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

Redfish!!! It's been an awesome spring fishing season so far. We are starting to see "lots" of Redfish moving throughout the bay. We are even seeing some "breeder" sized fish, not just the smaller juvenile fish we would expect coming back from Red Tide.  We are not allowed to keep the redfish in Charlotte harbor, but it's great to allow clients opportunities to catch them. With our redfish population on the rebound, 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

Happy New Year fishing followers!!! 

Our 2023 season ended with some incredibly cool and unusual weather. We had a low pressure system move into the Gulf the week before Christmas, and it was followed by the coolest temperatures of 2023.  That set us up for some winter time conditions.  

When our water temperature falls under 68°, we turn our attention to some "off brand" species.  Pompano are available throughout the bay, during these cold temperatures of the winter season.  Working diligently to jig the deep water flats, produces a high rate of by-catch, and the value of the target species is worth the hunt. 

With the right guide service, winter time can be a fun and tasty time to fish 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

Who likes to cat BIG fish??? Because if you do, now is that time to fish Manasota Key, Palm Island, and Boca Grande!!!  Giant tarpon are all over our fishery, and feeding hard on the falling tides in our passes.  Free lining of crab, is the ticket to getting tight, but you have to play the tides to win at this game. Beach fishing has been harder than typical. We have incredibly clear water throughout the fishery, and the beach bite has been tough in sun lit conditions. The most productive time has been early morning, when the light is low, and the fish can't "study" the bait. 


Big snook fishing has been rough over the last few weeks. Bites are aggressive, but again due to the clarity, the fish are spooky. We have still been able to land some good ones, but the anglers on the rod, must capitalize on the opportunity of the bite!!!

It's an incredible time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

We are look forward to getting back fishing after hurricane Ian!!! With Palm Island Resort opening up to guests in the month of March, myself and the guides of PIO are looking forward to some great spring time fishing. With rising water temperature we anticipate bait any day, moving into our bays and Harbor.

With that said we are still fishing our winter trend. The nearshore bite has been the "go to" when conditions allow. On a 2 boat trip today, we were able to catch triple tail and pompano inshore, and grouper and sheepshead nearshore.  With the warm start to February, it's a fantastic time for fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

The fall season has arrived... With lots of rain this month, the water temperature has started to fall. Lots of snook are starting to move and stage in close proximity to our passes, and the outer edges of the backcountry. Large schools of redfish are being found throughout the harbor and bays. Trout are being found over the deeper grasses in high flow areas. Tarpon are staging in the deeper pockets of the harbor for a late season feed before winter. For all those reasons, fall is a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

We have had a good week of fishing around Palm Island and Manasota Key Florida. Warming water temperatures and clean water  has opened up the fishery. We are catching lots of pompano throughout the bays, deep channels and bedded grass with tide flow helps.  Warming water has led to Redfish and snook to start moving out of the creeks, and staging for a spring feed on nearby grass flats. Nearshore, with prevailing East winds, we have had calm seas that has allowed for good triple tail fishing.  It's your choice what flavor you want to try and catch, and as always....  It's a FANTASTIC time to go fishing in Southwest Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946