Fishing Southwest Florida and Boca Grande with Captain Mark Becton - Fish'OnCharters (941)628-6894

Gulf Coast Fishing in Boca Grande

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:39:00 +0000

Ain't too shabby this time of year!

Snook are hot but catch and release only of course due to a major freeze in 2010

The Redfish are biting - keepers are 22 - 26 inches

We catch 'em THIS BIG:

What are you up to?

Wanna do a little fishing for Spring break???

Southwest Florida in the Winter Time ~

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:51:00 +0000

Is Sublime

and of course . . .

the fishing is fine!

Fishing Southwest Florida in the Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:03:00 +0000

The days are cooling off just a bit and it sure is a welcome change!

There is just enough of a lull . . .

To catch my breath . . .

To soak up the relaxing atmosphere. . .

To appreciate the natural beauty . . .

And jump back in with both feet. . .

Especially with my own personal crew. . .

Some of the best little fisherman I know. . .

Who are always patient. . .

Perfectly quiet . . .

Always listening for their instructions from the Captain . . .

Who aren't afraid to lend a hand . . .

And would NEVER EVER exaggerate . . .

The size of their catch . . .

Or tell stories about "the One that got Away"!!!

***Disclaimer- there are portions of this story that may or may not be entirely

on the Up and Up . . .

but they really are awesome little fishermen - that much is true!

SPECIAL THANK YOU TO MY CUSTOMERS:

Book a charter in the months of

November or December

and receive a $25 discount

just mention this ad when scheduling!

***Does NOT apply to Thanksgiving or Christmas Day***

Come on down- Can't wait to see 'ya!

Tarpon Fishin- Fish'On Charters of Boca Grande

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Sat, 21 May 2011 14:54:00 +0000

Tarpon season hit hard and fast for me this year! I haven't hardly had a chance to catch my breath- CAUSE I'm so busy catching 'poons!

I'm working on getting some new Tarpon pics for ya'll- but I'm finding it difficult to pole the boat and shoot pics at the same time. Being the dedicated Guide that I am, I've been putting the fishing ahead of the web site!

This is a pic of my new business cards.

Let me know what you think & if you have a need for some of them to send off to friends & family - or if you have a business where you would like to provide cards or brochures for your clients and customers.

Fishing Southwest Florida in March!

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:53:00 +0000

March has been a busy and rewarding month for fishing in Southwest Florida! We've had a great time along the Gulf Coast as evidenced by these pretty Snook pictures!

And by these Redfish pictures:

These good lookin fish were just a few of our prizes from a great time with friends and family this weekend.

..........the charters haven't been too shabby either! I've been too busy to post much- but had to at least show off the catches from the Becton & Ross crew! See ya soon guys-

Captain Mark Becton

The Weather is Beautiful...and the Fishin is Fine!

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 05:37:00 +0000

Friday's fishing trip wasn't the best... BUT Saturday was a hit! Several big Reds saved the day- we also had quite a few trout who put up a good fight. All in all - the weather is beautiful, and the fishing is fine! It's a good time to be fishing in Southwest Florida! Fortunately, for us the Gulf waters are clear and the fish are biting!

Time for a winter get-a-way!

The temperature is running about 75- 80 degrees on average, so it's a perfect time to beat the winter blues with our clear blue water and a fishing trip to Boca Grande. There's no better place to come and thaw out. Ask us about making reservations for a place to stay. We have plans that can fit most any budget!

On The Horizon- Tarpon Season 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 20:51:00 +0000

Tarpon Season cannot get here fast enough for me! In the meantime - I'm gearing up- tyin' flies - new backing on reels- and tying tons of leaders. (You know, all the fun stuff!)

It'll all be worth it when that first big "poon" strikes in 2011- hopefully early April!

April is when the Tarpon begin showing up in Southwest Florida in "fishable" numbers. It is also my favorite time of the year for them because of crystal clear water and the early fish aren't as "pressured" or educated as to what we fishermen are up to! (MUCH easier to feed 'em that way).

The water temperature is already starting to warm up here. Bait will start showing up more and more over the next few weeks. Snook fishing will improve dramatically as well. All in all, I'm looking forward to another great fishing season this year in Boca Grande!

A Picture's Worth a Thousand Words

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 20:47:00 +0000

Something has been lost in translation- (the original photo taken by my wife is more clear & crisp than this one transfered over) but... you get the point!

While so much of the country, even in the generally mild south, is snowed in- we are enjoying sun and awesome days out on the water!

There is another cold front coming- wouldn't you rather be here fishing Southwest Florida?

I'll be posting information from Monday & Tuesday's charters. If you have the chance to run

away for a little winter break- we'll be happy to help you make the arrangements. There are places to stay for every budget- from roughing it to first class.

Book 2 full days of fishing with me & if you mention this article- I'll take $100 off the 2nd day's charter!
Book 2 1/2 day chaters & mention this article- I'll take $50 off of the 2nd day's charter!

Head for Boca Grande - come and fish Charlotte Harbor & leave your worries, and piles of snow behind!

Fishing With Kids- Instilling A Lifetime Passion

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 02:39:00 +0000

The first time I took my oldest boy out on a fishing expedition- I was like a kid at Christmas. I was so excited at the aspect of sharing with him a love for the sport that has been my lifelong passion.

While visions of father and son catching world record tarpon, and redfish danced through my head- my son was developing a growing concern for the fate of the "cute little" bait-fish swimming around in the bait-well.

Let's suffice it to say that the trip didn't turn out quite the way I had planned, but over time I have learned a couple of things about getting kids involved in the sport of fishing.

First of all you want to be sure to bring snacks. If your wife isn't watching, you may even want to throw in a special treat- like a candy bar. Kids have a tendency to get really cranky when they start getting hungry. Keep 'em fed and you've already won half the battle.

Don't try to plan an 8 hour trip with a 4 year old child. There aren't enough snacks in the world to make that situation a pleasant one! Keep it short. A 2 to 3 hour fishing trip is good place to start.

We've been taught to aim high, but when it comes to fishing with small children- I'm telling you now, you need to LOWER your expectations! Just because you cannot imagine anyone in their right mind not seeing the beauty in being out on the water tracking down a prize redfish or snook - does not mean that your 6 year old is going to be inspired by the idea.

Bring an extra dip net when you are live bait fishing; and then don't be surprised or disappointed if all they want to do is play with the bait. Let them dip and play in the bait-well until their hearts are content. I've taken enough kids fishing with live bait to know that you won't keep them out of the well anyways.

Did I mention that you should bring snacks? Snacking is good. It can also serve to keep them from eating the bait. Unfortunately, that is not just a joke. Fortunately, it wasn't my kid. Seriously, keep them fed!

Think of fun ways to illustrate good angling habits such as moving s-u-p-e-r s-l-o-w and stepping softly on the boat. You can't just tell them to keep quiet. You are fighting a loosing battle. By exaggerating the behavior, you catch their attention, help them remember and instead of being annoyed - you are guiding them towards good angling habits & having a good time doing it. If that is all they get out of the first couple of trips- you have made real progress.

Safety first, safety first, safety first- and snacks immediately following. It just doesn't make sense to hand a clueless kid a sharp object attached to a line and rod -and then not pay close attention. Stay within arms reach, or someone could loose an eye.

Know when to fold 'em. Calling it quits just means you will live to fish another day. If you don't push them too long, your children will be more interested in heading out to go fishing with dad/ or mom again soon.

Attitude is everything in life and fishing with kids is no exception. I understand the desire (more than most) to land the perfect tarpon. I want my kids to love the sport as much as I do, and I've learned that the best way accomplish that end is to relax and have fun with them.

Before you know it they will be reeling in the sea trout left and right- catching snook, and redfish all by themselves. They will battle the mighty tarpon, and win the war. The sense of amazement and pride you will share in that moment is worth every gut wrenching, hand wringing moment you spent worried that they were destined to become "bait fish activists".

Don't sweat the small stuff- just get them out on the water and have fun- and don't forget the snacks!

Fishing Southwest Florida in Cold Weather

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 03:47:00 +0000

When the weather in Southwest Florida turns cold, you want to stick to fishing the deep mud bottoms in areas that are well lit by the sun. The thicker mud holes that get plenty of sunlight will retain heat better than the more shallow, shaded areas.

If you are looking to get warm- you can bet the fish are feeling it too. Whenever possible, you'll want to seek out the more protected bay areas that have less exposure from the cold wind.

Another little winter time gulf fishing trick is simply to fish very slowly. By that, I mean to cast your line out there and let 'er be. Fish close to the bottom and let it sit. You'll want to use live shrimp or frozen bait on the bottom.

Don't expect to load the wagon during major cold fronts with line and hook. But, the redfish do have to eat. Trout is open and the sheepshead bite will pick up on this upcoming moon. Hopefully, so will the temperatures!

Return to the flats with the warming trend after the cold front passes. Stay the course- they are bound to get hungry! Look toward that full moon for some livelier action.

Redfish Report & Grouper Fingers

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 04:54:00 +0000

The redfish are a bitin' - even with the cold weather these hardy fish are still hungry! Sorry no great redfish pics today - just wanted to post a quick fish report that the reds aren't being too tempermental.

Got a good size grouper today & forgot the camera! Maybe I'll post some picks of the fried grouper fingers we'll have for dinner tomorrow night. Grouper fingers and cheese grits are hard to beat this time of year- o.k. ANYTIME is a good time for grouper finger & grits, but especially after a cold day on the water.

As for this tired Captain- I'm off to sleep so I can live to fight another day!

(This osprey was keeping watch over the weekend- airing out his wings in the wind- enjoying the view of Charlotte Harbor)

Tarpon Season in Boca Grande

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 21:43:00 +0000

Tarpon Season is a time of year that everyone looks forward to in Southwest Florida. Folks come from all over the world for fishing in Boca Grande. As a matter of fact, Boca Grande is considered the Tarpon Capital of the world.

For many years the "World's Richest Tarpon Tournament" was hosted by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce on Gasparilla Island. These days the big tarpon tournament has been replaced. If tarpon tournaments are your "thing" there are still plenty of opportunities to participate. See our running list of tournaments on the home page. We include tarpon tournaments, snook and redfish tournaments, childrens fishing tournaments, and more. Contact Captain Mark Becton if you are interested in competing in any of the tournaments you see listed.

"Tarpon Season" generally runs from April through July and even into August. Captain Mark will advise you on the best times to plan your fishing trip based on tide charts, behavior of the fish, and his years of experience fishing the waters in Southwest Florida.

3 Boys & 3 Fish= 1 Perfect Day & 1 Proud Papa In Southwest Florida!

noreply@blogger.com (Captain Mark Becton) — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 21:24:00 +0000

We started the New Year out right for 2011 & headed out on the water. It was a beautiful calm & sunny day here in Southwest Florida. The kids are a bit young for serious fishing, but they did a great job- every one of them hooked, caught, & released a fish. Two Redfish and a Speckled Sea Trout - to be exact.

It's a proud moment for me to be able to share the passion I have for fishing the saltwater flats in the Gulf with my 3 sons. (And their mother, of course- btw- women most often make great anglers and my wife is no exception- more on that topic later...)

As a father, I believe one of the best things I can ever do for my children is to stop and take the time with them as a family- enjoying nature and each other- in the great outdoors.

Just about anything sporting you can do while spending time with your kids is a great experience, ~~for them,~~ ~~but I happen to be partial to saltwater fishing. The extra family time is a terrific bonus. Uh, I mean~~- it's the family time that takes precedence- and the potential for catching fish would be an added bonus. (That was a close one).

But seriously, when we are out on the water, I have a ~~captivated~~ captive audience with my boys. They are curious and interested in what is going on around them. It makes for some great teaching moments & memories that I hope they will take with them throughout their lifetime.

I've had to adjust ~~my attitude~~ my thinking ~~a tremendous~~ just a bit, to accommodate three young boys on a boat. When you are fishing the saltwater flats of the Gulf- a lot like fishing in fresh water- a certain amount of care in NOT STOMPING AROUND must be taken in order to sneak up on the ever elusive Snook or Redfish.

That can be a challenge on a bright sunny day in pristine clear water under the best of circumstances - when you factor in 5, 6, and 9 year old boys - it becomes downright ~~frustrating~~ comical.

The boys ~~sort of tried~~ did their best to keep quiet, and I ~~stopped getting aggravated~~ remained ever patient & soon enough - we heard boy #2 holler the coveted phrase- "Fish On"! And, to ~~my amazement~~ his credit, my 6 year old son didn't jerk the line, nor did he allow too much slack. He ~~actually listened~~ calmly and steadily pulled back and reeled down until the mighty Redfish gave in and conceded the fight.

As a Captain, I was truly impressed - as a father, genuinely proud. But, it doesn't appear to be just a fluke. The senerio was repeated when my 5 year old brought in a good sized Speckled Trout, and then my oldest ~~who wouldn't let me help~~ singlehandedly landed a nice Red.

What a way to start the year! If it were Tarpon season, we could have gone for a grand slam! Well, technically that would be a Tarpon, Redfish, Snook, and a Trout- but after this outstanding family fishing adventure- I can see the potential looming just ahead on the horizon.