By: Capt Kevin Bellington

Sea Gone Fishing Charters

Marco Island, FL

February Fishing report

Fishing in the Ten Thousand Islands can be as challenging as it is rewarding, and February has been proving that.

High winds and a few days of cold weather can disrupt the patterns of several of our targeted species as it did the first couple of weeks. Redfish were one of the most affected by turbid water and falling water temperatures, moving out of the usual haunts and proving very elusive.

Speckled sea trout too, were quick to abandon the shallow flats for more shelter and food, making them harder to locate.

Other species are less affected by the rapid changes and can almost always be found in and around the passes and channel cuts.  Sheep head are a perfect example and have been an easy catch on long shank hooks with live shrimp threaded on.

As the weather has been improving, so has the fishing.

Pompano are becoming a regular catch as the water begins to settle and the temperatures begin to inch upward.  Using a jig head with cut shrimp has been the ticket to good numbers of pompano around the passes.

Redfish have returned to familiar spots and seem hungry as ever.  Live shiners, pinfish or shrimp fished near the mangroves are keeping them interested.

Sharks are showing up off the beach and are always fun on light tackle.  They may grab the bait straight up or look out!  And reel fast ‘cause they may be after your prized catch!

December Fishing Report

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December has been a mixed bag as far as weather is concerned.  The winds have been pretty stiff making for less than ideal water conditions.  Couple that with the extreme low tides and finding quality fish has been a challenge.

Fortunately in the midst of the less than ideal conditions, Mother Nature has been kind by bringing in a few of the cooler water species.  Silver Trout have been on fire in the back bays and deep cuts around the 10,000 Islands.

Sheep head are back along with an abundance of Whiting, Spotted Sea Trout and Silver Trout.

Another visitor has shown up on the buoy lines close to shore and that is the fantastic Tripletail!  Trash bag sized Triptail have been caught on freelined shrimp in less than 15 feet of water from Gordon's Pass to the entrance to Whitehorse Key.

Redfish are still in abundance near the oyster bars and around the outer islands.  Slot sized Redfish are common, with a few going over 30".

November 1-10, 2011

Ok.  I admit it.  I got lazy and took a few days off in the last few weeks and it just threw my whole schedule off.

I haven't posted a fishing report and I apologize.

Well fall has fallen and so have the water temperatures here in Marco and the 10,000 islands.  The water temps are fluctuating between 70 and 77 degrees depending on the tide and depth.  With the drop in temps we are also reminded to slow our presentation down to account  for the slower metabolism of our target species.

With crisp breeze mornings comes the fall fishing season (my favorite by the way), and the return of a few of our favorite species such as silver trout and sheep head.  Spanish mackerel are plentiful off the barrier islands and in the entrances to the backwater.  Redfish are as thick as flies on the points and in cuts around the oyster bars.  With trout season closed, it is great to have other species to target.

Most of our trips have resulted in multiple species usually between 10 and 15 different fish.

Live shrimp is the bait de jour because they are working on about every species we have targeted in the last ten days.  Redfish will also chow down on cut ladyfish presented in the sandy holes around grass flats, as well as a few nice snook!

"Take a Soldier Fishing" tournament this past Saturday hosted at the Calusa Island Marina.

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Sea Gone Fishing was privileged to be a part of the "Take a Soldier Fishing" tournament this past Saturday hosted at the Calusa Island Marina.  This second annual tournament was for active and veteran military and their families to enjoy our fantastic fishing in the waters of Marco Island/Goodland, Florida.  Fishing the 10,000 islands area allowed all aboard to catch a huge variety of species and sizes that are available in our fish abundant waters.

Captain Kevin Bellington was honored to be at the helm of the Sea Gone 1 with Master Sergeant Dana Juarez and her two sons, Armando and Antonio.   Although these "jarheads" (per MSgt Dana) had little fishing experience, all three managed quite well and soon became very competent fishermen.  On the list of species caught were two very respectable redfish and black drum as well as flounder, snapper, small sharks and many more.  MSgt Dana and her sons were quite amazed at the action.  They mentioned that they caught at least sixteen different types of fish.

Captain Randy Vest was at the helm of the Sea Gone 2 and was thrilled with the opportunity to take Master Sergeant Alonzo Cherry, his wife Monica and their six year old son Alijah out for a day on the water.  MSgt Alonzo was already a proficient fisherman and got to show his six year old a thing or two.  From then on,  Alijah proceeded to "tear ‘em up".

We were excited to be a part of the "Take a Soldier Fishing" tournament and are looking forward to being able to take our dedicated servicemen and women out again next year.  We are forever in their debt.

Wind and rain have kept most of the Sea Gone customers in the protected backwaters of the 10,000 Islands in the past 2 weeks, where they were treated to a good mix of inshore species.

Tipping jigs with shrimp produces good quantities of Flounder and Pompano to 17 inches in the sandy bottoms around Marco Island.

Live Shrimp rigged on the bottom were the ticket for quality Redfish and Black Drum and some Sheep head in the cuts and ledges of the bays. 

Bait is plentiful in the Gulf and Ladyfish have been in and around bait pods, providing lots of action for our customers.

The Catch of the week was an 8+ ft Tiger Shark caught on a whole mullet by a young lady from Northern England while on a near shore trip with her family.

　May 15th, 2011

Fishing Report

April

April was not going out like a lamb it was going out blowing . But for the customers that were ready to fish ,the rewards were worth the effort.

The month started off with a few Pompano showing up on the outer edges of the sandbars and the mouths of the passes. Throwing pink buck tail jugs tipped with shrimp  were the ticket for these feisty fighters.

Large trout are still around ,but the wind has had the water churned into a brown soup and targeting these beautiful fish has proved to be difficult at times. Lighter tackle and proper boat placement has been key to success with trout as they hold up on the grass flats in shallow water.

As the Month progressed so did the opportunities for large fish such as Snook to 45 inches as well as many over slot Redfish to 30 plus inches.  Sharks were plentiful near shore and we caught several in the 6-8 foot range on cut bait trailed far from the boat over structure and ledges.

I am humbled by the beauty and strength of these magnificent creatures and grateful for the chance to test my mettle against such a worthy adversary.

May will be even better when we finally settle into our summer weather patterns and the water clarity continues to improve.

12/10/10-12/24/10

Even with the extreme low tides and the chilly temperatures the Sea Gone team managed to find fish.

With two cold fronts rolling into the area and the water temps hovering just above fish kill levels at times, there are still fish to be had in the Marco/10k Islands area for the anglers brave enough to endure a chilly boat ride a little farther south.

Friday the 10^th started with a drizzle and ended in a downpour that muddied the backwaters and effectively turned off the bite for a few days. Managing only sheep head and a return of the dreaded catfish for a couple of days, we were concerned that Christmas week would be a bust.

But by mid week the sun had done it’s magic and the water temps began to rise back to acceptable levels. The bite was back with plenty of action on live shrimp fished on the bottom on a rising tide. We started seeing an increase in redfish and trout in the bays and deeper inlets. Also catching some sugar trout and whiting in the flats and cuts in the bays. And thankfully not a catfish to be seen.

December 18^th brought another cold front with basically the same result, but the front was short lived, the bite was back very quickly, and Christmas week turned out to be very successful for our out of town guests.

Our offshore bite has been spotty within 9 miles but there are still a few Gag grouper in 30+ feet of water. And although sharks have been everywhere offshore for the last six months, it seems they may have taken a short vacation themselves.