Charter suggestions for Fort Myers Fl?

[captain cotton]

Hey Folks, I am looking to set up a trip to Fort Myers Florida next year. I am hoping there are some experienced fisherman on the forum here who have travelled there and could give me some advice on charters, best time to go and possibly some ideas on shore fishing as well.

Thanks!

[browning3812]

Hey Cotton.

I am headed down to Ft. Myers (Cape Coral) next week and we have a couple trips booked with Reel Action Adventures charter (.http://reelactionadventures.com/)

My buddy has gone out with this company a bunch of times and says the guy is great.

I can let you know in a couple weeks

[Marker]

I go to Destin every winter (in the Florida Panhandle), so I can not comment on a specific boat at FT Meyers but I like the 'party boats' as they call it. These are the bigger boats that vertical fish over reefs, you will be elbow to elbow with others but I always come home with more fish than the trip cost (about $80/day). I did do a charter out of Key West for Tuna one time but you take the chance of not getting your money out of it, I ended up OK that day as no one else wanted the fish but other than that it would have been an expensive day. If you do choose a party boat I would recommend the longer trips as they usually get out to the drops and reefs where the bigger fish are.

For shore fishing, I do a lot of, I have learned (quite quickly) that the usual fresh water gear does not hold up. My best advice is to check what fish are running at the time of year you are going and use tackle/ bait for that species, no point targeting a fish that is not there. Some folks walk up and down and cast in the surf for pompano in summer, I bottom fish as the reds and blues are there in winter. For bottom fishing I use a sand spike, some 3-5 oz sinkers I use a surf rod with a 6000 series reel spooled with 60# braid and followed up with the leader of choice for the day (usualy 30# mono), Andes makes good mono for the salt water. I have much more luck with cut bait than anything artificial (plastics/lures/flys etc), use the bait that is in season. You can fish from a pier but I get more from sitting on shore and casting out, dawn and dusk are best times, and an on-shore breeze is best with some surf to stir up the action, if the water is flat I don't catch much.

Good luck, let us know how you do.

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[captain cotton]

Thanks Guys! I appreciate the help. The trip is in its conceptual stage right now but here's hoping things work out for early next year.