July 2009

The weather in Traverse City is starting to really warm up now.  Lake Trout are being found along the many banks in West Bay about 85' deep.  Limit catches seem to be the norm right now.  The slot limits are working really well and most of the fish we release are too big!  I guess this is a happy problem.  Cherry Festival is happining now so our town is really busy.

A few Salmon are already showing up so Sam and I are are expecting another banner "big boy" season, starting soon.  Tight lines!

June 2009

The spring here in Northern Michigan has been colder than normal. This means the Lake temperature is still in the mid 40s and our Lake Trout are still in shallow water.  Today we caught fish in only 25' of water.  Tomorrow is the GTASFA Trout tournament and the Showtime is booked to fish it.  I'll update after we fish it.  Sam returns in a week.  Tight lines.

UPDATE!!  The GTASFA Trout tournament is over and Showtime took 4th place overall.  Mary won 1st place in the ladies division and her son Brady, took 2nd place in the junior angler division.  Nice job!!

May 2009

The Showtime is in the water and Showtimextreme will be launched on Sunday.  The season has begun with Lake Trout in very shallow water.   Size limits this year are the same as last and I'm expecting to see more Trout that are over the limit and must be released. The GTASFA has the Salmon pens in the Boardman river again this year so we are sure for a good Salmon return later this summer.  I'll update the news with more specific Trout numbers in a couple weeks.  Tight Lines!!

April 2009

I am back in Mi and getting the Showtime ready for the 2009 season.  I should have her in the water next week.  I am ready for some fresh water fishing!  Lake Michigan water levels are up after a tough winter with lots of snow, sorry I missed all that!  Sam just finished the World Sailfish Championships in Key West where they did real well, check the pics!  I'll update the news after the boat launch.  Tight lines!

March 2009

Our winter fishing in the Keys is winding down.  Its been a tough winter here with numerous cold fronts and lots of windy days.  Sam and I are both ready to return home for some calm Lake Michigan days.  I will be back by mid April and Sam will return mid June.  I will update the news when I am back in MI.  Calm seas!

October 2008

The 2008 season is over even though it seems to have just started.  Both boats are out of the water, Showtime has been put to bed until spring.  Showtimextreme is ready to head to the Keys for the winter season.  Our thanks go out to everyone who fished with us this year.  Our clients, all of you, are why we still set the bar in Traverse City.  For those we get to see in FL, we can't wait.  For summer 2009 we hope to see everyone again!  Be safe and happy!!!

September 2008

The fall Salmon run is in full swing.  The fish are bigger this year, Sam and I have each boated a couple just over 23 pounds!  Early morning and dusk, the gray light of the day, are the most productive times.  Depths range from 100' to 25' depending on what wind direction we have on any specific day.  We expect the Salmon fishing to stay strong right through the end of the month.  Tight lines!

August 2008

Our Lake Trout fishing remains as good as I have ever seen.  With the slot limit of 20-25 inches we are returning to the Lake 3 or more over 25 inch Trout on every trip.  Its a happy problem!   The fishery is STRONG.  Starting this week there are enough King Salmon in West Bay, here for the fall run, to  begin targeting these big brutes too.  Early catches find the Salmon are going to be bigger this year, with an average of over 15 pounds.  Sam and I have well over 40 trips pre booked this month, so call early for your specific date.  Game on.

July 2008

Its Cherry Festival week here in Traverse City, lots of people and lots to do!  Jim Pappas caught the season's first big 4 year Salmon last night weighing 16 pounds. We will start running Salmon lines while fishing for Trout as more of the "big boys" arrive every day.  Limit catches of Lake Trout are the norm.  We are in our famous summer weather now and should be for the next 2 1/2 months.  Its a great place to be! Tight lines!

June 2008

Update:  Captain Cam and the Showtime crew (Brent Fuller, Mary Littell, Brady Anderson, and Victor Mastaglio) took third place in the GTASFA Trout Tournament on June 7th.  Brady, 15 years old, took top honors for junior angler.  Great job everyone!!

June 2008

West Grand Traverse Bay is slowly warming up.  The first of the month as I write this and we are up to 50 degrees.  Lake Trout can be found in 10' of water and as deep as 160'.  As the surface warms, the fish will keep going deeper to find the colder water which they prefer.  Our Lake Trout catch has been good with a few junior Salmon thrown in.   Sam returns from Fl next week, so we will back to full strength!  Over the winter, Sam bought a new pair of Yamaha 4-strokes and re powered the Triton.  He now owns 1/2 of the Sam's Catch and Eat charter service.  Congats Sam!  Tight Lines.

May 2008

Lake Trout seem to be everywhere in West Bay.  They are in 40' of water all the way to 160'.  As the upper levels of the Bay warm into the 50 degree and above temps, the Trout will seek colder water.  Should be a good year.  The Tiara is booked for the Fishlander Trout tournament but still open for the GTASFA Salmon tournament, Sam's boat is already booked for Salmon Tournament. We also have a couple openings for the Blue Angel shows over West Bay on July 5 & 6.  Nothing like seeing these shows, by boat, in "the front row".  Give us a call!

April 2008

Our Florida fishing season has ended and the Triton is back in Traverse City.  Sam will be back the first week of June.  The Tiara will be launched in a couple days.  I'm really looking forward to fishing fresh water again.  The Ocean is exciting but its always great back to get back to my home waters.  I'll update the Trout fishing the first weeks of May.  Here we go!

October 2007

Another year is over and both boats have been pulled out of the water.  The Tiara will be winterized and stored, and the Triton will go to the Keys for winter charters.  2007 was our most successful year ever, I am very humbled.  I get to fish every year with a growing group of anglers and familys.  It is great to spend time with all of you and look forward to next year on the Bay!  I will also look forward to catching Shark with those who make the trip to my winter home.

Check showtimechartersextreme.com   Tight lines.

September 2007

Salmon are here in big numbers.  This morning we had 10 fish on and boated 8.  The smallest fish was 12 pounds.  There are big schools of these fall bruisers headed to West Bay for their spawning run up the Boardman River.  We have very few open dates until the 3rd week of September, when there are dates open.  The run should last through the whole month so give us a call and reel some in! Take care

August 2007

Salmon have started their late summer run into West Grand Traverse Bay.  The fish Sam and I have caught so far have averaged in the high teens.  Every day more schools arrive and fishing will only get better and last through September.  Lake Trout are still very strong for our mid day adventures.  If you are checking us out for the 1st time, you should know when you fish with "Showtime" you always fish with owners NOT hired captains.  Sam and I are full time Captains not weekend warriors.  We fish every day so we know where the active fish are.  Tight lines!!

July 2007

Sam is back at the helm of the Triton & catching fish.  A few Salmon are being caught and the Lake Trout are big and healthy, with 85' being our best depth.  Our first big schools of King Salmon should be here in a month.  The weather is perfect and the Cherry Festival starts in a week.  Right after the 4th, we get really busy and we are both ready to rock!!!!!!!!!! Calm seas and good times.

June 2007

Lake Trout fishing is still as good as it was in May. The Bay waters have warmed up to the mid 50s so our fish have gone a bit deeper, about 40-50 feet.  I think our summer weather is here now to stay, with temps in the 80s all next week.  Sam will be back from the Keys next week so Showtime will be back at full strength.  Tight lines!

May 2007

Lake Trout are hot right now.  Our last 2 trips have been limit catches.  The fish are really shallow since the temperature on our

Lake is only about 48.  As the waters warm, the Trout will head to deep areas.  Sam will be making his way to Michigan the middle of next month.  Tight lines!

April 2007

Spring time in Traverse City is here.  I made the trip back from the Keys this week and will have the Showtime in the water by the 1st of May.  I'm looking forward to fishing fresh water again and bookings have already begun.   Check out "showtimechartersextreme.com" for pictures of some of our saltwater fish.   Size limits for Lake Trout have not changed so I am expecting big numbers again this year.  Its way too early to predict our Salmon run, but if it anything like the last 4 years..........oh boy!!!!!!!!!!  Tight lines!

October 2006

Both boats are out of the water now.  What a great season!  We will get the Triton ready for the trip to Florida this month and start south the 1st of week November.  I'm excited to fish for Shark again and Sam is ready for the winter Sailfish.   Thanks to everyone who fished with Sam and me this year.  I will look forward to seeing some of you in Fl this coming winter.  Take care.

September 2006

The Labor Day weekend is over and we have our Bay back!  Sam and I fished together on the Tiara this morning and had only 15 other boats around the mouth of the Boardman river instead of the 70 boats last weekend.  The Salmon will be hot until the late fall cold fronts start the fish up the river.  Sam took 5th place in one of the tournaments last week that had 65 plus boats entered.  Tight lines.

August 2006

Well here we go.  The fall Salmon run has begun!  Sam has caught several Salmon in the last week including 2 at 24 pounds.  Cam has shifted his morning trips to 6am to get the early bite.  We predicted an early show of the Kings and the 1st school is here right now.  Our weather has turned really nice and we all hope for more of the same.  We will update the Salmon run in another week.  Tight lines.

July  2006

Wow!!!!!!! The Trout are hot.  Our last 6 trips have been limit catches and everyone is smiling.  We have caught a few Salmon in the last week, but we know any day now the 1st big school of fall bruisers we be coming into our Bay.  Sam has been doing his Catch and Eat trips and the new chef @ Apache Trout Grill has been getting a bunch of praise.  This week, all the reels get new line so we are ready for the Salmon.  Tight lines.

June 2006

Lake Trout are really a hot ticket right now.  The new size limits are allowing us to keep more fish and we are coming in with more limit catches that ever.  There are huge schools of bait fish and the Trout are really healthy.  I think we are going to see our Salmon early this year.  The only thing that could make this years Salmon any better than last year would be to start earlier!!   Sam is driving home from the Keys as I write this report so we will be back to full strength this weekend.

Tight Lines