Manasota Key, Boca Grande, and Palm Island fishing has been good this month, despite all the rain runoff from tropical storm Debbie. Debbie dumped more than 12 inches of rain within 24 hours locally. Some areas that boarder our fishing grounds got much more. 

We have experienced "tannin" water for almost the entire month of August. "Tannin" is when the freshwater runoff from the mainland, enters the saltwater estuaries and begins to blend. Nothing that is unusual for our area, it just typically happens over and more consistent time frame (weeks rather than days). 

With all that in play, we are still catching quality fish. Pictured are photos from Capt. Conrad, he runs our 22 Pathfinder, and has been on a good run of fish. It a fun time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!


Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

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

With rising temperatures, we have entered the "Goldilocks Zone"!!! From now, until the summer heats and rains set in, is the best time to #spring fish in #SWFL!!! #Snook, #redfish, and #trout are being caught on every trip; both morning and afternoon tides!!! With two owned boats available to book, and two #Native Captains at the helm!!! It's a great time to go fishing in #SWFL!!!


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 the winter winds bringing cold air down from the north, our winter season has started early this year. 

When our inshore water temperature drops under 70 degrees, our inshore fishing changes. We put up our live bait rods, and break out the Jiggs!!! Jigging the bay for pompano, can be some really fun fishing, that can produce some excellent table faire. Pompano are typically found on our beach front, traversing the passes and sand bars. But, when the big north blows happen, and the water temperature drops, they move inshore!!! We concentrate our efforts on the sandy bottom channels that make up the bay, and use a solid drifting technique to maximize our coverage as we search for schools. The by-catch is but not limited to: trout, flounder, jacks, bluefish, mackerel, and my favorite, the "lovely Lady" fish!!!

Because winter has come early, and the pompano are in the bay, it's an fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

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

With red tide still looming at our door step at our areas beaches, we have still been catching consistent fish in the back country of Charlotte Harbor. Because of the restriction of tidal flows to certain areas, there are areas of safe refuge for the fish during bouts with red tide.

Our goal as anglers, is the zero in on those areas, and concentrate our efforts to fish clean water. Snook, redfish and lots of big trout were caught this week. Spotted sea trout upward of 25" landed this week on multiple trips. Snook and redfish were smaller, but fun to catch and kept steady action.

The water temperature is almost 80 degrees, and we will have an area of high pressure overhead starting next week. That will make our winds turn east for a few days and hopefully blow the dirty water out in the Gulf. 

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

We are starting to see spring time conditions around South West Florida. The weather has been nothing short of beautiful, but we are still seeing some cold fronts forecasted for the middle of the month. We fished inshore last week, and the conditions were about perfect. Little on the windy side, but clean clear water and happy fish.

Redfish, snook, and trout were caught at almost every spot.The late winter early spring season is shaping up to be a great time to fish in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946