The weather in SWFL has been changing, It's starting to finally look like spring here. We have had a blustery March and April thus far, and are anticipating the wind and weather to begin a more consistent pattern for the end of the month. 

Inshore... Redfish, Trout, and Snook are the target species. Redfish have rebounded nicely after more than a few years of epic red tide events. There are both adolescent and adult breeder fish moving in and around the bay.

This months pictures come from two local anglers and coaches at Lemon Bay highschool. Coach Huber and Coach Southwell are both avid anglers, and have been riding an afternoon trend for a few weeks now. They report that the bite has been great for artificial and coach Huber caught his Personal Best Redfish!!! Along with coach Southwell landing a great SWFL snook!!! 

Fishing around Manasota Key, Boca Grande, and Palm Island has been great this July!!! The summer time inshore bite has been fairly consistent. Getting out early has been working well for us. Snook fishing on the early morning incoming tides, is producing good consistent "catch and release" action. For keeper fish, we are targeting our inshore mangrove snapper. Most snapper caught are within 10-16" and with full bag limits for your party, it's a fun way to catch some really good tasting fish for dinner.

Tarpon are still lingering about... Some days there are fish in "Big pass". Some days there are scattered fish on the beach, and fish scattered in the harbor.  It's a go to know scenario at this point in the season. But, there are definitely still plenty of shots out there to be had.  It's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida.

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

Summer time fishing is getting hot! "Pun" intended there. The warm weather has the fish moving into a summer time trend. That means some great snook fishing is to be had throughout the fishery.

Snook stack up in and around most of the passes or inlets. Snook can be found tight to heavy cover, or in close proximity to anything that can block or slow the current flow. Fishing for snook on crystal clear, early morning tides can be some of the most fun fishing we do all summer time.

If you aren't into the Tarpon thing, summer time snook fishing is the next best thing! With all fish pictured in this report being caught in the last 7 days... It's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

Our spring fishing has kicked off with a bang!!! This years relentless winter, has given way to an "Oven baked" spring!!! We had temperatures this week, that started in the low 50's, and rose to nearly 90 degrees!!! Those rising temperatures, have made the fish respond positively!!! 

Morning half days are producing a good bite for keeper trout, and snook on deeper shorelines, because the tides are still in the winter solstice... But, the afternoons... with the turn and help from the westerly winds, and a healthy incoming tide, have been producing redfish, snook, and trout... with incredible consistency!!!

It's a fun time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

The pompano fishing in the bay remains strong. With the forecast calling for highs in the low 80's for the next 10 days, we anticipate bait fishing to kick off within that time frame. Transitioning nto spring conditions Snook, redfish, and trout are our bread and butter trips. With spring conditions on the horizon, it's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

With our first real cold front of the year on our front door step, the fall fishing has been excellent thus far. Bait has been abundant and available for most days to catch on your leisure. 

Inshore, redfish have starting their spawning routine and can be found in massive schools throughout the harbor system. Snook, are always fun to target this time of year, and it's been hard to find a shoreline that doesn't have a few sitting on it. 

Trout are being caught on the deeper edges of grass and oyster bars throughout the region. The winter months seem to be the best season for finding big trout in shallow water. Look for the "Gators" sunning in shallow sand holes near those same oyster bars, in which you like to fish the deep grasses. 

As always, it's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

With September rains, the inland and harbor water temperature have started to fall. This triggers all of our inshore gamefish, to start moving into a fantastic fall trend. Trout can be found in abundance, over the deep water grasses on the bar edges throughout the harbor.

Snook have started to move from the passes and beaches, into traditional trends heading for warm water refuge for a fall feed looking forward to winter time. Redfish can be found scattered throughout the harbor and bays, most fish caught on shorelines are under slot... But, big schools of over slot breeding fish are starting to pop up throughout the fishery on moon tides. Like most fall seasons, it's a fantastic time to be fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

The summer heat has set in!!! The good thing is, we know just what to do when that happens!!!  Our summer time snook fishing is about as good as it could get!!! Early morning days with 20-30 fish, along with some big fish mixed in is common on a good tide!!! 

Mangrove snapper are the targeted species to take home for dinner, a trend tat should hold strong into the month of August.

Tarpon, are still holding in the passes, and are starting to stage in the harbor system for a fall feed.

Capt. Mike Slattery

Spring time fishing around Palm Island, Manasota Key, and Boca Grande FL. has gotten good! We are seeing schools of redfish on the flats, and lots of snook for rod bending action. Our water temperature has been hovering in the high 70s, but we are yet to see 80 degrees consistently this spring season. Even though, there are tarpon being caught in the southern sound, and groups of fish gathering in "Big Pass".

We are on the door step of some stellar fishing. The next few weeks, the weather should become a bit more consistent and with that the fishery will explode with opportunity!!! This late spring/early summer season is shaping up to be a great time to go fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

We have had beautiful weather here in South West Florida the last week or so. But, the last cold front brought some Red Tide to our shores and in our bays. We are optimistic that another week of warm temperatures and East winds with help the red tide move out in the Gulf, and off of the beaches. 

Meanwhile... We have been fishing South in the harbor system where the red tide has not been able to get. Trout, Snook, and Redfish are our target species, and we are finding plenty of them. The water is warming up daily, and with more warm temperatures in the weeks forecast, it a fantastic time to go Fishing in South West Florida.

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946