A very Nice Memorial Holiday

Today on the Sealife Encounter we found Picnic Island empty and peaceful.

Fishing was good with a few Seahorses caught in the nets. Lots of fish and a Blue Crab and, again, a Puffer caught in the big net along with a Flounder. Girl holding the Flounder.

The usual crowd around the Aquarium (Touch Tank).

Note: all creatures caught are released unharmed.

Capt. Bob

Memorial Day

Today was very busy and too busy on the water to take photos. Folks from all over the USA and some from other countries such as Switzerland were here. The Fishing and Sealife and Sunset cruises all went very well. Strong East winds made fishing difficult, but we otherwise had a pretty day to be on the water and did catch several Spotted Sea Trout, Crevalle Jacks, Sugar Trout and , of course, Cafish.

Sealife: Picnic Island was crowded but we managed to get in and wade in the shallow water grass bed catching the usual interesting subjects. A huge Striped Burfish (puffer) was caught in the deep water net drag. Sunset: The waters began quieting down near Sunset and we did have a nice encounter with a pod of Dolphins and a very special Sunset.

Capt. Bob

Great trips today!

On the Sealife Encounter folks from Michigan, New York, and Texas had a very good time wading in the shallow grass and catching some of the creatures which included a couple of Seahorses. It was a unusual overcast day, but temperature and breeze out of the Southeast made it very pleasant. First Mate Sydney managed to get one photo on her iphone for us. We spent a lot of time watching the Dolphin playing around the boat near Picnic Island, so we only had time for a quick deep grass bed net drag. Dragging near Pine Island for just a few minutes, we caught some Sugar Trout and several varities of crabs including a Blue Crab.

Sunset Cruise: Still overcast but seems to be clearing. Dolphins in the Port Sanibel Channel.

We head out toward the Sanibel Lighthouse passing under the "A" span of the causeway.

After viewing the historic Light house, we head back toward the Sunset, passing under "C" span.

Another great Sunset near Picnic Island over the Sister Keys.

Capt Bob

Beautiful Spring Day here!!

On the Afternoon Dolphin Cruise we had a slight breeze out of the West with a few puffy white clouds. We passed by one of the Least Terns sitting on a piling.

Hard to see, they are so small. Then we checked on the Osprey nest. It should be empty but found two of the "babies" back home looking for Mom and Dad who, by now, are in South America. We found our Dolphin near Picnic Island and we had some very close encounters as they swam close around the boat. We picked up speed to head home and, for a short while, they followed playing in our wake.

On the Sunset Dolphin Cruise we sailed out and around Black Skimmer Island.
A few of the birds, Great Blue Herons, White Ibis, and American Oyster Catchers are coming in for the evening. This Island has been abandoned by the birds for about a year for unknown reasons, but recently it appears they are beginning to come back.

The Dolphin showed up near PIne Island and stayed with us a long time just idling around the boat.

It timed out perfectly, as the Dolphin dissappeared, we stayed to watch the Sunset over Pine Island. A very nice evening.

Captain Bob

Tough day for fishing...

The clouds appeared threatening as we departed the Port Sanibel Marina. But no serious weather predicted, just a few scattered showers. 20MPH wind out the West made for a challenge fishing, but it was comfortable with the 80 degree temp. Nice folks on board from Fort Myers, New Mexico, Canada, and Honduras (that's a first for me). We didn't catch a lot of fish, but did manage to get a Ladyfish, a Jack Crevalle, along with several Hardhead Catfish, one Topsail Catfish, and several undersized Spotted Sea Trout. After about an hour, the dark clouds dissapeared and the blue sky showed up making it worthwhile just being out on the water in such a beautiful area.

Capt. Bob

Full moon on the Sunset Cruise!

Perfect!A bit breezy out of the West, but nice and cool with 80 degrees.. Some scattered clouds, but no chance of rain.

Very low tide tonight (-5), lots of Oyster Bed Islands appearing for us to see and the birds to find easy food. Searching for Dolphins, we had to turn around at St. James City and head back, stopping to watch a beautiful Sunset among those clouds.

After Sunset, the Dolphins showed up, so we spent some time with them, even though it made us a bit late getting back. On the way back we enjoyed the Full Moon, which had given us such an extreme low tide. Nice evening.

Capt. Bob

A great day to be out on the water and in the Water!

On the Backwater Fishing boat it was a hot day, about 90, but cooler on the water with the breeze. More than 2 fish per person caught today. Mostly Spotted Sea Trout. Lady with first trout caught.

Trout and Mangrove Snapper caught simultaneously in this photo below.

One of the keeper Trout caught.

Also caught: Sugar Trout and, of course, a couple of the ubiquitous Catfish. We were entertained by a Manatee swimming by with 2 Remoras attached and followed by a Cobia, which attempts were made to catch, but alas, did not happen.

On the Sealife Encounter we checked on our Osprey nest which should be empty, but found one of the young ones had returned home..for awhile?
Picnic Island is truly a Deserted Island, except for us.

Folks returning after a very succesful shallow water dip net fishing expedition. Having so much fun, it was hard to get them out of the water.

Lots of creatures found in the grass bed, including a baby Seahorse. The Deep water net drag produced a lot of fish and Blue Crabs, and a small Burrfish, held by a little girl.

Sunset: Nice evening and nice group aboard, many of whom had been here before. We soon found some dolphin near the Intra Coastal Waterway and watched them while the Sun was setting over Black Skimmer Island.

We lost the Sunset in heavy haze, but we didn't lose the Dolphin. Everyone got a good look at the Dolphin, and the Dolphin got a good look at us.

Very good Day!

Capt. Bob

Happy Mothers Day!

Another typically beautiful day, slight Northerly breeze, heading out the Port Sanibel Channel. Checked on our Osprey. Empty nest! Mom and Dad left town, on vaction, to South America? "Kids" will stay here for the Summer, so we will see them from time to time.

Dolphin were spotted in the Intra Coastal Waterway, and soon dissappeared, but showed up right behind the boat at Picnic Island.

Crowd around Mike Cohn, the Naturalist, and the touch tank on the beach containing all the creatures found by our fishermen today in the shallow grass flats.

Sun Princess at Picnic Island patiently waiting for the fishermen to return.

Crowd around Mike (on right) and touch tank looking at fish caught in the deep grass bed net.

Not too great casting today in the deep water but we did catch some fish. Everyone had a good time. A really nice day.

Capt. Bob

A Warm & Breezy Evening Sunset Cruise

Partly Cloudy. Where did the water go? A very low tide which presents an interesting scene, with all the oyster beds visible and the water birds finding easy meals. Brown pelican giving us the eye as we depart the Port Sanibel Channel.

Of course we found some lazy Dolphins in and around the ICW..appeared to be resting, but we still got a good look at them. Of course we had another beautiful Sunset, this time over Merwin Key.

Pleasant evening.

Capt. Bob