Our weather on Boca Grande and Venice Beaches is great with good fishing.

 It has been wonderful to cruise our Charlotte Harbor and Gulf Coast Beaches this past week. Fishing is good and improving every day as Boca Grande beaches warm up. Trout and ladyfish are keeping us going right now and Spanish Mackerel have started to show up. King mackerel, schools of baitfish, pompano, and all of the other migratory fish are due soon! Get you sun screen and Polaroid sunglasses ready because Spring fishing is starting.

 Chris, his daughter Glynn, and her girl friend Michelle joined me Monday; we caught speckled trout and ladyfish for a couple of hours. I think the last count was thirty-six; the bite was so good the girls got board so we went looking for dolphin to observe. Many fish were small but we did have a nice mess for dinner.

 Wednesday I loaded up and ran south is search of pompano. We found a few but only a few. Long ride and not worth it YET! Mackerel were abundant but small so far. You can get a nice mess but larger ones will be here son.

 Thursday Dr. Tony and Frank meet me at Stump Pass Marina. We started out to try Lemon Bay but saw too many other boats. We cruised down to Charlotte Harbor picked a good looking edge and cast a live shrimp out. The rattle cork hit I shook it twice and it disappeared as I handed it to Frank. He reeled up a seventeen inch trout and we all smiled. We had short rallies of constant action for ten or fifteen minutes. Then moved a hundred yards and did it again until the catfish moved in and encouraged us to move farther. I cruised a mile then set up to go at it again until the tide stopped. We ran up along the Palm Island Beaches in Gulf looking for bait and fish but only baron, beautiful clear waters. We stopped inside Stump Pass to catch a few more trout, and then headed for the Stump Pass Grille to eat a fresh fish lunch. Life is great, the fishing and weather is cooperating and I am thankful!

 Just had a phone call from a friend that twenty inch mackerel were abundant at the Venice Jetties today. I saw sheepshead at the Boca Grande Causeway today. The dredging of Stump Pass in Englewood is going great and looks like it’s on schedule. The fishing is good and catching improves every day as it warms up. I got my Captain Van’s Chum delivered to Stump Pass Marina today; I am getting a minnow castnet out to start carrying tomorrow. Whitebait is not here but will be soon! The big migration of Spanish and king mackerel are due soon; my guess is by the New Moon we’ll have fish; and baitfish before the Full Moon on the nineteenth of March. Make your plans and do not miss this hot fishing.  Tarpon will be here before you know it!     Let’s Go Fishin’ soon! Captain Van Hubbard.  <www.captvan.com>