Hogfish Heaven

If you are looking for a good time on the waters in the Tampa Bay area and fishing is your thing then this blog is for you. Years ago the elusive Hogfish was only attainable if you strapped a tank on your back and dove in. But in recent times the driven fisherman with a taste for Hogfish who didnt want to get wet have figured out a remedy. Trial and error have worked it down to a science. Bent Charters is no stranger to the technique. With baited hook and excited customers we have been reeling in these beautiful yet so yummy Hog Snapper. This process involves catching numerous species of smaller fish till the Hogs get nosey and want to see all the action. You know when you are hooked up with these mighty fish. They pack quite the punch per pound!
   So if you want to get out but not break the bank on a full day charter then give us a call. These charters are for 4 or 6 hours and so much fun. The kids are great at it and they stay busy the whole time! Fish after fish after fish keeps them happy. We love to teach the little ones to reel in their own fish and hold them to say cheese! Your memories will last a lifetime and you will want to come back again and again.
   Having to do the Orlando theme park deal? Save a day and head over to Tampa Bay/Saint Petersburg area to Deep Sea fish with us. We have been described by customers as "better than Disney!" We are in Johns Pass area so you can fish for 4 to 6 hours and still have a little shopping time or stroll the white sand Beach. Treasure Island to Saint Pete  each has wonderful stretches of sand and sun fun!

GOLIATH suprise for Matt with Bent Charters Fishing n Florida

Bent Charters "Good News" brings back great fish and makes awesome memories!

   Offshore with Bent Charters can make you want to keep coming back. John has been out with us before on several of our boats. Keeping an eye on the bite by following our Facebook page, he was ready to leave Ohio in the rear view mirror for the sun and action filled weekend in florida with his family and friend!
With 2 days reserved he was excited to get going.

   John with his sons and Mark with his boarded on Saturday morning not sure what to expect this time. John trusted that we would do everything to make a great trip for them.
   We headed out of Madeira marina passing through Johns Pass and off to our private traps. They were loaded with great pigfish and pins. At least a couple hundred fresh live bait to lure in the big boys!
   Running out to one of our honey holes 25 miles out was the first stop. The water was crystal clear and a deep blue. Conditions were perfect. A few freebie pins were thrown out and the show began. Amberjack were swimming everywhere... it was like a personal aquarium experience.! It didnt take but minutes to have AJs on for everyone. Fights were fast and fun. The box was loading up. Everyone got to muscle up fish after fish. Then it got real serious when one of the AJs was eaten by a Goliath (fka Jewfish). Apparently Zac, Connor and Drew had spoken on the flight down how awesome it would be to get one. Well the spot light was on and it was showtime. Connor and Zac fought a good fight and won the battle with the 300+ lb monster goliath. They even jumped in briefly with it for some pic opps. The excitement ran high and high fives in order.
   Back to business now. Drew found himself in the same struggle and was make headway on a goliath of his own. Pumping and gaining... SnAp... it broke off! Not without first wearing him out. Until you have felt this fish on the other end you cant begin to imagine the power.
   We hit a couple more spots and boated more AJs and barracuda. Sharks were all around too. Mark found himself in a battle of strength and endurance with a 6' shark. Getting video and some great pics we turned towards home. Needing some recouping our group was happy and ready to do it again the next day!
   Sunday morning came quick. Everyone boarding the boat again and heading out for more memories. The Gulf was almost like glass. Flying fish were out in numbers. What would today bring? With a refreshed sense and lots of gatorade we were anchoring up on first spot. Trying some bottom fishing at first. Tide was not moving at all. With a show on the machine but no bite to back it up we moved to another spot. Not much better. Red grouper that was too short and 2 mangrove snapper. Mark really wanted another big fight so we headed out another 10 miles. Huge Barracuda were looming everywhere! Shark were all mixed in with the AJs. Game on! We videod several 50+ lb AJs being brought in on light tackle shimano spheros on trevala rods. These awesome light tackle combos let you feel the action and power of the fight.  Within the mix John got his fight with another huge goliath that he managed almost all the way up and we saw it. It saw the boat and turned tail and powered back down and spit the hook! Even armed with a Penn International and 200lb test its hard to turn the head of a 300+ pound fish that is determined to get back to the bottom! All in all everybody got a handle turning experience on huge fish two days in a row!
   Getting back to the dock in time to catch their flight home to Ohio left one problem......70 pounds of fillets! So the fillets were packaged and shipped the next day by Capt Lance and Mate Heather to arrive 2 days later.
Bent Charters appreciates the continued loyalty of our return customers. We once again are happy to be able to have a hand in making memories that last forever!

   If you are looking to get out and make your own memories give us a call. (727) 614-6104 or (727) 235-9599 Captain Lance and Mate Heather would be more than happy to talk to you.

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Kingfish are crushing baits offshore and on the beach!

   Bent Charters has been catching the kings pretty much without fail! They have been striking anything from spoons to pinfish and cigar minnows.
   When our customers book a trip looking for action in 4 hours we offer up the choice of trolling for some kings and mackeral or catching small grouper. The kingfish is a much more sensational bite and experience.  When the kill the bait and your line starts smoking off you know its gonna be fun. Built for speed they bend the pole over as they run with the hook! It then becomes a battle of who wears who out first!
   If you have not had the experience of bringing in a king of your own give us a call. They are running hot right now. Book before their run is over. (727) 614-6104
   Check out our gallery of pics on Facebook or see our reviews on Tripadvisor.com.

Reviews for Bent Charters Fishing

   If you are coming to the Tampa Bay area and looking to soak some sun and fight some fish we are as your service! Bent Charters is a family owned and operated private charter business. We strive to make every trip just what you are looking for! With 4 boats to choose from we can fit your need offshore and inshore.  3 offshore boats are "Good News" - 40' sportfish, "Southern One" - 30' SeaVee and  "Grace" - 25' Delta.
   Captain Lance and Mate Heather go the extra mile in every way. Our customers are important to us. So every trip is a chance for us to make great memories in peoples busy lives. Whether you are a family on vacation doing the Disney thing and looking for something different. . . or a hard core fisherman looking to slay the fish . . We cater to your wants. Capt Lance has a wealth of knowledge and numbers! If you are not catching fish consistently he will move to another spot to stay in the action. Mate Heather keeps the hooks baited and takes great pictures to share. Both work well with children and count it a joy to help the little ones catch the BIG ones.
   Techniques are taught to newbies to ensure success. Catching fish like Grouper , Snapper and Amberjack is not luck... It is knowledge of the area and the right bait. Other fish in our waters : Cobia, Shark, Tuna, Mahi, Tripletail, Kingfish, Mackeral, Permit, Barracuda, and grunts.
   Inshore boat is a spacious 27' custom flats that takes up to 6 people. We do Tarpon and Drum target trips. More commonly we run 4, 6 and 8 hour trips for fish like trout, redfish, sheepshead, mackeral,  flounder. ..etc.
   You dont have to take our word for it.... Tripadvisor.com is a great reference site to check out. It allows "out of towners" to hear from actual customers how their experiences were with any given type of business. The Fishing industry can get flooded with "Captains" so its great to have 1st hand accounts from people.
   You are more than welcome to email or call us with any questions or concerns. Again. .. we appreciate our customers and prospects!

Heather Brooks
(727) 614-6104
Capt Lance Brooks
(727) 235-9599
BentCharters.Com

Red Grouper....Its whats for dinner.

  We have all been waiting for open season on grouper! Red grouper opens today. So no more sad customers having the throwback all those keeper grouper. There is certainly no shortage of grouper in our waters. So book now with Bent charters and load your cooler with meat!
   We run out of Madeira Beach municipal Marina. Convenient to the Treasure island / Johns Pass area and Tampa/Orlando. If you want to have an awesome time with friendly knowledgeable guides than call Captain Lance Brooks or Mate Heather Brooks. . . We aim to please! Check out our reviews on Tripadvisor by clicking here.
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   We hope to hear from you and get the opportunity to show you just how awesome a trip with Bent Charters can be!

Heather Brooks
(727) 614-6104
Capt Lance Brooks
(727) 235-9599

Tyler stole the show!

Ryan called Bent Charters looking to get his son and friends on the water for some action.
Minnesota weather made this chilly florida day no biggie for them. So off to the bait traps. Showing the kids the several types of crabs we get and putting live bait in the well was quick.     First stop only caught a couple so we moved twice then hit a good one. Elijah was pulling in the red grouper left and right!  He even joked of not getting a break. The back of boat had action from Nick and Isaiah bringing in the grunts for the box and grouper for pics. Tyler changed up rods from a 6/0 to a 3/0 with 40lb test and a chicken rig. He was steadily pulling in dinner. Isaiah and Nick brought in 2 very nice Gag grouper about 10-12 pounders. Then Tyler had a hit he realized he needed a little help with....he caught an 18 lb Gag Grouper on his chicken rig with chunks of thread fins! Wow..what a great job. After all the excitement a few more were pulled up , even a big puffer fish (blow fish). Ryan had his share Red grouper and helping Tyler with his Gag.
All in all it was a great 4 hour trip and great pictures to prove their fish stories.

Thanks so much for choosing Bent Charters Fishing for you vacation excitement!  Hope to see you next time.

Capt. Lance Brooks (727) 235-9599
Mate Heather Brooks (727) 614-6104

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NO BANANA FEARS

February 22 , 2013

Bent Charters trip with customers Teresa and Elliot had a nice little variety of fish. They were quite the traveling fishing couple! What a fun time with great people. Day started off with a dolphin display on way down inner coastal to Johns Pass bridge. At open water we headed to our bait traps for pulling live bait. Filled up the live well then headed to the spot. In no time at all the poles were hooked up with Grouper. (scamp,red and Gag) A light tackle set up off back of boat was bringing in the Mango (mangrove snapper).
The pole went off and we knew it was no snapper and Elliot manned in the Cobia in video. It was 32 1/2" so it was released.

All in all it was a beautiful day on the water and we made new friends. We truly appreciate the business of each and every charter we run. Thank you to all who have chosen Bent Charters to create the memories they will never forget.

Thanks again Teresa and Elliot ..... see ya next time!
 - Heather

Goliath Grouper 250+ with Bent Charters

Watch "Bent Charters 250 Goliath" on YouTube

This week has been Goliath!

  Offshore fishing with Bent Charters brought up a beast for customers Tony and Carlos! This fish was 350+ lbs on the conservative side. Check out the YouTube video of the fight!