Hello clients and blog followers, I thought I would update you on what happening in my part of Southwest Florida. I am in Maine working on some carpentry projects and will be flying to Port Charlotte on Saturday the 21st to resume guiding.
"I am rigged, ready and looking forward to guiding you on beautiful Charlotte Harbor. Your past, present and future business is greatly appreciated."
Capt. Dave Pecci 3/13/20
Tarpon will be rolling and gulping air early. By mid-morning they will be running and daisy chaining below the surface.
05-02-17 Fishing Report
They're Here!
Did a cruises of Captiva, Cayo Costa, Boca Grande and Gasparilla the past two days... We saw our first pods of tarpon on the beaches just north...
Water clarity will remain excellent and the water level will be much higher on the flats than we've had the past several weeks...
Capt. Dave's April 17 Fishing Report
Outlook: Hot with excellent morning tides all week. We'll have some southerly wind to contend with but with water temps in the high 70s...
April 3rd Fishing Report
The Wilson family from Knoxville joined for a morning of fly fishing on Matlacha Pass. An approaching clod front pushed the snook and trout off the flats and into deep water. Solution - sinking lines and weighted flies.
"Many of my redfish and snook spots are not holding bait or fish because of the low water conditions. Working potholes and deeper grass flats has been very productive..."
03-07-17 Fishing Report
7 day outlook: The coming week will more like April than the start of March
02-27-17 Fishing Report Capt. Dave Pecci
Conditions: I fished the East Wall, Matlacha Pass, Gasparilla Sound, Bull Bay and Turtle Bay last week. The water clarity was very good throughout the Harbor and it should be the same this week. There's a red tide bloom along the beaches from Boca Grande to Manasota Key but it hasn't entered the sounds or bays...
Water temps are now in the mid-low 70s. Salinity remains high due to the lack of rain. Fishing conditions are excellent.
Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
This is something Barb and I already knew - Punta Gorda on the southeastern side of Charlotte Harbor is a great place to excape the cold. Trip Advisor agrees, it listed PG as its most afordable southern destination.
We live just across the bridge in Port Charlotte but spend most of our time in Punta Gorda. Great restaurants and shops, We love the farmers market, I launch from two of PG's boat ramps almost daily and pick up my Florida fishing charter clients at the area hotels. PG hosts several festivals and fishing tournament throughout the year. Oh, almost forgot Barb's favorite ice cream shop Scoops is at Lashley Park right on the River Walk.
And the fishing... PG has great snook, redfish, trout, cobia, jack and mackerel fishing minutes from their boat ramps. Spin fishing or fly fishing, you'll have a great time in Punta Gorda.
Just wrapping up two busy days at the NACO annual meeting. This year we met in San Diego. Lots of issues coming at the charter industry over the next few years: possible inspection requirements for guide boats and 6 pack boats, the Uber phenomenon that has turned the taxi industry on its ear is now riling the charting waters and, ever changing fishing regulations will have both captain's and angler's close attention in 2016 and beyond. Oh if it was just as simple as going fishing... Serving on the boards of NACO, the Florida Guides Assn and the Maine Assn of Charter boat Captains is one way I give back to the resource I've been blessed to make a living from for 25+ years. Thankfully we have great groups like NACO, FGA, and MACC protecting the interests of our recreational fisheries.
Took a walk along San Diego Bay this afternoon. One of the largest boat harbors I've seen.
Can't begin to guess the number of vessels. Everything from day sailors to 100+" long range charter boats.
This one has 18 state rooms is 118' long with a 29' beam goes out on trips as long as 23 days fishing the waters off Baha Mexico.
The anglers seen here with their carts of gear (one cart for each) are about to board for what will be an adventure of a lifetime.
Yeh, it's on my bucket list.
I retired the ol' Yukon Denali and have a nice (newer) GMC crew cab pickup. Problem - no secured rod storage with a 5'-6" bed... Enters my friend Fred Bogue, a beach and jetty angler who has struggled for years just such a problem. Fred sent me a link to Big Sky Rod Box in MT. Great product and really nice folks but, it only holds up to 6 fly rods... Next I contacted my buddy and sales rep at Hammond Lumber; Matt Stelzer for a bit of brainstorming on available materials. After three days in my workshop here's the result.
Constructed from metal roofing panels and aluminum angle over a 1/4" plywood substrate
Weighs about 50 pounds and removes in minutes by undoing four U bolts.
Holds 9 fully rigged rods up to 9'-6" long. Nicely cushioned cradles, watertight, ventilated and lockable. Even has enough room to accommodate my 8' one piece tarpon spinning rods.