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

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

School is in... Not just for our children, but for another that holds a special place in our hearts, Redfish! Big schools of redfish are starting to show up around the fishery here in Palm Island, Florida.

Large numbers have started the pre-spawn pattern of grouping up to socially mingle, and increase their feeding opportunities.  These schools will scour the flats and edges, looking for any movement of prey, and can most times be spotted by the color of the tightly packed school of 100's of Redfish! As our fall season approaches, it's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!

Capt. Mike Slattery

The Tarpon fishing this week has been tough.  Slow tides during the day, and an evening fall has resulted in lackluster fish in the early morning.  Thus, again we turned our attention to another species for "bites".  The big snook fishing in the summer time can be some of the best fishing in the area.  Multiple bites, and still the opportunity to land quality game fish even on the "off" days of tarpon fishing.  With full moon tides on the horizon, and the tarpon spawn in progress... Next week can turn out to be a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

Summer time fishing is in full swing!!! With the addition of a "new to us" boat to our fleet, we have been in consistent Tarpon and snook fishing. The tarpon fishing is being done in Boca Grande pass, and on the beach front. Our Parker 25' can accommodate a larger party, up to 6 anglers, and affords comfortable and stability.  Our snook fishing is being done out of the Pathfinder 22' and has all the latest technology to put your party up to 4 anglers on great inshore game fish.  It's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

Spring has sprung, around Palm Island and Manasota Key Florida.  We are seeing spring like conditions throughout the fishery.  Bait is being caught throughout the harbor system.  That opens the door for a spring trend, fishing snook and redfish.  We are working deep edges during this transition period, to find nice sized fish on lower tides.  When the tide begins to rise, we are finding nice redfish along our grass flats and mangrove haunts.  It's a fantastic time to go fishing in Southwest 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

With cold temps in the air now, winter is really here... No fooling this time, it's for real!  So we are locked into our bay pompano fishing.  We are finding these great tasting fish, throughout the region. Tide, and sandy bottom with broken grass is important, clean water helps too. We are also finding nice trout and redfish on the flats, warming on the grass with rising temperature and water.  It really is a fantastic time to go fishing in Southwest Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

Early November cold fronts have started to decrease the water temperature fairly rapidly around Palm Island and Manasota Key.  This has moved some of the local guides to start fishing their winter trends.  For me, that takes my attention off of the usual suspects (reds, snook, and trout) and turns my attention to some "food" fishing.  Triple tail and pompano are on my menus for winter time.  Both are delicious, and fun to catch.  Both have a fairly abundant population locally, and both can be caught on either live bait or artificial.  As it gets cold up north, it becomes a fantastic time to go fishing in Southwest Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946