Regular Guy Charters: The Captain's Blog

Bringing Home the Mackerel: Smoked Kingfish Dip

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:47:00 +0000

We have posted a number of recipes on our blogs, and continuing in that tradition, the Kingfish (king mackerel) recipe posted here is one we use for special occasions and as an appetizer when entertaining. It works great also as a dish to bring when going to potlucks and when visiting. It is very simple and tastes great. Enjoy.

Mike’s Smoked Kingfish Dip

1 lb smoked kingfish filets
2 boiled eggs
½ medium sweet onion
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
¾ cup mayonnaise
¾ cup tartar sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Remove the skin and blood line (dark line that runs the length of the filet) from the smoked kingfish and chop in food processor, along with the onion and parsley flakes. Finely chop eggs and combine with fish mixture in medium mixing bowl. Add mayonnaise, tartar sauce and salt and pepper. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Serve with club crackers.

Makes 2 -3 cups of dip.

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The Season is Here and Fishing is Great!

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 19:04:00 +0000

We survived the winter (what there was of it) and the year has started off great for us. What didn’t happen until March of last year has happened already. Huge kingfish are being caught in large numbers. We are catching limits of 30 to 40 pound fish on most fishing trips.

Because of the mild winter, our cobia run has begun and for the next couple of months, we can expect them here in large numbers. The end of March and beginning of April should spring us into our dolphin (mahi-mahi) run, and deep water trolling for them will hopefully produce quality catches of nice fish.

The bottom line is: fishing is great now and should remain that way through the end of the summer. The weather is great here, so if it’s cold where you are—don’t wait—book a Canaveral fishing charter trip on the Sunrise now!

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Red Snapper Fishing Video

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 15:29:00 +0000

A short video from a recent red snapper fishing trip on the Sunrise with Regular Guy Charters:

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Red Snapper Fishing Time in Florida!

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:36:00 +0000

South Atlantic Red Snapper 2012 Mini-Seasons

Great news! The National Marine Fisheries Service has just announced that two, three-day red snapper fishing mini-seasons will be opened September 14-16 and 21-23 of this year. As anyone who follows Atlantic deep sea fishing knows, there has been no red snapper season for the last 2½ years.

Over the last year or so, we at Regular Guy Fishing Charters have been catching numerous large red snapper while targeting other species—now, for 6 days, we will be able to keep them.

Red snapper are one of the hardest fighting and best tasting fish in the ocean. The limit will be one fish per person with no size limit. The available trips will be going fast, so give us a call or send us an email to book your red snapper fishing trip for Port Canaveral, FL.

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You Never Know What You Might See

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:41:00 +0000

Part of the fun of fishing off of the coast of Port Canaveral is that you never know what you might see. Last month, on a morning half-day fishing charter trip, I saw a dark shadow under the water. Thinking it was a manta ray, which we see quite often, and many times have cobia swimming near them, I went over to investigate. It wasn’t a manta ray, but a whale shark, and it had cobia with it. Eight of them in fact—and we caught all eight.

The whale shark was about twenty feet long, which is small for a whale shark, which is the largest fish in the world. Fishing is not just about catching fish; it can be an opportunity to experience wildlife that you don’t even get to see at Sea World. On nearly every trip we see dolphins, sea turtles and many other types of sea life. It can truly be an incredible experience.

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The latest catch - April 2012

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:49:00 +0000

A recent catch from the Sunrise with Regular Guy Fishing Charters: Captain Mike and mate Adam with 52 lb dolphin (mahi-mahi) - April 17, 2012 Port Canaveral, FL.

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Family Fun: Fishing near Disney

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:15:00 +0000

In a previous post I discussed combining a family vacation to Disney World, or one of the other Orlando area theme parks, with a deep sea charter fishing trip from Port Canaveral. I want to expand on that topic some and discuss how great an experience a family fishing trip can be.

We recently took a family of four out for a day of deep sea fishing, and to quote the mother, “First let me say once again what an amazing time we had with you and Kyle!! The boys had a great time at Disney, but they both say that the fishing trip was THE BEST part of the entire trip!!” I can’t tell you how many times I have heard the same thing from other family groups.

A great pleasure for me is seeing a young person experience for the first time, what for me, has been a passion of a lifetime. We work very hard to teach kids how to fish the way we do while at the same time making it, to quote above, “the best part of the entire trip.” Offshore fishing trips are safe, reasonably priced, and an added bonus, you get to take dinner home with you. Our equipment is light enough and the boat is big enough, so that children as young as 5 and great-grandparents as old as 90 can, and have, experienced the thrill of deep-sea fishing with us.

Take a look at some of the pictures along with this article, check out the web site for more, and give us a call. Come to see us and take the family fishing!

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Check out our article in Brevard Live Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:10:00 +0000

Check out this full page article, featuring Regular Guy Charters, on page 47 of the February 2012 issue of Brevard Live Magazine.

Please note, this is a PDF; you can scroll down to page 47 once you download it:

To Catch a Fish –by Joe Cronin

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Choosing a Fishing Charter Company

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 18:35:00 +0000

Hiring a fishing charter boat for a day’s entertainment can be a costly proposition, especially for a family outing. Notice I said, entertainment. A good fishing charter company’s goal should be to provide his clients with a safe and enjoyable experience while catching a boatload of fish. Below are some things I think should be considered when choosing a fishing charter company.

Price: Know what you are buying. There are many types of boat designs from open center consoles to large sport fishermen with air-conditioned salons. If one company offers a much lower or much higher price than the others, ask questions. Again, determine what you are spending your money on.

Boat design: This goes with item number one above. Even when priced the same, there are many different types of boats of the same size. My advice is to look for one that has been designed from the keel up as a sport fishing boat. Look for things such as fighting chairs (a great help for young or novice anglers), fishing room, and seating comfort.

Crewing: Some companies operate their boats with just a captain. A two-person crew with a captain and a mate can often make the difference not only in catching fish, but also in safety and entertainment value.

Number of engines: Some boats are single engine; some are twin engines. Usually the twin-engine boats are not any faster than the single engine boats, but from a safety standpoint, two is better than one.

Tuna tower: Boats with tuna towers, especially those with full electronics, can often be an advantage when it comes to locating fish. Two person crews are an advantage when it comes to operating the boat from a tuna tower.

The list above is by no means all-inclusive, but it should offer some help when finding a Florida fishing charter. I am always available to answer any questions, so please feel free to contact me at captmike@regularguycharters.com or at 321-432-9007.

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Cobia Time in Port Canaveral Florida

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:23:00 +0000

After a windy and slow winter, it's time to get started with a new year of fishing; and the first fish out of the blocks—COBIA. I have blogged about this fish before, but since I find the cobia probably the most exciting (and best eating) fish in the ocean, it doesn’t hurt to talk about them again.

This is the time of the year when they show up in numbers here off Port Canaveral. What makes it so exciting is that this is almost exclusively a site-fishing experience. When the sun gets high and the water warms up, the fish come to the surface, either as single fish, in packs, or when it really gets the adrenaline up, swimming along with monster manta rays.

We stalk the fish in areas where they have been congregating and when we spot them, either toss jigs or live bait to them. Watching the cobia turn on the bait and engulf it is a real rush. Catching these thirty to seventy pound fish on spinning gear is one of the greatest fishing experiences any angler can have.

The fish should be here from now through April, so book your trip to get in on the cobia fishing action. Recipes included!

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Canaveral Charter Fishing Trip - October 27, 2011

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:04:00 +0000

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Manhattan-Style Redfish Chowder Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:01:00 +0000

My wife Phyllis is the best cook in the world. Below is her recipe for Manhattan Style Fish Chowder. The recipe calls for redfish, but any firm fish will do. Trust me—it's good!

Manhattan-style Redfish Chowder
Phyllis Gautreaux

2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp bacon drippings
3 cups chopped onion
1 cup chopped carrot
¾ cup chopped green bell and Anaheim peppers
3 garlic cloves minced
¼ cup tomato paste
1 cup dry white wine
¼ cup lemon juice
2 cups chopped peeled red potato
2 cups water
1 cup vegetable broth
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
2 drops Tabasco sauce
2 8-oz. bottles clam juice
1 28-oz can plus 1 16-oz can petite chopped tomatoes
1 bay leaf
2 lbs. Red Fish / Drum (or other firm white fish) fillets, skinned and cut into 1-inch pieces
Chopped parsley and chopped green onions for garnish

Melt butter and bacon drippings in an 8 qt soup pot over medium heat. Sauté onions, carrots, and peppers for about 10 minutes, adding garlic during the last 2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1-2 minutes longer. Add wine and lemon juice and cook 1-2 minutes more. Add the rest of the ingredients, except for the redfish, and bring to a boil.

Reduce to medium heat and simmer 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Add redfish. Cover and cook 10 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Chowder should have a nice black pepper flavor. Discard bay leaf before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley and chopped green onions.

Serves 6-8

More Fish Recipes

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Saying Goodbye to the Shuttle and more...

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:06:00 +0000

On Friday, July 8, 2011, the last shuttle launch took place here on the Space Coast of Florida. Pete Quast and his party flew in from California and chartered the Sunrise (Regular Guy Charters fishing boat) to watch the historic event. I have seen many shuttle launches, a number of them from the water, but this one was really special. The company on the boat, the significance of the event and the pure spectacle of the launch all combined to make it the best one yet. One of the guests on board was professional photographer, Don Adkins. I am including some of his shots in the hopes that I can share some of the event with all of you.

In the last blog, I mentioned that the fishing had been good and should continue to be that way. I was not wrong. The amazing thing is that we continue to catch cobia, along with king mackerel, a few small mahi, sailfish, bonito, sharks, barracuda and other species. Our cobia count is now 99. Now is the time of flat seas and calm winds. With the fishing being good, you couldn’t ask for a better time to schedule a Florida offshore fishing adventure on the “Sunrise” with Regular Guy Charters.

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Port Canaveral Fishing Update and Forecast

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:50:00 +0000

In the last blog post, I reported that we had had a great cobia fishing season, and to that point, had brought in 50 cobia. That number, as of the end of April is now 69 and there are still some around.

As predicted, we are starting to have great catches of kingfish (king mackerel). One day last week, we had 11 kings and a nice cobia. Our early summer weather is here, calm seas and light winds, and the dolphin (mahi-mahi) should be right behind. Normally, we would be catching them by now, but our water temperatures have been slow to rise.

We are seeing large schools of tarpon on the beach, and for those strong of heart, an epic battle with one of the world’s greatest fighting fish can produce memories of a lifetime.

I have included some fishing photos from a recent trip. Enjoy and plan your next trip to central Florida so that it includes a visit to Port Canaveral and a deep sea fishing trip on Sunrise with Regular Guy Charters.

*Canaveral Fishing Charter offer: See how to save $50 on a full day trip with Regular Guy Charters in June*

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Cobia, Kingfish, and Dolphin Fishing in Florida

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:39:00 +0000

It has been a fantastic cobia season for Regular Guy Charters and the Canaveral fishing charter boat "Sunrise".

In two weeks and ten trips, we have brought 51 cobia to the dock, the best season in a number of years. Now that the water temperature has warmed up, the cobia are more scattered, but they are still here, just a little harder to find. But that's OK, because with the warmer water the kingfish (king mackerel) have shown up in large numbers.

On yesterday's trip we caught the limit of 10 to 12 pound fish in less than an hour. Also with the warmer water will come the dolphin (mahi-mahi). So now on a typical full day trip we can fish for kingfish, then troll for dolphin and then maybe get a cobia or two on the way home--a great way to spend a day out fishing.

The weather for the rest of the year should be real nice, so nothing but great things are in store for our Port Canaveral, Florida fishing.

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Canaveral Cobia Update

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 23:08:00 +0000

Our fishing charter boat, the Sunrise, has fished cobia for 6 days in a row out of Port Canaveral, Florida. Clients have caught a total of 30 cobia so far. Don't miss out! A cobia charter fishing trip is only $500 now through the end of March.

Want to know how to cook your cobia? Check out this blog post from last June for a great cobia recipe.

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We're Back: Cobia and Dolphin Fishing in Port Canaveral

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:59:00 +0000

It has been a long, cold, and windy winter, even here in sunny Port Canaveral, Florida. It has been tough to fish over the winter, although, when we have been able to get out, our fishing has been good. We have had to spend a lot of time at the dock this winter. The good news is, at least for us, it's over! And there is nothing but good news in sight.

Every year at this time, we are chomping at the bit waiting for our cobia fishing season here in Port Canaveral. They are here now, and the fleet has had some real nice catches of fish ranging to 75 lbs. The cobia should be here in large numbers through the next couple of months.

Starting around the middle of April, the spring dolphin (mahi-mahi) run should be upon us and then it is off to the races. In a typical year it is not unusual for us to bring ten or twelve nice dolphin in the 30 lb range and then pick up a cobia or two on the way home. The spring is a great time to fish out of here and it is finally here. Give us a call to book your Port Canaveral charter fishing trip; fishing is great!

Call now to get a discounted $500 Canaveral Cobia Fishing Trip - now through the end of March!

Check out this past blog post for a great Cobia Recipe!

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Fishing When it Ain't Easy

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 04:04:00 +0000

To be successful at most things requires preparation and a lot of effort. Fishing sometimes also requires a certain amount of gut instinct and luck.

We had a trip last week that was a combination of both of the latter. The wind had been blowing for over two weeks and the seas had been pounding—nobody had been fishing. As charter captains, we rely on information to make decisions on which species to target, where to go, how to fish and many other things. After two weeks of no fishing, none of that was in place.

The weather had just started to break, but it looked like the day the charter was scheduled would be barely fishable. After considering postponing for a day, we decided to go. The seas were still 3 to 5 feet, but the wind was backing off. We were the only boat going, so we had no one to share info with or to help in our planning. We were unable to find live bait, so were starting with another disadvantage. Because of the seas, we decided to start closer to shore. We put our lines in at a buoy about nine miles out.

Before we could get them all out, we had a nice kingfish on. Fishing wasn’t red hot, but we did manage to catch a kingfish, a nice dolphin (mahi-mahi), break off a cobia, and catch a number of bonito and sharks—lots of action for everyone. After a couple of hours, the seas started to back off, so we able to run five miles to another spot. There we caught two more kings, two real nice dolphin, and a bunch more bonito and sharks— again a lot of action for the clients. I guess the moral of the story is to use your instincts, try your best, and maybe rely on a little luck.

Good fishing,

Captain Mike
Regular Guy Charters

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Amberjack!

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 04:28:00 +0000

Amberjack — probably the hardest fighting fish in the ocean.

I have seen 250-pound men almost cry as they tried to bring one up from deep water. In spite of my warnings to hold on tight to the rod, I saw my equipment join the wreck on the bottom when the rod was snatched out of an angler’s hand.

Also called AJs and locally “reef donkeys," amberjack are common in most large salt-water bodies of water. Here in the Canaveral / Cocoa Beach area, they can be found on most of the mid to deep water wrecks year round.

We fish for them using three different techniques. The most common is dropping a live bait (pinfish, croaker, spot). The jacks are usually suspended over the wrecks, so it requires a little bit of trial and error to correctly place the bait. Normally we drop to the bottom and then bring the bait up a certain number of cranks to get into the target area as seen on the depth finder.

While sending the live bait down, we will usually also drop down a 10 or 12 ounce butterfly jig. This works with fish suspended well up in the water column. The jig should be worked quickly with fast upward jerks of the rod.

Sometimes the jacks will come to the surface following a hooked fish. In that case we
try to keep them there by tossing out live baits with no hooks in them. This keeps them in the feeding mood. Free-spooling back a live bait back on a bottom rod will usually generate a hook-up.

If you would like to try on a battle with one of these bruisers, feel free to contact us or check out more information on our website.

Capt. Mike
Regular Guy Charters

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Sailfish! And Mahi-Mahi in Port Canaveral

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:45:00 +0000

As I mentioned in a previous post, one of the great things about fishing out of Port Canaveral and Cocoa Beach is the great variety of fish you can catch. Last week we caught king mackerel, cobia, dolphin (mahi-mahi) and sailfish.

On one trip, we caught nine dolphin and a very nice sailfish. The weather was perfect, as it usually is during the summer here, and the water was beautiful. The dolphin were on a weed line in 140’ of water and we had a lot of fun sight fishing for them. We must have seen 50 fish! The sail was out a little deeper and we caught it while trolling a rigged ballyhoo with a skirt.

Our good weather and great fishing should continue for the next few months; now is the time to book your Florida charter fishing trip.

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Cooking Your Fish: Cobia with Andouille Corn Sauce Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:38:00 +0000

Cobia Recipe: Fishing is a great sport—unlike golf, tennis, bowling, or other sports, you usually have something to show for it when the day is over. As part of our fishing charter business, we clean the fish for you at the end of the day. So, fresh fish is on the menu when you return home. Many people are not used to preparing fresh, salt-water fish, so as part of our blog series we thought that it would be helpful to occasionally include some fish recipes from an excellent cook, my wife Phyllis. Today’s fish recipe is one of our favorites for cobia, one of the best eating fish in the ocean.

Cobia with Andouille Corn Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

1 3-oz link andouille sausage, sliced ¼” thick
¼ cup bell pepper, finely chopped
¼ cup green onion, finely chopped
2T chopped parsley (plus some for garnish)
12 medium shrimp, peeled
Garlic powder
Cayenne pepper
3 Tbsp butter or margarine
3 ears corn
¼ cup milk
4 4-oz Cobia filets about ¾” thick
Salt, pepper

Season shrimp with garlic powder and cayenne pepper (sparingly).
Cut corn from cob. Use side of spoon to scrape corn milk from cob (approx 2 Tbsp)
Lightly season cobia with garlic powder.
Saute andouille, bell pepper and green onions in large non-stick skillet over medium heat for 3- 4 minutes. Remove add shrimp to skillet and cook 1-2 minutes per side. Remove from skillet. Do not rinse skillet.
Melt butter in skillet and sauté corn 3-4 minutes add milk as needed. Thicken with corn milk. Add previously cooked ingredients and keep warm on low heat. Add salt and pepper to taste.
In separate non-stick pan, lightly pan fry cobia, (use non-stick cooking spray or olive oil, or butter) until fish flakes.
Remove to serving platter and spoon corn sauce over cobia. Garnish with parsley.

Enjoy!

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$50 off for all dads on Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:16:00 +0000

Calling All Dads: Save $50 on a full day Port Canaveral fishing charter on the Sunrise with Regular Guy Charters for Father's Day. Call or email for details.

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Why Are Port Canaveral Fishing Charters Better?

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Sportfishing in Port Canaveral

For people visiting the central Florida area, including Cocoa Beach or Orlando, on vacation, there are a number of choices for those desiring a deep sea fishing trip. They range from New Smyrna Beach to Fort Pierce on the east coast and from Clearwater to Naples on the west coast.

So why chose Port Canaveral? There are a number of reasons.

Proximity: Port Canaveral is only an hour drive on four-lane freeway from any of the Orlando attractions. All of the other locations are farther.

Trips/Rates: A standard sportfishing trip from Port Canaveral is 9 hours, while other locations offer shorter trips and cost more. Because of our proximity to productive fishing grounds our run-outs are much shorter (which means more fishing time).

Choices: There are over two dozen fishing charter boats operating out of Port Canaveral and they range in size from 20’ to 60’.

Captains: I truly believe that we have the best charter captains in central Florida in Port Canaveral. They are knowledgeable and conscientious and will work as hard as possible to put their clients on fish. In many locations, charter captains keep information on fish activity to themselves. Not here—we readily share information to give our anglers the best possible experience.

Fishing: The most important reason to fish Port Canaveral is the quality and variety of the sportfishing. Year round on a typical day anglers have the chance of catching sailfish, dolphin (mahi-mahi), cobia, king mackerel (kingfish), wahoo, grouper, snapper, amberjack, barracuda, sharks and many other species. We will clean your fish for you at the end of the day and send it home with you.

When planning your Florida vacation, please consider including a deep sea charter fishing trip, and when making those plans check out Regular Guy Charters.

Captain Mike
Regular Guy Charters

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Charter the Sunrise for the 2010 FSFA Offshore Slam

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Wed, 26 May 2010 23:52:00 +0000

Join us on the Sunrise for the 2010 FSFA 42nd Annual Offshore Slam at Sunrise Marina in Port Canaveral on June 5. We pay to enter, and we split any winnings 50/50 if you charter the Sunrise for the tournament.

Over $11,000* in Prizes
19 Chances to Win Cash & Merchandise Prizes

See our website for details about the Sunrise and about booking through Regular Guy Charters.

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Memorial Day Weekend Offer for Veterans

noreply@blogger.com (CM) — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:54:00 +0000

All Veterans:
Save 10% this Memorial Day weekend on a full day fishing charter with Regular Guy Charters in Port Canaveral, FL. See our website for trip details.
Offer valid for all veterans May 29-31 2010.
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