matlacha Pass. </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">I love the waters of Matlacha. It’s one of few places that you can fish and see only one or two other boats the entire day. Local knowledge of the water is required to navigate around the many oyster and sand bars and that keeps most unadventurous anglers at bay.</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">The rain was steady now as I pulled up on a spot near a small creek opening. The water was coming in slowly around one of the mangrove points so I cast a free-<wbr>lined shrimp on a circle hook just upstream and let it slowly move along the mangrove line with the current. Pop!!! It was the unmistakable sound of a snook hitting bait near the surface! I reeled the tension out of the line and the fish was on. After a brief struggle I was able to pull the 25 inch snook out of the mangroves, land it, measure and release it. Things were looking good!</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">Over the next couple of hours I caught three snook, four nice redfish, a bunch of sheepshead and several mangrove snapper. I released everything except a couple of sheepies for dinner and then decided it was time to head for home. The inbound tide had started to slow as it reached its peak and with that, the fishing had slowed as well. </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">The ride back was wet but uneventful. I passed small oyster islands along the way covered in white pelicans, royal terns and gulls. I saw an eagle on a channel marker and lots of dolphin feeding on ladyfish and mullet near the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River. I only passed one other boat along the way; a crabber pulling his traps. </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3"> </span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">After arriving at the dock I cleaned the fish and peeled off the wet rain gear.</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; font-family: times new roman;" class="Normal-P"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Normal-C3">There were breaks in the cloud cover and the rain had finally stopped. What a great day it had turned out to be; lousy weather with lots of fish! I made a mental note to do this again as soon as possible.</span></span></h2><span style="font-family: times new roman;font-size:85%;" >Capt. Rob Modys<br />SoulMate Charters</span>Capt. Rob Modyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305858800727376170noreply@blogger.com0