The weather has turned to fall temperatures. This affords us light humidity, cooler mornings, and light to moderate East and N. East winds. Our snook bite will remain strong throughout the fall season. Most of the areas redfish groups headed offshore to spawn. We anticipate their return, and look forward to some great fishing once they hit our inshore flats. Nearshore fishing will begin to hot with falling water temps. Most the artificial reefs will begin to hold both bottom fish and mid column game fish. It is the best time of year to be fishing in South West Florida!!!

Hurricane Mathew threw a knock out punch to the red tide as expected.  That brings us back to our typical fall conditions of nice clean clear water and plenty of fishing opportunities.  Some guys are seeing good fish offshore in 50' of water on bait pods.  The usual suspects are king fish, mackerel, and Bonita, but the occasional tuna will be found as well.  The inshore fishing is still coming back, with snook being the first to show after the deadly red tide subside.  Redfish schools are abundant in the harbor system, and triple tail are starting to show on the trap lines.  As always our fall season is a great time to be fishing in South West Florida!!!
Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946
www.palmislandoutfitters.com
www.charlotteharborchronicles.com

We had a quick bout with Red Tide in south west Florida last week.  The good news is, it is starting to dissipate and the process of moving it offshore may be sped up with Hurricane Mathew scraping close to the East coast of Florida later this week.  Our guides have been focusing on the areas south in the larger waters of Charlotte Harbor during the last week.  Most of the fish have pushed way up in the back country to remove themselves from the effects of the deadly tide.  The guides that have been successful, have found fish at the heads of the creeks and most outer edges around the mouths, when the tide pushes high enough to access those areas. 

The tarpon fishing in the upper harbor system has made for some better fishing in typically deplorable conditions considering the effects of red tide.  Looking forward, we expect the bait to move back into the beaches and sounds, and that should move the fish back out into the bays with a willingness to feed after a week or so of fasting.  Schools of redfish will be found again once the water cleans up, and snook should move back to the middle bays looking to fatten up before the first couple cold fronts of winter move in.  The crab traps will be set next week for an October stone crab season, and that means our triple tail fishing will hopefully start with a bang.  With all things considered, we are looking forward to being back on the water after a slow week of charters due to some "stinky" conditions.

Capt. Mike Slattery
Cell- 941.626-6946
Office- 844.289-0741