Capt. Pete Rapps

Pete@CaptainRapps.com

Tim, Tom and Jim with redfish and a sheepshead. PHOTOS BY CAPT. RAPPS/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

As January passes, we shall see some small changes in fishing. We were lucky not to be hit with many cold fronts in January. Hopefully the mild winter temperatures continue and the coldest temperatures of the winter will now be behind us. Water temperatures will continue to hover in the low 60’s. Morning air temperatures should average in the low 50’s, and warm up into the mid 70’s by the afternoon.

Keep an eye on your tide charts because we have some extremely low tides around the next full and new moons. More specifically, be mindful of the morning low tides February 5th – 9th, and the 17th – 22nd! Wind direction affects the tides dramatically. A north or east wind will make the tide lower and longer than expected as it blows the water out and delays it’s return.

Tim, Tom and Jim with redfish and a sheepshead. PHOTOS BY CAPT. RAPPS/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

In the 10,000 islands near shore areas, I like to hit the outside flats on the incoming flood tide. We drift areas that are 3’-5’ deep and vary from grass to sand. This way we can expect a combination of both trout on the grass, and pompano on the sand. I like to use a 3/8 oz. bucktail type jig, with a good amount of glitter on it. A perfect example of a universal jig that will catch both trout and pompano is a Don’s Potbelly Jig. You can use your light casting gear with 10 lb. test line and 2 feet of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader. In addition to the trout and pompano, you can expect to pick up Spanish mackerel, jacks and ladyfish.

The backwater bays and rivers hold redfish, snook, mangrove snapper, ladyfish, and other fun-to-catch species. When fishing for snook, it’s hard to beat live baits like pilchards and thread herring. We have had great results using popping corks with Berkley Gulp Shrimp on a jig head. Snapper will gladly accept pieces of shrimp, and the ladyfish love jerkbaits and bucktail jigs.

John Czencz with a nice Trout.

On the outgoing tide, I like to head into the river mouths and the backwaters and fish for sheepshead and snapper. They both love shrimp and will gladly accept a piece rather than a whole live shrimp. The reason why I like shrimp pieces in February is two-fold. First off, the winter shrimp tend to be large. By cutting them in half, you can stretch your supply to last a lot longer. Secondly, the sheepshead and snapper have small mouths and will usually just rob a whole shrimp right off your hook.

I have a Species Availability Chart relative to the backwater and nearshore areas that I fish in the Everglades National Park. You can see it at www.CaptainRapps.com

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades National Park. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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Capt. Pete Rapps

Pete@CaptainRapps.com

The common snook (Centropomus undecimalis) are the most widely distributed species within the Centropomus genus, and have been reported as far north as New York (USA) and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Common snook are abundant along the Atlantic coast of Florida from Cape Canaveral south through the Keys and Dry Tortugas, and north to Cedar Key on the gulf coast. Common snook occur infrequently along the coast of Texas to Galveston and then more or less continuously south to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Kurt Kintz with a Snook. PHOTOS BY CAPT. RAPPS/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

Here in the 10,000 Islands, Snook are greatly sought after by near coastal and back country sport fishermen. The attraction comes from their difficulty to locate and catch, and for their lightning fast strong runs and amazing jumps after hooking up with them.

Juvenile common Snook are generally restricted to the protection of rivers and estuary environments. These environments offer shallow water and overhanging mangrove lined shorelines. Juvenile common snook can survive in waters with lower oxygen levels than adults. Adult common Snook inhabit many environments including mangrove lined rivers, beaches, river mouths, near shore reefs, salt marshes, and sea grass meadows. Adult common snook appear to be less sensitive to cold water temperatures than larvae or small juveniles. The lower lethal limit of water temperature is 48.2°-57.2° F for juveniles, and 42.8°-53.6° F for adults.

Van Sayler with a Snook.

Common snook have a slender body and a distinct lateral line. The dorsal fins are high and divided and the anal spines are relatively short. The common snook has a sloping forehead with a large mouth and a protruding lower jaw. Adult common snook can grow to over 47.24 inches total length, which is larger than any other species in this family. Common snook on the Atlantic coast of Florida commonly grow to larger sizes than common snook on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The largest observed sizes for females on the Atlantic and gulf coasts are 43.5 inches and 40.6 inches, respectively. The world record for a common snook caught on hook and line is a 53-pound 10-ounce in Parismina Ranch, Costa Rica.

It is thought that common snook can live to about twenty years of age.  On the Atlantic coast, the oldest sampled common snook was an eighteen-year-old female, and the oldest male was fifteen. Here on the Gulf Coast, the oldest common snook sampled was a fifteen year old female, and the oldest male was twelve.

Capt. Pete Rapps with a Snook.

An interesting fact about the Common Snook is that they are protandric hermaphrodites, meaning that they change from male to female after maturation. This transition is identified by the presence of both male and female sex cells in the gonads and takes place when they grow to between 9.4-24 inches in fork length, which corresponds to 1-7 years of age. The majority of small common snook are male and most large snook are female. Males reach sexual maturity during their first year at 5.9-7.9 inches fork length. Research shows that female gonads mature directly from the mature male gonads shortly after spawning. The probability that a common snook of a particular size will be a female increases with length or age.

Scott Newsome with Snook.

Rick Roberts of the Snook Foundation (www.SnookFoundation.org) states that the incredible rise in the number of fishing trips in FL (estimated 30,000,000 this year alone) ensures the accuracy needed in data has become extremely important. Without Fishermen, the rules and regulations are set by scientists and technicians who are not out there fishing every day. Rich says that we are left with little recourse other than to complain about the unfairness of this process. Rick recommends that all readers will be helping the cause and themselves by logging their catch at www.angleraction.org I have used this web site to record data that will be beneficial to the future of our Snook populations.

Snook took a hard hit in January of 2010 when we had 10 consecutive nights of freezing temperatures. Many of our local shallow bays were exterminated of Snook as the water temperatures fell into the 40’s. Since then, Snook have been illegal to take, and the FWC continues to monitor their recovery.

Here is a history of Snook regulations in our local areas:

• 1947 – Snook haul seines made illegal in Lee County.
• 1947 – Snook haul seines made illegal in Lee County.
• 1951 – Snook haul seines made illegal in Collier County.
• 1953 – Minimum size set at 18 inches fork length.
• 1957 – Snook made illegal to buy or sell. Capture by hook and line only. Bag limit set at four snook per day, eight snook possession limit.
• 1981 – Bag limit reduced to two snook per day, two snook possession limit. No snook less than 26 inches fork length may be taken in June or July during 1982-1986.
• 1982 – June & July of 1982 closed to snook possession.
• 1983 – January and February 1983-1986, closed to snook possession. June and July 1983-1986 closed to snook possession.
• 1985 – January, February, June and July closed permanently to snook possession. August 1985-1986 closed to snook possession. Minimum size increased to 24 inches total length. Only one snook may be greater than 34 inches total length.
• 1987 – All species in the genus Centropomus covered by the regulations. August is closed permanently to snook possession. – All snook to be landed whole. Use of treble hooks prohibited with natural baits.
• 1994 – Closed winter season changed to December 15th through January 31st.
• 1999 – Slot limit is set at 26 inches minimum / 34 inches maximum total length.
• 2002 – Possession limit reduced to one snook and May closed to snook possession on West Coast of Florida only. East Coast of Florida not changed.
• 2006 – Minimum size increased to 27 inches total length. 34 inches maximum total length not changed. Total length defined as the straight line distance from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed, to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed, while the fish is lying on its side.
• 2007 – Slot and bag limit, and open seasons, reduced per above.
• 2011 – Next stock assessment!
• Current Rules: Slot Limit (Atlantic): 28″ to 32″   Bag Limit: 1 per person – Stamp Required. Snook are currently closed in all Gulf waters – the Snook fishery is closed until at least September 1, 2012. Be sure to follow current regulations at www.myFWC.com

Local anglers reported some of the best Snook fishing the area has seen since the freeze and Snook Kill of January 2010. We look forward to their recovery as time goes by. Stop in you local bait and tackle shops to get the scoop on what and where the Snook are hitting, or hire a local guide to put you on some.

Thank you to Rick Roberts at the Snook Foundation, and to the Ichthyology Department at the Florida Museum of Natural History for supplying information in this article.

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades National Park. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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January is typically our coldest month of the year. The days when the fronts are absent, the sun is shining, and the thermometer gets up into the mid 70’s, can make for some awesome fishing!

Trout season opens January 1st.

January is another month when you should keep an eye on your tide chart before planning your day on the water. We have some extremely low tides around both the Full and New moons. If you get caught in a -.5 low tide that you did not anticipate, it could ruin your day! Be extra careful with the morning low tides January 7th – 11th, and the 20th -24th.

Speckled Sea Trout season re-opens January 1st and will now remain open year round without closure. Local rules for our area allow 4 per person, between 15” and 20”, and allows you to keep just one over the 20” mark. These rules do vary so be sure to confirm them with current regulations by the FWC at www.myfwc.com

The shallow flats are alive with Trout, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Jacks, Spanish Macks, and some Pompano. Among my favorites are DOA jerkbaits and shrimp, both in rootbeer and white color. You can also use 3/8 oz bucktail type jigs tipped with a very small piece of shrimp.

Nice to meet you Ms. Redfish!

The oyster bars hold Sheepshead & Redfish. If presenting natural bait, they both like to eat crustaceans like shrimp, sand fleas, and fiddler crabs. Fish for these guys on the oyster bars on the incoming tide.

Snook are being caught in the backwaters, but please remember that they are catch and release only, and still in a recovery state since the 10 day freeze of 2010. Take a quick photo and quickly set them free. We have been catching Snook over oyster bars and up against the deep pockets of the mangroves on good moving tides, They have been hitting a variety of bait including jigs, soft plastics, and live bait.

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10000 Islands of the Everglades National Park. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps. com and you can reach him at 239-571- 1756. 

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Pete@CaptainRapps.com

Ed with a nice Redfish caught on a Captain Rapps Charter. - PHOTOS BY CAPT. RAPPS/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

Another species of fish that we catch all year round here in the 10,000 islands is the Redfish. Its true name is Red Drum, however, most in our area refer to the fish as Redfish or just “Reds”. Its Latin name is Sciaenops Ocellatus, and it is closely related to the Black Drum or the Pogonias Cromis.

Redfish are classified as Drums because they make a deep drumming noise. Several times I have come upon large schools of Redfish that you could actually hear making a deep bass drumming noise in the water around the boat. It kind of sounds like that high school kid’s car stereo beating bass and drums at the traffic light next to you. In fact, the first time I heard it, I was looking around wondering who was out on the water blasting his stereo. Then I looked down into the water and it was solid copper in color from a school of literally hundreds of Redfish in the 20 lb. range. It was amazing!

Since 2007, Redfish have been classified as a “Game Fish” which means they cannot be commercially caught in Federal waters. They are however a fantastic eating fish and are targeted by local recreational fishermen as dinner. The younger Redfish in the slot size of 18”-27” have a mild flaky flesh that is fantastic for eating. Once they get larger, the flesh becomes tough and considered undesirable for the table.

They can be found in both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Redfish do not mind cold water and can be caught in the near coastal waters everywhere from New England down around Florida and throughout the entire coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico.

Redfish can range from a deep copper color to a pure silver color. They just about all have at least one spot on either side of their tail which is believed to imitate an eye and confuse predators about which end to grab. Some fish have multiple spots. I have seen some with over a dozen. I have also caught several that did not have any spots at all. I do not know why some have more spots than others. Every time I ask one, they just give me a blank stare and never answer me. Rude, huh?

Greg and Joey with a nice Redfish.

It is thought that each female can lay anywhere from 200,000 to 3,000,000 eggs in just one batch! They spawn in the late summer into the fall. They are aggressive eaters and experience their most rapid rate of growth during their first year, which puts them right around 13” at the age of 12 months. A 25-27” Redfish is thought to be 4 years old, and of sexual maturity. They are thought to be able to live up to 60 years, and the largest redfish landed weighed just over 94 pounds and was caught off Hatteras Island in 1984.

Redfish can be caught in our area year round using various different methods. The most common is just fishing over oyster bars with a live shrimp on a hook. You can add to that by using a popping cork attached to 2’-3’ of 20-30 lb. leader. Many people use artificials including soft plastic shrimp, paddle tail baits, gold and silver metal spoons, live pilchards, thread herring, or cut bait like mullet or ladyfish. Whichever method you choose, hang on to that rod tight because a Redfish will aggressively inhale your bait and peel the line off your reel while making a fast run in an attempt to escape.

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades National Park. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps. com and you can reach him at 239-571- 1756. 

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Josh with a pair of Reds

December is here and with it comes some big changes to the fishery in the Everglades National Park. Some good and some not so good. We typically have our first major cold front hit us after the middle of the month. We already had a few minor cold fronts come through in November, but nothing too extreme like last November. Expect Gulf water temperatures to drop down into the mid 60’s later in the month.

In December it is super important to keep a watchful eye on the tide charts. We have some more crazy low tides predicted both around the Full and New moon phases. On the mornings of the 9th, 14th and 20th-27th, you will wonder who let all of the water out of the drink! Every December I see aggravated anglers pacing impatiently at the launch ramp while they wait for enough tide to come in just so they can get their boats off the trailer. If they had only looked at the tide chart, they could have slept a few hours later. I use www. SaltwaterTides.com

John Czencz with a Snook.

The flats have become alive with action and if you can get out on a beautiful sunny day without much wind, you will be rewarded with sore arms! All sorts of action fish will enthusiastically take what you offer. I like to start out fishing the 3-5’ grass flats on an incoming tide with a bucktail type jig. I like jigs with a lot of flash in the tail like Don’s Potbelly PBGF 2038. Grab a handful because the fish go crazy over them, and will most likely tear them into pieces on you. I like to throw them using 10lb line, with 2’ of 20lb fluorocarbon leader. Trout (catch and release until 1/1), Mackerel, Bluefish, Ladyfish, Pompano, Jacks, and just about everything in between will hit them.

The backwaters have come alive with action too. You can get into some good Snook back in the creeks and back bays. They will most likely be hiding in the deeper mangrove root pockets waiting for their next meal to swim by on the outgoing tide. Try a Gulp Shrimp, live shrimp, or better yet, some live Pilchards!

Redfish, Sheepshead, and Mangrove Snapper will become a regular catch on the hard oyster bottoms and deep mangrove root pockets in the Gulf side mouths of the many rivers in the 10,000 Islands.

Brittany with a Redfish.

I have developed a Species Availability Chart relative to the Backwater and Nearshore areas that I fish in the Everglades National Park. You can see it at www.CaptainRapps.com

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his captains are extremely patient and love to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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Jim with a Sheepshead.

Fall is here in the 10,000 Islands and with cooler water temperatures and the change of seasons, comes the migration of the Sheepshead fish. These fish begin to arrive in big numbers about this time each year to spawn. They inhabit many of our near shore structures, oyster bars, and the deeper mangrove pockets in the back county river mouths.

In addition to being called Sheepshead, they are sometimes referred to as the convict fish, Seabream Sheepshead, and Southern Sheepshead. They are distributed in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, with the densest populations being here in southwest Florida. Sheepshead are also found in smaller numbers off the Caribbean coasts of Central and South America, south to Brazil.

John Biestek with a Sheepshead.

The teeth of the Sheepshead include well-defined incisors, grinders, and molars. In the front of its mouth are the incisor-like teeth. These teeth look nothing like any other fish’s, but more resemble that of a human. I had an orthodontist out last fall, who was completely intrigued with the teeth of the Sheepshead. It was funny, he spent a good part of the day admiring the fishes’ teeth.

Sheepshead are most commonly caught in our area in the 2-5 pound range and average 12”-18” in length. They must be at least 12” to keep and currently the catch limit is 15 per person per day. They are thought to live about 20 years and can grow to about 20 lbs. They reach reproductive maturity in about 2 years. During the Fall and Winter spawning season, they are thought to lay between 10,000 to 70,000 eggs every 28 days.

Sheepshead are omnivorous fish, feeding primarily on small Crabs, Oysters, Clams, and Shrimp. The Sheepshead uses its impressive teeth to crush shelled prey, and to scrape barnacles from rocks and pilings.

Kevin, Ellen, and David with a bunch of Sheepshead. PHOTOS BY CAPT. RAPPS/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

Sheepshead are highly valued for human consumption due to their mild flavor and delicate white flesh. They are difficult to clean and fillet because of the sharp spines on their back and thick skin and scales. At the fillet table, I like to use a pair of thick gloves to handle the fish, and an electric fillet knife to cut through their thick skin.

When fishing for Sheepshead, I like to use live shrimp with a 2’-3’ long leader made of 20# test fluorocarbon, and a #2 hook. They will feed very lightly….. you will think a small Snapper is nibbling on your bait. The trick here is to let him eat for a few seconds before trying to set the hook. It takes patience and discipline to hook these tricksters, but once you do it a few times, you will get the hang of it.

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10000 Islands of the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his captains are extremely patient and love to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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Kurt with a nice Tarpon.

I always look forward to November because it is one of my absolute favorite months here in the 10,000 Islands! The reasons are numerous and I could probably go on forever describing them, but some of the highlights are…. 1) The weather patterns are typically mild with little rain and light winds, 2) Many fish are following and feeding on the huge bait pods just off the near coastal beaches, 3) The daytime temperatures are comfortably hovering in the high 70’s to low 80’s, 4) Many migratory birds are actively arriving for the winter……. and the list goes on!

The change of seasons will begin to affect our tides tremendously from now through the winter months. Watch out for those extreme negative low tides of the new moon between the 23rd-29th. A low tide of -.04 could ruin your day if you did not anticipate it. If you are out on the water, use these low tides to educate yourself as to where those shallow oyster bars and deep pockets lie. If you are going to explore new areas during these low tides, you may want to wait until an incoming tide to do so. This way if you get stuck on the bottom, it will only be a short wait until you are floating again.

The near coastal waters will fill up with Spanish Mackerel, Bluefish, Jacks, Ladyfish, and other energized fast swimming species. Look for the flocks of birds feeding on the scraps of an underwater frenzy. Send out a bucktail type jig, about . – 3/8 oz. tipped with a small piece of shrimp to add a little scent to the bait.

Nice back country snook caught on a Captain Rapps charter. - PHOTOS BY CAPT. RAPPS/COASTAL BREEZE NEWS

Around the Islands and oyster bars, look for tailing Redfish on the incoming tide that are poking around the oyster bars or underwater grass reeds. Try using a D.O.A. Deadly Combo with Root Beer Shrimp or a Berkley GULP! to get their attention. If you have live shrimp, send one out either free lined or under a popping cork. Pop that cork often…. It’s like ringing the dinner bell. Also try small live pinfish… those big Reds love em!

Stock up on some D.O.A. Baitbusters and Terror Eyz and head into the back country to battle with the Snook as they head way back in the creeks and rivers for the winter season. As the tide is moving out, fish the eddy side of the points. Try throwing them a handful of live pilchards followed by one on a circle hook. Hang on!

Don’t forget Trout season is closed all of November and December. You can still catch them, but be sure to throw them all back…. Always keep yourself up to date on the ever changing fishing rules and regulations on the FWC web site at: www.MyFWC.com

Need some lessons? Book a charter and we’ll show you how it’s done!

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10,000 Islands of the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his captains are extremely patient and love to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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A visitor while out with Joe Quinn.

It seems as though every day is a new adventure out here in the 10,000 islands. Every day we go out, there is something new or different from the day before. The tides are constantly moving and Mother Nature is always showing us something new.

This past week we had wind, rain, & big full moon tides. One day the water was clean, the next it was thick and muddy. Each fall the mullet move into our area in huge schools. With them come predators of all shapes and sizes looking for a nice meal. There are probably more Tarpon in the area now than any other time of the year. Guess what they are feeding on? You got it… Mullet. Just about everywhere we went last week, shallow bays and deep river cuts, we saw Tarpon crashing schools of mullet. First you would see the water ripple from the nervousness of a school of mullet being chased in hot pursuit, next they would fly out of the water, 50 at a time, and then right behind them a Tarpon would fly 6’ out of the water rolling and flipping around with a mullet in his mouth. It is quite spectacular to watch. I would love to get some photos of this happening, but it’s kind of like taking a photo of lightning. It’s usually over before you can react.

Joe Quinn and his 23 inch Redfish.

On Tuesday and Wednesday I had client Joe Quinn from Valparaiso, Indiana out on full day charters. Joe had opportunity to witness these Tarpon feeding on Mullet both days no less than 100 times. It was a thrill for sure, fishing for these 100lb fish and constantly pointing and yelling in their direction as they leaped high above the water.

In one bay, we had several Manatee come right up to the boat to check us out. After 10 or 15 minutes they realized how boring we were and went on their way. In another bay, we had an Alligator come out and attack Joe’s popping cork. He must have thought it was an egg floating on the water and had to have it. He grabbed it and would not let go until Joe reeled him up to the boat. Even then, he was very reluctant to let go, but eventually did.

Joe Quinn hooked up and happy.

As cool and awesome as the Tarpon, Manatee, and Alligator were, the actual thrill and memory of the trip that will last forever in our minds was that of a 23” Redfish. I had Joe fishing some oyster filled shore lines as the tide came in from the Gulf. We were in a “hot spot” and the bite was “on”. Joe was casting a rig that had a popping cork with a 3’ leader, working a jig head with an artificial shrimp on it. What happens sometimes is that the jig head and hook get wedged into one of these oysters and gets snagged. Typically if we cannot free the hook from a distance, we will just snap the line off. Rather than go right in and spook a hot spot, we will leave the popping cork out there and come back and get it a few minutes later before leaving the spot. Well, this happened and we left it out there and continued fishing. A few minutes later I said to Joe, “Hey, somebody’s got your bait. Reel him in!” Joe said to me, “That’s not my bait, I am out here to the right.” It was then I realized that a fish must have seen that artificial shrimp stuck to the oyster, and decided to pull it off and eat it. The cork was cruising down the shoreline and it wasn’t stopping. We put the trolling motor down and began pursuit. Each time we got close, the fish would dive down and take off quickly. We couldn’t just let it go with a hook in his mouth dragging a cork, so Joe and I grabbed two other rods and began casting jigs at the cork with hopes of snagging it. Finally after several minutes one lucky cast snagged that cork, and the fight was on. We still did not know what we were reeling in and we joked about it being a catfish. To our delight, we realized it was not a catfish, but a beautiful 23” Redfish with 6 spots on each side. What a riot! If only we had a video, it would have been worthy of the $10,000 prize in America’s funniest videos! We laughed for a long time that afternoon.

Thank you, Mother Nature, for another fantastic couple of days in your 10,000 Islands!

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10000 Islands of the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his captains are extremely patient and love to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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With all of that tropical storm activity that has been going on out there, it’s nice to see the change of seasons. It seemed as though summer would last forever. October is here and what a great month it is to fish the 10,000 Islands! Our day time air temperatures should now be averaging around 87 degrees, as water temps hover around 81 degrees.

Nice Slot Red on a Captain Rapps Charter.

Usually right now, we will start to see some nice schools of large live bait like Pilchards and Thread Herring pour into the area. Last October the live bait came, but was not as plentiful as years past. Get your cast net out and scout for them close to the shorelines at higher tides. In lower tides, have a look out a little deeper. Look for birds working schools and you will be rewarded with the best bait around.

Our primary targets change each season, and I especially love to hunt for Reds in October! We have been seeing an exceptionally nice number of Reds all summer long. Now with the change of seasons, cooler water temperatures, and the influx of live bait, It should prove to be a stellar month for slot size Redfish. It’s hard to beat the sight of schooling Reds tailing as they work over a submerged oyster bar! Throw them a live shrimp under a popping cork for almost instant hookups. If you have some live whitebait like Pilchards or threads in the well, get them out there, too! We have caught more 30”+ Reds on live 4” whitebait than anything else! As far as artificials go, I love Cotee’s 3/8 oz. Liv’Eye jig heads in Red along with a Glitter Shad Body. Tie them up to 3’ of 20-30lb. fluorocarbon leader tied to 10-15 lb. braided line.

Just because Snook season is closed in our area, does not mean that you cannot target them for some awesome “Catch and Release” action! They are on the move into the back waters and will gladly accept some of those live baits. Tie up 3-4’ of 40lb. fluorocarbon leader to 30lb. braided line, and pitch those whitebaits into the deeper eddies against the mangrove shores. For some great top water action, try a High Roller “RipRoller” 4.25” Greenback.

Need some lessons? Book a charter and we’ll show you how it’s done!

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10000 Islands of the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his captains are extremely patient and love to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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Sometimes keeping up with all of the fishing regulation changes here in Florida are like tracking stocks. If you miss an update, it may cost you. The FWC updated their 2011 Gag Grouper Closure and Fall Harvest season regulations on August 30, 2011. Below is a short synopsis of the observations and updates obtained from their website at www.myfwc.com

The latest stock assessment indicates that gag grouper in the Gulf of Mexico are overfished and undergoing overfishing. NOAA Fisheries Service recently announced interim rules that prohibit recreational harvest of gag grouper in Gulf of Mexico federal waters until long-term management measures for gag grouper can be developed.

Gulf Red Grouper.

The first interim rule prohibited harvest of Gulf gag grouper in federal waters through May 31, 2011. At its February meeting, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council discussed a second interim rule that would continue the interim gag grouper closure through the end of 2011, but also allow for a recreational open season for gag grouper in Gulf federal waters from Sept. 16 through Nov. 15. This rule has been approved by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

These closures also prohibit anyone on board a vessel for which a federal commercial or charter boat permit for the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish fishery has been issued from harvesting or possessing gag grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The FWC Commissioners approved rules that closed state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, excluding Monroe County, to the recreational harvest of gag grouper from June 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011, with the exception of a fall harvest season September 16 through November 15, 2011. These rules will be in effect for 2011 only.

At its August meeting, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) took final action to set long-term management measures for gag and red grouper in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These measures include:

• Set the recreational gag grouper harvest season to July 1 through October 31 for Gulf federal waters.

• Reduce the commercial gag grouper size limit from 24” to 22” total length (TL).

• Increase the recreational bag limit for red grouper from two fish to four fish per person per day.

The Council also considered establishing new time and area closures in federal waters off Florida’s Big Bend region to protect gag grouper spawning aggregations. However, additional time and area closures were not approved by the Council.

These measures are subject to approval by the US Secretary of Commerce and are expected to take effect in Gulf federal waters next year. The FWC may consider establishing consistent regulations for gag and red grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico at a future Commission meeting.

Next is a chart of State and Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico (Except All State Waters of Monroe County)

Be careful of your boundaries…. The Collier/Monroe County line is actually located in Chokoloskee Bay, so Monroe rule apply just on the south side of Chokoloskee.

Be careful to follow the rules out there. Keep a close eye on the FWC’s website at www.myfwc.com for all current rules and regulations and it could save you some money and a lot of embarrassment.

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the 10000 Islands of the Everglades National Park. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com and you can reach him at 239-571-1756.

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George Scribner lands his first ever Tarpon on his first cast of the day.

Hang in there for just one more month as September will be the last HOT and rainy month of the summer here in the 10,000 islands and the Everglades National Park. The day time air temperatures will average around 92. Water temps will stick around 86. Typical to our warmest summer months, September days get so hot by mid day, that the bite will usually drop off some in the afternoon. We will still get mid day storms which will cool things off a little, and produce a late afternoon and early evening bite right up until sunset.

Typically Snook season opens in September, however due to the 10 day frost and Snook kill here in January 2010, Snook season will remain CLOSED. Be sure to check out current regulations online at www.myfwc.com. We are catching a decent amount of Snook right now, so the closure appears to be helping the population to rebound.

Snook are feeding on a good, moving, out-going tide around the outside river mouths and barrier islands. Try live baits for your best bet. I like Thread Herring, Pilchards, and Pinfish. Use them under a cork or just natural for best results. Artificial lures and jigs are always a fun way to catch Snook too. Check out your local bait shop and ask them to show you what is currently working.

Speckled Sea Trout are around the shallow grass flats in good numbers. Hit your favorite spots during a good incoming tide. Most of the action will take place in the 3-5’ depth range. Trout will hit artificial bait just as well, if not better, than some live baits. I like Berkley’s GULP! Shrimp in the white, natural and new penny colors, DOA deadly combos, and of course live shrimp under a loud popping cork will wake them up for sure.

Redfish also like to bite on an incoming tide on the outside oyster bars with live Shrimp, Pilchard, or Thread Herring under a popping cork. Of course many artificials are equally as good and I really like to use some of the same types as mentioned above for Trout.

Tarpon are still around here and there, although not as thick as they were earlier this summer. The larger Tarpon will be out feeding on the outside bays and flats early in the morning and again late in the afternoon. In our area, they are naturally looking for live baits like Ladyfish, Thread Herring, and Pilchards. My choice is to live line one of these live baits out on a nice stout spinning rod. If you have opportunity to sight fish for Tarpon, try a large, soft plastic bait like a DOA Swimmin’ Mullet.

Capt. Rapps. has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his captains have easy going demeanors, are extremely patient, and love to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See an online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com 

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Well, there are so many techniques and ways to catch a Snook that the answer is not all that cut and dry. To really be able to effectively target Snook, you have to know their habits, eating patterns, tides, water temperatures, moon phase, and a few other things. They migrate and move around a lot so you have to know where they typically spend time during different times of the year.

Kevin Tretter with a Snook.

Since we are now in the middle to end of summer here in the 10,000 islands, I would recommend that you fish the outside points of the mangrove rivers where you have good water flow during the outgoing tide. Although you can catch them in a few different areas this time of the year, including offshore wrecks, drop-offs around the near coastal oyster bars, and the near shore mangrove islands and rivers, the outside points of the mangrove rivers will be a great starting place.

Capt Rapps and a nice Summer Snook.

Pick a point where you can physically see the water moving with the outgoing tide. Make sure that point has a deeper drop off under it, and your target fish will be hiding in the eddy just around the back side of the point. Snook are a very smart fish, and will sit and wait in that eddy where the water is sitting still, looking for bait to be flushed past their noses.

Jay Newsome and his first ever Snook.

They will sit still in that eddy, conserving energy, and will ambush their food in a swift, lightning fast strike. This lightning fast strike is why so many people are addicted to catching Snook. When hitting your bait, they will hit with great speed and strength, and will jump and try to get back into the protection of the mangrove roots where they will try to bust you off.

For bait, I would suggest you start with live bait like live Pilchards or Thread Herring if you can throw a cast net to catch them. If you cannot throw a cast net, go get some good size live shrimp from your local bait shop.

As far as gear, you will want to use a medium/light casting or spinning rod reel combo, with anywhere from 10-20lb braided line, and a 30-40lb fluorocarbon leader that is about 3-4 feet long. The Fluorocarbon leader will be virtually invisible under the water, and will give you superior abrasion resistance to the Snook’s sandpaper teeth, and will hold up better than standard leader to the sharp mangrove roots. The braided line will give you the abrasion resistance to the sharp mangrove roots that will hold up 10 times better than monofilament. You will need to use circle hooks for the live baits. The size of the hook will be determined by the size of the bait. You do not want a hook that is so big that it will overweigh your bait, and you do not want one that is so small that it will not hook a fish. For instance, If I am using live Pilchards that are about 3” long, I will typically use a circle hook around a size 3/0.

You can vary casting the bait out into the moving water either totally natural without any weight, or try a little lead split shot to sink the bait some if the water is moving real fast. If you like to use a cork or float, try setting it to a depth of about 3’ to start with. Your strike will be right at or near that eddy where the snook will be quietly waiting to eat. If you do not get hits as your bait goes past that eddy, try casting right into the eddy and let your bait go down in that slack current. When a fish strikes, start reeling in fast! You do not want to jerk and set a circle hook. Their design automatically sets the hook as soon as the fish turns and starts runningaway from you.

Like I said, the Snook are in otherplaces this time of the year too. Start with the eddys! If you want some oneon one lessons, let me know. We do a lot of instructional charters.

Remember that Snook are “catch and release” only for another year due to the big freeze and Snook kill here in January 2010. We anticipate season will open again in September 2012. Please be sure to check current regulations at www.myfwc.com

Capt Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete and his captains are extremely patient and love to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See the online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com

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Here is a cool and fresh recipe for a hot summer night that will impress all of your guests! The ingredients are fresh and readily available at any market. It’s quick and easy to make. On a scale of 1-5 (1 being easiest – 5 be­ing most difficult) I give it a 2. This is one of those recipes that EVERYONE should make at least once! It’s off the hook!

Fresh fish for dinner. Photos by Capt. Pete Rapps

Ingredients:

• 8 small snapper fillets (or any other small fresh local fish fillets)
• Captain Rapps’ Everglades City All Y’all Seasoning
• 1/4 cup Olive oil
• 1 ripe mango
• 1 ripe Kiwi
• 1/2 sweet yellow peppers
• 1/2 sweet green peppers
• 1/2 sweet Vidalia Onion
• 1/4 cup fresh chopped Cilantro
• 1/2 fresh diced jalapeño pepper (seeds and ribs removed)
• 1/2 tsp sea salt (or to taste)
• 1 tsp ground pepper
• 1 TBS sugar
• 1 lemon

Preparation:

Finished Snapper with fresh mango salsa.

Make sure you prepare the fruit salad first. Dice Mango, kiwi, sweet peppers, onion, cilantro, and jalapeño pepper and mix together in medium stainless or glass bowl. Add salt, pepper, sugar, and juice from one lemon and stir. Cover and put in fridge for about 1 hour.

Heat olive oil in pan on medium heat. Coat Snapper fillets completely with Cap­tain Rapps’ Everglades City All Y’all Seasoning. Cook in olive oil on medium heat about 4 to 5 minutes per side, just un­til it begins to flake with a fork.

Serve hot snapper on plates, and serve cold fruit salsa in separate bowl. Put de­sired amount of fruit salsa on your plated fish and eat it up!

Captain Rapps Seasonings are avail­able to purchase online at: www.CaptainRappsSeasonings.com. His line of super-premium seasonings are blended with the freshest herbs and spices, are all low in salt, & contain NO MSG.

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Cho­koloskee area for just over 20 years. He of­fers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Ever­glades National Park. If you are looking for a fun, easy going, and enjoyable day fishing and exploring in the Everglades National Park, look no further. Capt. Rapps and his guides accommodate all men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Between their vast knowledge & experience of the area, and easy going demeanors, you are guar­anteed to have a great day. Book your char­ter 24/7 with his online booking calendar, and see his first class web site for Booking info, Videos, Recipes, Seasonings, and more at www.CaptainRapps.com

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The end of July and all of August is for sure the most picante time of the year to fish here in the 10,000 Islands. If you plan your day right, it can also equate to some of the best and most productive fishing our area has to offer. By mid day, air temperatures are now averaging around 93 degrees. Water temperatures are warm – right around 87 degrees. Although it does get hot and spicy by mid day, the daily thunder storms will usually drive you back to the dock just as the bite turns off. After the thunder storms are gone and things have cooled off a bit like a big dollop of sour cream on a hot bowl of chili, head back out again for some great early evening & sunset fishing action. My morning trips have been going out from 7:00-11:00 am, and afternoon trips head out from 4:30-8:30 pm.

Captain Rapps and Ingrid Gilbert with a nice summer Snook. Submitted photos

Speckled Sea Trout will usually bite best on an incoming tide, on the nearshore and outside flats in about 3’- 5’ of water. I really like to use a ¼ or 3/8 oz. bucktail type jig with a little flash in its tail. Tip the jig with a very small piece of shrimp for awesome results. Another great rig is the DOA Deadly combo with a rootbeer colored Shrimp!

Snook typically bite best on an outgoing tide around the outside islands and cuts. If you can get some live Pilchards, Thread Herring, or Finger Mullet, you will be rewarded with some nice big momma Snook! Remember to give them a thorough revival after a quick photo…. Since the water is so warm, they get tired quickly. Be patient and expect a proper revival to take several minutes.

Mike Torres and a nice Redfish.

Redfish will bite best on an incoming tide, on the near shore oyster bars, on  live Shrimp, Pilchards, or Thread Herring. Try a popping cork with about 3’ of 25 lb. fluorocarbon leader and an appropriate sized circle hook to match your bait. Many artificials are equally as good and I really like a Gulp! shrimp – natural or new penny color on a 3/8 oz red jig head.

Shark are now around in good  numbers. Bull, Blacktip, Lemon, Nurse, Sharpnose, Bonnethead and others. Use 4-5’ of 80 lb. wire leader and cast out a chunk of Mullet or Ladyfish where the water is moving in a river mouth or channel. Hang on because they usually arrive pretty quickly.

Tarpon will bite best on an outgoing tide on the outside flats and deep channel cuts. If you have the opportunity to sight fish for them, try a large soft plastic bait like a DOA swimming mullet. Live baits such as Ladyfish, Thread Herring, and Pilchards are Tarpon candy!

Capt Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete is extremely patient and loves to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See his online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com or call 239-571-1756.

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Well, maybe not here in Southwest Florida. There are no Great White Sharks threatening us like Jaws did in the 1975 film in the fictional New England town of Amity Island.

Quick photo before a safe release on Capt. Rapps’ boat. Submitted photo

Our summer water temperatures bring many types of Shark into the shallow waters of the 10,000 Islands. They are here to breed, and arrive in good numbers. Although there are Shark here year round, It is now that they are most abundant. Because of this, it is now through October that I offer catch and release “Shark Exclusive Charters.” Below is a list of the 5 most common Shark in our waters that one is most likely to catch. I have included some pretty interesting profile info obtained from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (myFWC.com) about their habitat, feeding, reproduction, and their sizes.

BLACKTIP SHARK Carcharhinus limbatus.  Habitat: Common in Florida’s coastal waters, bays and estuaries. A very active, fast-swimming shark often seen at the surface. Often forms large schools during annual migration times. Migrates southward and into deeper coastal waters during winter months. May leap out of the water and, like the related spinner shark, spin around several times before dropping back into the sea. Feeding: Feeds primarily on fishes but also eats small sharks, some rays and skates, squid, crabs, octopus, and lobster. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 1-10 pups. Females swim into shallow bays in spring and early summer to give birth. Size at birth 22-28 inches. Size/Age: Maximum length about 6 feet. Matures at approximately 6-7 years of age(about 5 feet) and is estimated to live 10 + years.

BONNETHEAD SHARK Sphyrna tiburo. Habitat: Abundant in nearshore Florida waters. Commonly seen over shallow sand and mud flats. Moves into deeper, coastal waters during the colder months. Feeding: Feeds primarily on crabs, shrimp, mollusks, and small fishes. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 4-16 pups. Size at birth about 12 inches. Size/Age: Smallest member of the hammerhead family. Maximum length about 3.5 feet. Matures at approximately 2 years of age (about 30 inches) and is estimated to live 7+ years.

BULL SHARK Carcharhinus leucas. Habitat: Common apex predator that inhabits estuarine, nearshore and offshore waters of both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida. Commonly enters estuarine waters and is one of the few shark species that may inhabit freshwater, sometimes venturing hundreds of miles inland via coastal river systems. Feeding: Versatile and opportunistic feeder. Stomach contents have included a variety of bony fishes and invertebrate species, sharks, rays, dolphins, sea turtles, and sea birds. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 1-13 pups. Size at birth about 2.4 feet. Utilizes shallow bays and coastal lagoons as nursery areas. Size/Age: Maximum size about 11 feet. Matures at approximately 14-18 years of age (about 6.5 feet) and is estimated to live 24+ years.

LEMON SHARK Negaprion brevirostris. Habitat: An abundant, inshore tropical shark that inhabits both estuarine and nearshore waters of the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida. Commonly enters estuarine waters and often ventures into freshwater areas, but does not penetrate as far up rivers as the Bull shark. Migrates southward and into deeper waters in the winter months. Feeding: Feeds on a variety of bony fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, rays, small sharks, and occasionally on sea birds. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 4-17 pups. Size at birth about 2 feet. Utilizes shallow bays and coastal lagoons as nursery areas. Size/Age: Maximum size about 10.5 feet. Matures at approximately 11-12 years of age (about 8 feet) and is estimated to live 27+ years.

NURSE SHARK Ginglymostoma cirratum. Habitat: An abundant, coastal, tropical and subtropical shark that inhabits nearshore waters of both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of Florida. Often seen lying motionless on the bottom. Preferred habitats are coral reefs, rocks, and mangrove islands. Feeding: Feeds mainly on bottom invertebrates such as spiny lobsters, shrimps, crabs, sea urchins, squid, octopi, and marine molluscs; also feeds on some fish species, especially grunts. Reproduction: Gives birth to live young. Litters contain 20-50 pups. Size at birth about 1 foot. Mating aggregations reported in Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas, often in very shallow water. Juveniles utilize shallow coral reefs, rocky areas, grass flats, and mangrove islands as nursery habitat. Size/Age: Maximum size about 9 feet. Matures at approximately 7 feet and is estimated to live 24+ years.

Capt. Rapps has been fishing the Chokoloskee area for just over 20 years. He offers expert guided, light tackle, near shore, and backwater fishing trips in the Everglades National Park, and is happy to accommodate anyone from men, women, & children of all ages, experienced or not, and those with special needs. Pete is extremely patient and loves to teach. You can book a charter right online 24/7. See his online availability calendar, booking info, videos, recipes, seasonings, and first class web site at www.CaptainRapps.com or call 239-571-1756.

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