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

Tarpon Season is here! It's hot, hot, hot! With daytime tempatures reaching into the mid 90's, the water tempatures have absolutely skyrocketed! #Tarpon are pouring into our areas from all directions of our fishery. There has never been a more exciting inshore #gamefish to target! Tarpon pull hard, have aerial acrobatics that are unmatched, and can get a case of "lock jaw" at a moments notice, all while maintaining the possibility of chewing the bottom off the boat! They are truly the #silverking. With Tarpon season in full swing, it's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!

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

The pompano fishing throughout the bay has been as good as I've seen this winter, in my 15 years of professional guiding!!! For that, I'm continuing to ride them through the remainder of this trend. 

As we progress into spring, our water temperature will rise, bait will move in from offshore, and we will start our "bread at butter" snook, trout, and redfish routine. Until then, it's pompano and fresh fish dinners for our respective guests. It's a fantastic time to go fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

Some really cool temperatures moved into the area over the Christmas and New Year holiday. The blustery winds and cooler temperatures had the pompano moving throughout the bay nicely.  A delicious fish to target, their table fair is top 5 in my book. They are also really fun to catch, will hit a jig like a sack of bricks!!! With cooler temperatures on the horizon, and a full box of jigs, 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 September rains, the inland and harbor water temperature have started to fall. This triggers all of our inshore gamefish, to start moving into a fantastic fall trend. Trout can be found in abundance, over the deep water grasses on the bar edges throughout the harbor.

Snook have started to move from the passes and beaches, into traditional trends heading for warm water refuge for a fall feed looking forward to winter time. Redfish can be found scattered throughout the harbor and bays, most fish caught on shorelines are under slot... But, big schools of over slot breeding fish are starting to pop up throughout the fishery on moon tides. Like most fall seasons, it's a fantastic time to be fishing in South West Florida!!!

Capt. Mike Slattery
941-626-6946

The summer heat has set in!!! The good thing is, we know just what to do when that happens!!!  Our summer time snook fishing is about as good as it could get!!! Early morning days with 20-30 fish, along with some big fish mixed in is common on a good tide!!! 

Mangrove snapper are the targeted species to take home for dinner, a trend tat should hold strong into the month of August.

Tarpon, are still holding in the passes, and are starting to stage in the harbor system for a fall feed.

Capt. Mike Slattery