Back from South Seas Island Resort...

With fall blasting away into SOFLA I made my way to South Seas Island Resort(http:www.southseas.com) at the northern tip of Captiva Island. I left northeast winds of 25- 35 m.p.h. on the Gold Coast: it was clear fall approached with its big high tides flooding A1A at Hollywood Beach. Schools of migrating finger mullet have been pushed south by the onshore winds and the clearly shortening days. The weather on the west coast was better- no clouds but 25 mph NE winds. Skies were cleared the day following the front, but the shallow Gulf gave better lee conditions than Pine Island Sound.

There were huge quantities of minnows, whitebait, and mullet in the shallow Gulf. The area about a half-mile off the beach was full of predator species pursuing this bait.

OUR CATCH AND RELEASE:

The vast bulk of mackeral (to 5 lbs) , big ladyfish ( to 3 lbs), and sharks ( to 80 lbs) were caught and released casting to busting-up whitebait schools in the Gulf with baitcasting tackle and bucktails. We could have caught them fish after fish. Due to time, Capt. Tom Walsh ran to a canal in the Sound where I took 2 snook in a row about 15 lbs. each.

At sunset on my own, I fly cast the beaches and got into non-stop ladyfish action hitting minnows, as well as an ocassional croaker or "sugar trout". None of my casts were longer that 30 feet as the fish were in the wash.

THE RESORT:

This destination offered fantastic fishing out of a resort that has emerged from Hurricane Charley (with massive rebuilding and improvements) to become the foremost and most diverse angling, eco-, and family oriented resort in the entire Sanibel-Captiva area. South Seas Island Resort's lodgings, cuisine, services, amenities, and dedicated fishing programs are 5-star: a perfect place for fishing families, and anglers with non-angling friends and family.

South Seas Island Resort provides anglers with great fishing on the fly or light tackle for loads of gamesters in a huge habitat in an exotic setting. The end of my day was heightened by a gourmet meal at South Seas Harbourside Bar and Grill:

The wines, daquiris, fruit punches were delicious and priced reasonably.


I dined on a "captiva salad" with various greens, cashews, and blackberries served in a 45-degree "display bowl"- it was delightful.

My entree was a chicken roulade stuffed with italian hams and accompanied with al dente garden vegetables and a sweet potato puree. I topped it off with a semi-fruity domestic merlot.

Though the desserts were sinful, I was too satisfied with the dinner to over-do such a good thing.

As for activities, there are pools, beaches, water sports, eco cruises,sailboats, shopping, holiday celebrations, kid's club, golf, tennis...the list seems endless!

I'll be writing much more about this adventure in Florida Sport Fishing Magazine in the near future.

CONTACT DATA:
South Seas Island Resort
5400 Plantation Road
Captiva Island
1-239-472-5111
cschwan@luxuryresorts.com
www.southseas.com

Captain Tom Walsh- cpttjw@aol.com




Jan
www.flatsfishingonline.com

Looking Forward to South Seas Island Resort...

Getting back to Captiva and visiting this exotic destination (www.southseas.com ) is a treat equally worth savoring and experiencing just like a fine wine. I'll be writing soon about "The Jewel of Captiva Island" and its' exciting inshore fishery.

Jan
www.flatsfishingonline.com

SOFLA Neat and Cozy, But Still Hot!

SOFLA receives the first formal day of fall.

The subtropical system thats eases towards the Big Easy knocked out a friday trip to Titusville with Captain Bryan Pahmeier, who reported that the Indian River and Mosquito Lagoon were slightly dirtied, cooled, and heightened by the same sytem yesterday- he reported few fish sighted on a pre-story scouting trip.

While the bulk of the weather was to the north of SOFLA. it's spinning circulation set forth southerly winds of a welcome brisk velocity. I took advantage of the breeze and focused on Dade county bridges with much better results than two weeks ago. I jumped four tarpon and released a beautiful specimen of about fifty pounds. One bridge had a big school of jacks striking whitebait in the orb-glow of a bridge light above. I caught fish after fish until I was satisfied in deep sweat.

The whole area is still in a deep summer mode with towering clouds and radiant sun. The northeast U.S.A. has had enough fronts to send Pennsylvania temps into the forties. I called Anglin's Pier today in Lauderdale by the Sea- they report only a few mullet coming through and just a couple of mackeral and pompano caught. I'll drink deep of the hot weather fishing until conditions point my snoot to another quadrant.

Jan

The Fall of Summer...

This morning I almost needed a jacket as I swept through the predawn hours in search of migratory action. I started plugging a school of whitebait and caught some jacks. As dawn's light developed and lit the waters, I saw a tarpon make a fast roll. I throttled back and anchored in the area. I know from experience that one roller can betray a hundred fish below. My recorder verified that the fish were on the bottom. Deep jigging produced no results. I then chummed the area thoroughly and then fished mullet on the bottom. In two hours, I jumped two fish and released four fish from thirty to seventy pounds. A bit later while the sun rose, the wind shifted from northwest to southeast and the action slowed- an excellent Indian Summer morning.

Earlier in the week, my friend Captain Jon Cooper fished the beaches off Haulover in twenty-foot deep water. Jon found a huge school of large ladyfish with predators hitting all around them. Jon tossed in some live mullet and hooked some large sharks that spooled his light tackle. He also released a big barracuda and kept a fifteen pound cubera snapper that he caught under the ladyfish.

The clouds are still towering and cicadas are making their whirring chirps in the heat, but little by little, is fall's migratory madness approaching?


Jan
http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/
http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/

Fall Previews Itself...

Some wise old coot once said, "events presage themselves" - an observation I heartliy agree with. Last night SOFLA began experiencing the fall high tides as well as those same waters coming under the effect of a new moon. As the water flooded part of the parking lot of Haulover Park Marina, nine manatees eased along halfway ashore on one ramp and began a splashy mating ritual. On the other side of the night as dawn approached, the winds picked up out of the northeast to around 20 m.p.h.

These conditions made me shift my angling strategies away from open water tarpon to the Biscayne Bay bridges. The results were scanty: one tarpon spotted in the downtide shadows and one snook strike on a soft plastic. No large finger mullet schools were in evidence, although I saw a few "fingers" darting here and there in their usual frantic defensive driving life. If these conditions continue, we should have a fall mullet run soon- or the whole thing could revert back to a sultry summer.

It's daylight now. The skies are clear and dotted with circular clouds. The winds are up and the trees are rocking back and forth. It's usual for me to be led around nose-first by my inspirations- a state that often feels good but creates lots of eventual free time as well. But, just for today, I'll call September 7th the first day of fall.

Jan

Felix Comes of Age....

No longer an embryonic formation, Felix becomes a muscle-flexing bellicose teen free of the structural restraints of landmass and high on the open hot waters of the Caribbean. Although a great Goth of a high pressure cell in the upper Gulf keeps it moving west-northwest, toughboy Felix pinwheels on a path that will keep Bay Island Hondurans (which includes my friends in Roatan) and Belizeans cringing.

Jan

http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/

http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/

Does "Lightning" Strike the Same Place Twice?...

As its' ironically embryonic shaped core passes over Grenada, young man Felix strengthens to a tropical storm and the three day forecast has it developing into a hurricane aimed straight for the Yucatan. FlatsFishingOnline will be closely monitoring the "progress" of this storm.

Jan

http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/

http://www.fishingfloridasflats.com/

New Report and Offers From Belize River Lodge...

Hi Friends,
This is a quick update on Hurricane Dean and thank goodness the lack of destruction to BRL.

REPORT: HURRICANE DEAN
August 25, 2007

Here at Belize River Lodge we were very fortunate that this big hurricane kept pretty much on course and made landfall in southern Mexico just north of Belize on August 22.
The two northern districts of Belize suffered serious damage to the papaya crop and other agriculture, some houses and other property. There were no injuries or loss of life caused by the storm. Almost everyone paid attention to the official warnings and took necessary precautions, just in case.

At the lodge we also were being cautious, boarded up and secured boats and equipment as best we could. It was a lot of hard work, but the whole staff worked very well and were able to go home to their families well before the storm was expected. The marina was full of boats that came there for safety. Winds here at the lodge were less than 55 mph causing no damage at all. The river remained at the normal levels and rain was actually less than a normal rainstorm. There has been no damage to our fishing areas.

So we are thankful that everything worked out well for us; it was a good practice run. The weather following the storm has been beautiful but there are only two persons enjoying it right now.


Just as a reminder, we have a good fishing deal that is hard to pass on - the '2 for 1" based on our single angler rates. The “2 for 1” is date specific and below are the dates for our Special.
September 16 thru 22, 2007 October 1 thru 6, 2007 October 21 thru 27, 2007 November 11 thru 17, 2007 November 25 thru December 3, 2007 December 9 thru 15, 2007

Below is the "2 for 1" rate for a few of our packages. Other packages of more or less days are available. 4 nights/3 days Lodge Fishing Package is $2,491.00 for 2 people 6 nights/5 days Lodge Fishing Package is $3,749.00 for 2 people 7 nights/6 days Lodge Fishing Package is $4,456.00 for 2 people

Offer valid only during specified weeks. Promotion is based on double occupancy – both guests sharing room and guide. Offer valid only on Lodge fishing packages and my not be combined with any other promotion.

BRL Fishing Package Includes: Round trip airport transfers in Belize - meeting & checkout services, accommodations, air conditioning in rooms, daily housekeeping, all meals - including a box lunch, soda & drinking water, guided fishing, skiff & fuel, Hotel Taxes & GST BRL Fishing Package Does Not Include: Airfare to & from Belize, fishing equipment & tackle, alcoholic beverages, tips to guides and staff, Belize Departure Tax (approximately US$37.50 per person – included in ticket or paid at Airport)

If you do not see a date that can work for your schedule, please let us know as dates book, we may be opening up other dates. We look forward to hearing from you soon and maybe seeing you in the near future.
Best regards,
Mike & Marguerite

Communication from Belize River Lodge re. Hurricane Dean...

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 22:01:06 -0600

Thank you for your thoughts and concerns about us here at BRL on the visit of Dean.

We were very fortunate that this big hurricane kept pretty much on course and made landfall in southern Mexico just north of Belize.

The two northern districts of Belize suffered serious damage to the papaya crop, some houses and other property. There were no injuries or loss of life caused by the storm. Almost everyone paid attention to the official warnings and took necessary precautions, just in case. Here at the lodge we also were being cautious and boarded up and secured boats and equipment as best we could. It was a lot of hard work but the whole staff worked very well and were able to go home to their families well before the storm was expected. The marina was full of boats that came there for safety.

Winds here at the lodge were less than 55 mph causing no damage at all. The river remained at the normal levels and rain was actually less than a normal rainstorm.

So we are thankful that everything worked out well for us; it was a good practice run.

Mike & Marguerite

><(((((((((*> Catch And Release ><(((((((((*>

http://www.belizeriverlodge.com/

The Bonefish of Oahu, Part 2.

The search for big bones of the world continues and the link below affirms the adage, "seeing is believing." To critique the shallow reef and sand flat bones of Hawaii as marginal fishing is to misunderstand that the catching of monster bones anywhere is "marginal." The specific irony is that it is increasingly clear that Oahu/ Hawaii as a stopover for the flight to Christmas Island has much better cast per effort fishing for bonefish trophies.

Take a peek below:

http://www.bonefishinghawaii.com/

http://www.nervouswaterhawaii.com/guideservicephotos.htm

Expanded Destination Coverage...

FlatsFishingOnline will be enlarging the scope of its' travel destination coverage. This expansion acknowledges and focuses on the growing popularity of resorts that not only offer anglers fishing charter services and programs but also offer expanded recreational venues for non-angling spouses, family, and friends. This helps keeps us in synch with reviewing the changing trends and permutations of not just angling travel, but travel that offers angling.

We'll continue to keep our focus on fishing charters and lodges in exotic places, both wild and populated- even wildly populated like Miami or Honolulu bonefishing. Yet this focus will now include resorts all over the world that offer fishing... and a great deal more. Such prospects include Gamboa Rainforest Resort in Panama (www.gamboaresort.com ), Fishermen's Villages
(www.fishville.com ) with Kingfisher Fleet (www.kingfisherfleet.com ) in Charlotte Harbor, Florida and Island Vista Resort (www.islandvistaresort.com ) with Captain Dick's Fishing (www.captaindicks.com ) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Jan

Dean's Caribbean Landfall...

Reports filtering back from Quintana Roo/ Mexico indicate that Dean's characteristics as a storm with category 5 winds had very pinpoint rather than severely widespread effects. The worst winds were clustered around a small eye in a relatively fast-moving hurricane. The major effects were felt in Majahual, a sleepy fishing town-cum-cruise ship destination: this area has been reported as almost demolished with severe damage to the cruise ship dock/berm. The initial speculation is that fishing lodges like Casa Blanca on Ascension Bay to the north and Costa de Cocos in Xcalak to the south were impacted with less catastrophic damage. The storm's power was widely felt, however. Mike Heusner of Belize River Lodge in central Belize reports that 55 m.p.h. winds were experienced, but that the lodge is up and running and ready for business.

Jan

www.flatsfishingonline.com

Dean Comes....

Based on the 5 o' clock advisory, it is clear the entire Yucatan peninsula including Belize will be struck. This involves an enormous amount of lodges- Blue Horizon, Tarpon Caye, Turneffe Flats, Belize River Lodge, Xcalak, Palometa, Playa Blanca, and Casa Blanca, to name a few. The list is huge and goes on and on, maybe as far north as Isla Holbox.

As the storm passes, FlatsFishingOnline will attempt communications to ascertain the post-storm status of this region, particularly all of the fishing lodges and the fine people who have worked so hard to bring flats magic into our lives. May they fare well !

It is 5 a.m. and the eyewall of Dean has made landfall close to Costa de Cocos north of Chetumal. This midpoint landing should feature very high inshore winds flooding Ascension and Bahia Espiritu Santu Bays and a massive north-northwest offshore wind flushing out Chetumal Bay. It appears the northern lodges of Belize around Ambergris will feel the wrath of this storm.

Jan

www.flatsfishingonline.com

Looking Forward to Fishermen's Villages and King Fisher Cruises and Charters...

As this long hot summer slowly turns to fall, our coastal fishery in Florida will feature brisk, exciting action with "cooled-down" invigorated shallow water species like snook, redfish, and seatrout. I've always wanted to fish Charlotte Harbor and it looks like the future has this in store.

Captain Ralph Allen of King Fisher Cruises and Charters (http://www.kingfisherfleet.com/ ) is a veteran guide of this marvelous habitat and will be my skiff captain. What's also exciting is to have planned lodgings as exellent as The Fishermen's Villages ( http://www.fishville.com/ ) perched right on Charlotte Harbor with so many great restaurants, boutiques, a huge marina, as well as many excellent water based services and charters, including most important to me, Captain Allen!

Jan

http://www.flatsfishingonline.com/

Indian Summer, Tarpon Summer...

Although we're still in the roast of the SOFLA. sunglow, there are some tiny hints of fall. Bait schools were abundant this morning- not only whitebait, but some "showering" finger mullet as well. Not surprisingly, the tarpon were in the vicinity. As the sun rose and winds picked up, all the ruckus disappeared, but not before I jumped a 40-pounder and broke off a huge fish that I tried to pressure off a steep channel edge as the silver king attempted the old see-saw cutoff routine. In a few words, a short trip...but a good one.


Jan

NEWSFLASH: Attack of the Beavers....

In yet another example of the endless dangers of swimming in rivers or better yet, filler-pabulum content as the world trudges through a long, hot summer, FlatsFishingOnline feels compelled to pass along this "news" event.

The regional Swedish newspaper Nerikes Allehanda reports that a grandmother taking a leisurely swim in a Swedish river was sent to the hospital after a beaver attacked her with its tail. The local authorities made the decision to kill the perhaps dozen or so beavers living along that shoreline to "eliminate any further risk to local bathers."

In another shocking event, a wading angler pursuing a large tailing bonefish reports being followed by a 6-ounce puffer. " All it took was one look in its eyes to see it was up to no good", was how the terrfied fisherman put it. The angler left the water immediately and called us. He has chosen to remain nameless to counter the inevitable onslaught of concerned inquiries, but felt it was necessary to report the incident for the public good.

Jan

The Resumption of Tarpon Summer....

Despite some auspicious signs and conditions in June, the tarpon season in Biscayne Bay had not materialized the way I'd hoped. That is, until now. I had a glass-calm morning this week that begged me to go scouting for tarpon- and, I did. In the half-light of early dawn, I found some medium and large tarpon rolling. I quickly jumped off a 40-pound fish. Within 10 minutes, I had another strike and up came a fish of 60 pounds greyhounding across the surface. I fought this fish quite hard and had him alongside my skiff for release within 10 minutes.

All of a sudden and like the proverbial light switch, the winds started breezing out of the southeast. Within 5 minutes the wind came up to a constant 15 m.p.h....and the tarpon stopped rolling, and, yup, stopped feeding, too. I've never been comfortable with winds and flats and/or bay fishing for tarpon during the day. I love the wind at night for them, especially under bridge shadows featuring a nocturnal push of topside crabs and shrimp. But, in the daylight hours, give me bathtub conditions.

I ran to another grassflats edge and managed to release a large ladyfish and small barracuda, but it was time to pack it in.

Jan

Native Bimini Images by Captain Jon Cooper...

First of all, another hearty thanks to freelance photographer Captain Jon Cooper ( 1-954-592-9638 ) for all the magnificent visual imagery of the magical and historically-resplendent island of Bimini as well as its newest flagship resort and destination, Bimini Bay Resort and Marina.

The first image is the omnipresent grillfish stand that offers the freshly-prepared delights of conch salad, fried fish, grilled lobster, conch fritters and ice-cold Kalik beer. These dishes seem to taste best when consumed at these roadside eateries, particularly after a solid day of fishing around Bimini.

The next three images are street and restaurant scenes of old Bailey and Alice Towns. I love these places- if you go there, I think you will, too!

The next image is of Ashley Saunder's famous Dolphin House, which is an artistic work-in-progress. He is a fascinating man who further builds on the dignity and standing of his family's famous name with his creativity in the arts and history- I feel he is the island's Picasso.

The next three images are of bonefish legend and icon Ansil Saunders, who guided Jerry Lavenstein to his 16 plus-pound bonefish world record. One is of Ansil's posing with an inscription by the wife of Martin Luther King, Coretta. The next two are of his hand-built wooden bonefish skiff, Jewel.

The final image is of Bimini bonefish guide, Eagle Eyes, posing alongside one of Ansil's bonefish skiffs currently under construction.

Jan

Bimini Bay Resort and Marina Images by Captain Jon Cooper

One of the highlights of this trip was the day we fished the mouth of Bimini inlet. The boat traffic had no effect whatsoever on the fishy action. The incoming tide was perfect for my 1/2 ounce Spro prime bucktail jig, which I favor in white. At times, I tippped the jig with shrimp- other times, I fished it "pure." Here's what we caught on these great lures:

*Horseye jacks to 8 pounds.

*Bar jack to 4 pounds.

*Mangrove snappers to 3 pounds.

*Margates to 3 pounds.

*Schoolmaster snapper to 2 pounds.

*Silk snapper to 3 pounds.

*Triggerfish to 3 pounds.

We had some huge mutton snapper grab our Spros at the surface, then blast for the bottom in seconds -some of these fish topped 15 pounds. We also lost countless large barracuda, since I refused to go to wire and reduce the numerous strikes.

Photo Credit: Captain Jon Cooper 1-954-592-9638

Website: http://www.biminibay.com/

A Grand Time at Bimini Bay Resort and Marina...

As the SOFLA sun celebrates the time of its' highest radiance, there was no better time to celebrate fishing at what is sure to be the Bahama's largest ownership/rental/hotel resort destination: Bimini Bay Resort and Marina (http://www.biminibay.com/). The setting could not be more ideal where such a "small" Bahamian island could have such a huge impact on angling history: Van Campen Heilner, Hemingway, Lerner, Farrington- the list goes on and on. It became clear to me that more angling history will occur as this island enjoys such exciting reinvigoration as Bimini Bay's expansive marinas beckon the shining sportfishing boats back with snug harbors and amenities just minutes from the Gulf Stream's eastern edge.

My mind seized on the merry-go-round of images that awaited me. The gin-clear waters, historic hotels, reefs, the Bimini Roads, bonefish, jacks, grouper and snapper went up and down like wooden horses in the carnival of pre-trip excitements.

The day arrived in a stretch of sunny, calm, cloudless weather that bore that Gulfstream plane gently across cobalt seas and eased us onto the landing strip in South Bimini. A quick ferry to north Bimini and I was whisked away by the Grand Damme of the island, Antoinette Rolle. I quickly recognized her pedigreed Bahamian name that shared the lofty perchs in the sun with the Saunders, Pinders, Sawyers, and so many other families of deep island roots.

The rooms and decor at the resort were beautifully tropical and Floribbean and kept me in the mood in the land of beaches, swaying palms, pine forests, and sunken tresure from who-knows-where. I was picked up for dinner and dined on a lobster bisque, spinach salad, and grilled yellowfin tuna over a vegetable puree. The meal was served with a Red Diamond cabernet. The resort's restaurant is called Casa Lyon- I preferred to call it Casa Prima!

After walking back to my room under a star-filled salt-scented night, I glanced at the itinerary that Allison Robbins of Bimini Bay had in store for me. It included two days of flats fishing with one of Bimini's finest- Captain Tommy Sewell and a third offshore day with gentleman Captain Jerome of the Miss Bonita charter vessel.

It would turn out that all these fishing trips would be great experiences as would our explorations, but that belongs to another installment of the fun at Bimini Bay Resort....

Jan