As I write this on the 2nd of the month, Sam is in the Keys for a few more days and I will be in Florida in about a week. Sam has been the captain on 4 sailfish tournaments and I am planning some fishing in the panhandle area. I will be making the trip with my father!
The Showtime will has all new Lowrance HDS electronics for 2012. She also has a new LED underwater light on the transom which should be very interesting! The arch was removed and powder coated again, then outfitted with new LED spotlights. The cockpit lights are new LED light too. Can't wait to get started! Bring it!!
September 2011 Its the 1st of September and Sam and I are happy to report that we had the best month of August EVER! Thanks to everyone! The salmon season is in full swing. There are more salmon then we have seen in many years! The fish are bigger this year. We have boated many 20+ pounders that have our reels singing. I had one that ran off 400 feet of line before my angler skillfully worked him to the boat. New schools seem to be arriving everyday too. Great year, great times!
August 2011 1st of August and our first big school of salmon are here! Sam caught 8 on 8-1, good job Sam! We will start targeting these big fish everyday now as well the lake trout.
I'm happy to report that we had had the best July in 28 years of being in business! Sam and I are really proud of that. Thanks to everyone who fished with us! Tight lines.
July 2011 Busy time for the Showtime boats. Sam has been busy on the Extreme and so have I on the Showtime. Lots of trout every trip with the fish still in pretty shallow water for the 1st week of July. Normal depths for this time in July would be 100-120 foot deep but we are still getting fish 50 feet down over 60 foot. Surface temp is 64 degrees, last year it was 75 the 1st week of July! Also we have a huge school just outside the harbor which means no long runs to the active fish! I'll update in a couple weeks.
Update: West Bay is heating up so the trout are deeper, 85-90 feet now. Good numbers too since we can eliminate the top 60 feet of the lake.
The Michigan Department of Community Health has issued another of their bogus fish advisories. I want to address that here. Everytime these government agencies tests our fish they grind up the whole fish, heads, fins and tails etc. When Michigan Sate University has tested properly prepared fillets its been determinded the fillets are completely safe for everyone! I don't understand why the state doesn't test the fillets that we eat. Its laughable to us in the fishing community. After all I eat lots of trout and still don't glow in the dark!!
June 2011 Lots of news to report! First, Sam's team in Cabo won the IGFA Offshore World Championship. 60 teams from all over the world competed in 4 days of billfish fishing. Sam's team ended the 4 days with the world championship. An amazing win! He will be returning to Traverse City by June 18th to take the helm of his boat, Showtimeextreme.
Back in West Bay, the trout fishing is the best I have ever seen! On June 4th, during the GTASFA trout tournament the crew on Showtime boated over 40 trout in 6 hours. We caught fish in 20' and as deep as 160'. The fish are everywhere! Showtime is also teaming up with Turtle Creek Casino, Leelanau Sands Casino and The Bear 98.1 for a big fathers's day giveaway. Watch for details.
Our weather has finally returned to normal summer temps. Check the photo page for an amazing sunrise picture as we headed out of the marina for the trout tournament. Tight Lines!!
UPDATE: Sam's back in Traverse City so we are now at full strength! I fished the new Big Jon downriggers on Friday. WOW!! These new riggers are fast, smooth and quiet. They stop automatically when the cannon ball reaches the surface. These are deffinately the best on the market and big upgrade for the Showtime boats!
May 2011 The Showtime is in the water, the Showtime Extreme will launch in June when Sam returns from Florida. It has been a cold start to May but this week temps are returning to normal. No fishing to report yet in Michigan however Sam is heading to Mexico to compete in a major billfish tourament. I'll update this report soon with results from Mexico and West Grand Traverse Bay!
April 2011 1 month until launch day! I can't wait to get back on the water. The Showtime will roll out of her winter home (pole barn) and get washed and waxed. The engines will get tuned up, then back to the Bay. We went the the Grand Rapids Sport Show a week ago. I bought some new fishing electronics and 4 more Shimano Tekota reels. Our boat has all Shimano reels now which have the best drags on the market. This really makes are anglers experience the best possible. I am also getting sponsored by Big Jon this year, so both boats will have brand new Big Jon downriggers! Lastly, the stereo system is brand new with the capability to attach to your ipod or phone to play YOUR tunes while we catch fish. Going to be a great year! Tight lines.
March 2011 Another season is fast aproaching! The Showtime has gone through a major renewal starting last fall. The deck was painted, top and side curtains are new, the arch was repowder coated and then reinstalled, the helm and companion seat are new as are the 2 fighting chairs. Even the name on the transom was redone! Looks like a new boat! Sam is still in the Keys but will return early June. The Showtime will be in the Bay by the 1st of May. Here we go!!!
September 2010 Lots of Salmon in West Bay now. We fish for these big fish every morning and evening. The mouth of the river is only 1 mile from the marina which means a very short boat ride and more time to spend fishing. Jill has returned to MSU and I'm sure is spending lots of time with her text books! The big fish of the year so far is a 24 pounder but i'm sure there will bigger ones to come. Game on!
August 2010 The lake trout bite is still strong with fish being caught in the 110 to 120 foot depths. This summers weather has been the very best. Huge schools of salmon are working their way to West Bay. As I write, they are not here yet. Every year is the same, not here today and tomorrow, thousand show up. Sam has spent a week in Maryland fishing the White Marlin Open. He has returned and is ready to target the Kings. Jill returns to MSU the 3rd week of August but will be working some weekends through September. Game on!
July 2010 What a way to start the month! The Navy Blue Angels, Cherry Festival and lake trout biting big time. After some 30 knot SW winds over 2 days, our trout schools moved from the 100 foot depths to the 50 foot levels. By now they have moved back to 85 feet and are chasing bait everywhere we fish. By simulating the bait we have been having some nice catches. A few Salmon are showing up, but it still a bit early to target them. Another couple weeks and we will be targeting and catching a few and by the end of the month we expect several each trip. July is a great time for trout and great weather! Tight lines!
June 2010 The month starts with West Bay warmer than normal. Surface temps are in the 60s and our trout are hitting in 50 feet of water. Last weekend I fished with Victor, Mary, Amy and Brady in the GTASFA trout tourament. We ended the tournament with the largest fish overall, the largest trout by a female angler and the 2nd largest trout. This year there have been several salmon caught which is really early. I am hoping this continues! Sam returns next week. Tight lines!!
May 2010 Lake Trout are hitting in shallow water right now. Depths of 20-50 feet have been our most productive. It takes really long leads on our baits to be successful when the fish are this shallow. As the water continues to warm up, these fish will go deeper to find the cold water where they thrive. Sam is still in the Keys, but will be returning to Traverse City in a couple weeks. Jill is back home after her first year at Michigan State and will be Showtimes first mate again this year. Tight Lines!!
April 2010 What a great Spring we have had in Traverse City. The Showtime is just about ready to launch and get to work! I'll post pictures when we splash her. Sam is still in the Keys but will be back home in about 7 weeks. I'm really excited for the 2010 fishing season and look forward to seeing all our friends again.
February 2010 The Showtime crew hopes everyone is doing great for 2010! Two more months and the spring work will begin on the boats. The Showtime has been getting some new equipment and many parts repainted and renewed. Some new canvas work begins next week. The Showtimeextreme will be ready for spring fishing after the winter dust is washed off. Sam has been on the Sailfish tournament trail this winter and his crew is in the top 10! It has been record cold in the Keys this year but they are still getting the fish. Good luck Sam!
September 2009 Salmon Salmon Salmon. Every morning and every evening we are catching these big fish in West Bay. The late summer run is red hot, right now. The Salmon are bigger this year, I'm sure we will see a couple over 30 pounds. Our weather is beautiful and the fish are big........how perfect is that? I'll do an update when we get that 30 pounder! Jill has started Michigan State but is here on the weekends. Paul Feterman is back working as a 1st mate for a while. Tight Lines!!!
August 2009 Salmon are showing up in West Bay right now. These silver beauties are biting at dawn and dusk. As we get later in the month we will be putting all our attention to filling our fish boxes with these hard fighting fish. This week, Sam is a guest angler in the White Marlin Open in Ocean City Maryland. Cam has been holding down the fort here in TC. Showtime will be back at full strength on the 8th. While our weather hasn't been perfect this summer, we still can get out everyday thanks to the protected waters of West Bay. Tight lines! UPDATE AUGUST 21 Salmon have really come into West Bay. Today we had 14 strikes and 7 in the boat. One fish weighed 23 pounds and another was 28 pounds. Yeah!!
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 happening 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