1. Capt Russ Walker

    Yesterday, My Charter was four guys down from Minnesota. We left the Bokeelia dock at 8 AM. I had 150 shrimp and we ran out before 10 o'clock.
    On the Eastern ...more Grass Flat Break, 5' of water NE of Channel Marker 54 over by Cabbage Key. Poppin Cork, 4' leader and a 1/4 oz egg slip sinker above your hook baited with....Shrimp, of Course
    The bite was fast and furious. Pompano, Lots of Spanish Mackerel and tons of Speckled Sea Trout and a nice shark. The guys have to fly out on Tuesday morning so looks like they'll have some memories to take with them back to the ice and snow. Or Ice fishing as they called it.
    Thanks Rich, Carter, Ben and Marty. Good Times.

  2. Capt Russ Walker

    5 Species. Yes, It's all that and a bag of potato chips. Now, Filet and Release.
    Captain Russ
    Cape Coral, Florida
    www.tidewalkercharters.com
    Every Trip is ...more an Adventure

    1. Capt Russ Walker 0
      50 miles west of Pine Island out of Captiva Pass on the ledge past the Mohawk.
  3. Capt Russ Walker

    Some of you may have seen this pic. It's one from a recent trip to Big Pine Key, in the Florida Keys. But what you may not know is that while it looks like a ...more huge catch, it's actually just a juvenile possibly only 15 to 20 years old.
    The biggest Tarpon I ever caught, by measurement of length and girth, feeding well, was 230 pounds off nearby Sanibel Island. Length 84" X 45" girth. We estimated it to be around 50 to 60 years old. Absolutely Amazing Creatures. I always treat them with kindness and release them unharmed. I have never lost one to a shark.
    Tide Walker Charters, "Every Trip is an Adventure" with Captain Russ Walker.
    www.tidewalkercharters.com
    It starts in April. 2020 mid April in 4 5 hour trips, we caught 62 sharks, 3 big hammerheads over 8' each. A 230 pound Tarpon, a 160, a 150 and a 130 pound Tarpon. Not bad. "Every Trip is an Adventure"

  4. Capt Russ Walker

    While the usual offshore may lay goes on offshore this time of year, we chose to take this time to cancel an entry on the Ole Bucket List.

    Peacock Bass is the ...more species that I'm talking about and they are fierce fierce fighters. Nearby canals east are absolutely full of them. Immature Tarpon too in the 10 to 15 pound range.

    Near the bridges and park docks, freelined silver, freshwater shiners are the ticket. Those big Peacock Bass can't resist a flailing Shiner. We caught at least 20 yesterday, all catch and release. One three pounder, one Five.

    If you are in the Peacock Bass Mode. We can help. Transportation, Tackle and bait are provided. A Florida freshwater license is required though.

    I Don't really feel like fishing today...said No Fisherman Ever!
    www.tidewalkercharters.com
    Captain Russ Walker
    Cape Coral, Fl.

  5. Capt Russ Walker

    There' No Blue Like the Deep Blue
    50 MILES out the Gulf water is clear and blue. No problems there. Well past the Mohawk, on several of the down the coast fault ...more scarps we had great luck Sunday.
    Christmas Tree Ridge was excellent too. Lane snappers, Big Mangrove snappers, Lesser Amberjacks and lots of over 20" Fire Trucks (Red Grouper). Like pulling up a Volkswagen from 115' of water, many were vented and released. While we kept the snappers, we only kept 3 Grouper to prevent over fishing the Reds.
    The bait of the day for the snapper was cut squid while the Grouper were aggressively taking large pieces of cut Scads and 6" whole Squirrel Fish.
    Tom, Kevin and I enjoyed the day, getting it in the day before the front came thru after the weekend.
    The bite was constant. Lots of sore shoulders showed up Monday morning but...who's complaining.
    Folks: there is No Blue like the Deep Blue.
    www.tidewalkercharters.com
    Every Trip is an Adventure
    Captain Russ Walker

  6. Capt Russ Walker

    We had a big day on the water yesterday. My client Karl H. and I caught and released close to 40 nice Mangrove snappers behind Cabbage Key on the Grass flat edge. ...more

    Then moving on to the break at the Broken Islands, we caught and released around at least twenty 14" to 15” Speckled Sea Trout plus 15 big ones and one nice-sized 22” Breeder. Carefully, released I might add. YES !!!, the trout are back.

    Now on Around to the NE corner of Pine Island where we noticed a fish school breaking at the surface. I thought they were Blue fish as we spun around and began to cast our silver spoons into the flurry. Looking down I saw an 8-foot Bull shark cruise right under the boat, SPOOKY to say the least. Then, More Monster Ladyfish hits.

    Karl made a great cast where a large ladyfish immediately hit the lure. A short fight ensued then, just like on National Geographic, when the Great White shark breaches skyward, tossing it upward killing the seal, a beautiful 6-foot Bull shark launched upward hitting Karl’s catch knocking it skyward. Low and behold the big single hook spoon stuck in the shark’s mouth and the fight was on.

    For Twenty-five minutes and 20 spins of the boat he fought the shark. Twice it was within 10’ of the boat and we saw it. Beautiful. On a last-ditch effort, the shark made big a run opposite the boat’s direction. The 40-pound braid held but the mono leader snapped. No spoon either. The remaining leader was terribly chaffed. Oh Well, such is life in a SHARK FIGHT!!!

    Well, it was quite a day and lots of fun. The waters continue healing and tons of fish are coming back into the intercoastal. A few Atlantic Nettle Jellies are here so be careful of those tentacles.

    You can still find large concentrations of bait on the shallow grass flats too. Sea Birds and Dolphins abound.

    So, till the next report. Let’s get out on the water and do some fishing.

    Tide Walker Charters.com
    Lots of family fun where…
    Every Trip is an Adventure.
    Captain Russ Walker
    239 994 7818

  7. Capt Russ Walker

    Mangrove Mania
    The Mangrove Snappers have moved into Captiva Pass, along the grass flat edges near Ussepa and behind Cabbage Key. They bite just about as fast as ...more the bait hits the water. Some very nice size too.

    Clients Fran and Larry caught and released 52 Mangos, as we call'em, yesterday on live shrimp under a Popping cork with a 4' leader in 4.5 to 5' of water.

    Lots of absolutely HUGE Spec Trout too so looks like the FWC moratorium is working.

    Day before yesterday, on the Captiva Pass sand bars in 6' to 7' of water, Pompano were leaping up out of the water in excitement as they do. Two hit the side of the boat. I had only white bait.
    We targeted them yesterday with live shrimp but we didn't get any bites.
    Such is Fishing. Love those Pompanos.
    So we will keep trying.
    Good luck to all you anglers out there. The waters are alive just about where ever you go.
    I don't really feel like fishing today...Said No Fisherman Ever.
    Tide Walker Charters
    Every Trip is an Adventure
    Captain Russ Walker

    1. Debbie Ferguson 0
      Nice Capt! 👍🏻
    2. Capt Russ Walker 0
      HUGE as Billy says.
    3. View full conversation
  8. Capt Russ Walker

    From my Tackle Box by Captain Russ Walker
    Where do I fish Today?.
    It's August and Lots of folks down here have boats with the time to get out on the water ...more but have no idea where to go to find fish. Fish here are mostly migrational so I don’t mind sharing a few spots. If you are new to this area and would like to catch some fish, try the channel break north of Intercoastal Marker #54 on the eastern side.
    The water depth there changes from 9 or 10 feet up to 5.5 feet on the east edge of the grass flat channel ledge. That’s where they are lurking. Use a good popping cork, a 4’ leader with a 1/4 oz. to 3/8ths oz Chartreuse jig head tied to the bottom. Uni knots work well. You need a weight and hook, so the jig head serves the purpose while adding some color to the presentation. Bait with Live shrimp or whitebait. They are the ticket. Just inside the break the water contrasts colors as the tide line is visible. Darker is usually the grass bottoms and the lighter is normally sand of clear Throw to the color changes and pop the cork a couple of times. This should produce the desired result. Sand Trout on the sand bar breaks. Pie Plate sized Pompano or Mackerel are usually a bi-catch also. Speckled Sea Trout there are many but still fairly small as a summer catch. This year’s crop is growing nicely. The ladyfish have been prolific just about everywhere, some are absolutely huge and a hand full at that. Baby Tarpon I sometimes call them. After a trip NE of Marker #54 some folks have been complaining of their wrists hurting after extended fish battles. Poor Babies.
    AND the sharks. The Atlantic Sharp Nose and Black Tip sharks are averaging around 3.5 feet per catch, usually three per day on cut ladyfish under a bobber or balloon on a 3’ steel leader, 6/0 Gamakatsu Circle hook. I use them because they hold well in the fight but release easily preventing damage and further stress to these magnificent creatures.
    Last trip, one Hit on my rod smoked the reel, striped 250 yards of 40-pound Power Pro braid and kept on going. It looked like a souped up Spinner shark headed for Miami to me. But we got him turned around, photographed and released.
    I hope some of this information gets you pointed in the right direction today and best of luck to you.
    I don’t think I feel like fishing today. Said no fisherman ever.
    Tide Walker Charters where EVERY TRIP IS AN ADVENTURE
    239 994 7818
    One time I caught one THIS BIG

  9. Capt Russ Walker

    Chop up a fresh ladyfish and broadcast it at the mangroves. Chopped ladyfish is like Redfish Crack, they love it. Then bait up and cast in behind it. Did I mention ...more hang on. Yes, you better hang on tightly to your rod. That Big Red hit like a Dump Truck and didn't want to come in either. We released it unharmed and watched it swim away to fight again.

    Most any good mangrove stand will harbor Reds. They usually stay just in the shadows waiting to attack passing bait or many times they actively forage along the bottom using their keen sense of smell.

    I like a popping cork with a short leader to suspend the bait just off the bottom. Keeps the bait out of the moss or from burying in the grass.

    Fish of the day. Well done Travis. 14-pound Bull Red. Many other huge Speckled Trout. Out with Captain Russ Walker, Tide Walker Charters. Every Trip is an Adventure. Bokeelia on Pine Island, Fl.

  10. Capt Russ Walker

    Folks, lots of big Snapper and Grouper action offshore. Hire your favorite guide and make the run. Weather is right, water's right and the fish will fight.

    Yesterday ...more we caught Lots of really big Mangrove Snappers and Lanes. Great day.
    Not 50 feet from the boat we saw a 10 foot Tiger shark on the surface 50 miles out. Later a pod of Spotted Dolphins leaping. It was a National Geographic moment for sure.

About

39 of Saltwater fishing. Masters Captain. Lives in Cape Coral, Fl. Tide Walker Charters. Pineland Marina. Bokeelia Florida. aka Artist known ...more as Muddoggie.

Fishing Favorites

  • Species Tarpon, sharks, Pompano, Trout, Snook, Redfish, Cobia
  • Waterway Inter-coastal
  • Lure Live bait

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