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

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

Cold winter winds bring opportunity in Southwest Florida. With late fall cold fronts, our water temperature's have dropped considerably.  We have started an early winter trend around Palm Island and Manasota Key.  With bay and gulf temperatures being in the high 60s, we are targeting our winter species early this year.  Pompano and Tripletail are our target species inshore.  These trips offer anglers multiple site fishing opportunities, as well as high quantity and catch rate.  Great for a late fall or winter time fishing experience.  It's a great time to be fishing in Southwest Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946