We have entered the "Goldilocks zone"... That's what I like to call the time of year, before the summer rain starts and the water becomes "gin clear" with freshwater run off.  Also, the water temperature is just right for fish to be aggressive but not too warm to make them lethargic!!!  The perfect match of clarity and temperature, matched with good tides, equals quality outings with productive opportunities throughout the fishery. 


Tarpon on the beach front and passes, and good packs of Big Snook gathering for a summer spawn.  When you have the right conditions, targeting both can be done in a half day trip!!! Only 4 hrs, to land bucket list trophy fish!!! It's a great 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

We had an absolutely beautiful week of fishing. The red tide has definitely dissipated, and fish are responding positively in our entire region. Bait has poured into the fishery, and with consistent rising water temperature, fish are hungry.

Lots of snook were caught this past week. It's not uncommon to make a stop and catch 20 in a spot!!! Trout fishing has also been steady. Weather you want to take some home for dinner, or just enjoy the sport of catching this beautiful game fish, the action has been consistent. Redfish still remain tough to find in good numbers for me.

We find a few here and there, but I haven't been able to lay together a consistent trend to put quality fish boat side for my clients. I'll keep hunting though, that's the challenge of it all for myself!!! With all that being said, it's a beautiful time of year, 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

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

We are look forward to getting back fishing after hurricane Ian!!! 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

It's been awhile since my last report... In fact, it's been awhile since I was able to get on the water and actually fish!!!

Hurricane Ian did a number on the Palm Island and Manasota Key area. We got hit with sustained winds of 175 mph and gusts at 208 mph. (those are numbers from a wind machine set up by storm trackers in Placida) so you can imagine the rebuilding efforts are going to take some time.

Almost 90 days removed from the storm, Rum Bay restaurant in the resort is open and serving patrons. Owners and island residents are still filtering in, some for the first time since Ian. There are debris removal trucks on Palm Island daily, but there is still lots of clean up left. 

Our Pathfinder 22' made it through the storm, but with lack of use, there are maintenance items that needed addressed. That boat should be up and running by the holiday hopefully. Our Parker 25' had a tree fall on it, and hopefully be back online by spring or tarpon season.

We have fishing guides waiting for your bookings. Due to both of our booking venues having taken extensive damage, our last 90 days have been slim pickings for the industry eco tourism. It will be some time still, before we get back to normal, but our hope is that we can help fill some gaps for our friends and family in the industry. 

So, if you are interested in a fishing charter... Please reach out, we have fantastic fishing guides wanting your business and excited to get back to work!!! 

Thanks, and as always it's a fantastic time to just be alive 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

It's Tarpon time!!! I know... I know... Tarpon have been around our area for months now... But, now is the time to go catch them.  Late June/post- spawn can be some of the best Tarpon fishing of the year. Bites tend to come more frequently, although you won't see as many fish as in our pre-spawn season. 

Inshore, our snook are also coming off a mid summer spawn, and are aggressively feeding, to stack up fat and protein.  Mangrove snapper have moved into the bays and passes, and afford anglers the opportunity to take home great table fair after a hot day on the water. It's a fantastic time to go fishing in Southwest Florida.

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946