Boca Grande Fishing Report
Boca Grande•Venice •Ft Myers• Placida • Gasparilla • Englewood • Punta Gorda • Charlotte Harbor
Fishing Report
Captain Jeff Watkins offers tips, advice, and fishing reports from Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande.
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Boca Grande Inshore and Offshore Fishing Charters: Fall 2025 Report
Boca Grande Offshore Fishing Charters: Fall 2025 Report
Fall Offshore Fishing in Boca Grande: Prime Conditions and Exciting Catches
Fall is here in Boca Grande, bringing cooler temperatures, calmer seas, and ideal conditions for offshore fishing adventures. With the fall cold fronts on the way, the Gulf of America coming alive, anglers are enjoying some of the best fishing action of the year. While the occasional windy day may keep us inshore, most days offer perfect opportunities to head offshore and reel in a great catch.
Offshore Fishing Action is Heating Up
The fall bite has been strong, especially for a variety of Snapper species. We’re seeing consistent action with Gray, Yellowtail, Vermilion, and Lane Snapper, all eager to bite. Squid, shrimp, sardines, and white bait continue to be the top-producing baits for these fish.
A Variety of Offshore Species to Target
In addition to Snapper, our Boca Grande offshore fishing trips have delivered excellent catches of Grouper, African Pompano, Cobia, Kingfish, Amberjack, Triggerfish, Key West Grunts, and more. For those targeting Grouper and deep-water species, we recommend booking an 8-hour offshore trip to access the most productive fishing grounds.
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a first-timer, fall is the perfect time to get out on the water. With sunny skies, and Gulf waters dropping, plus a wide variety of fish species in season, your Boca Grande offshore fishing trip is sure to be a memorable experience.
Book Your Boca Grande Offshore Adventure Today
Don’t miss out on some of the best offshore fishing Florida’s Gulf Coast has to offer and enjoy a full day of excitement, beautiful scenery, and fresh fish ready for the dinner table.
Inshore Fishing In Boca Grande/Placida
Boca Grande Inshore Fishing Charters Report – Outstanding Fall Action!
Fall in Boca Grande, Florida offers incredible conditions for inshore and offshore fishing charters, as water temperatures lower fish become more active. With cooler weather on the way, anglers are enjoying action-packed days targeting some of the area’s most sought-after inshore species.
Speckled trout and redfish are especially active right now, and consistent catches of snook, pompano, ladyfish, and mangrove snapper are making for exciting trips on the water.
Falling temperatures combined with the season’s start of cold fronts are triggering aggressive feeding patterns in inshore fish. It’s an ideal time to book a Boca Grande inshore fishing charter and experience some of the best fishing of the year.
Why Book an Inshore Charter with a Local Boca Grande Guide?
Inshore fishing can be unpredictable, but local knowledge and the right equipment make all the difference. I run an 18-foot shallow-draft tunnel hull skiff that allows us to reach ultra-skinny water and backcountry spots that larger, deep-draft boats simply can’t access.
This gives us a unique advantage—we’re able to target fish in remote, less-pressured feeding zones where the action is often at its best. Whether you’re hunting redfish in the shallows or casting for trout along the grass flats, this specialized boat helps us stay one step ahead.
Conservation: Catch-and-Release for Redfish and Snook
To protect the long-term health of our fishery, I practice catch-and-release for redfish and snook on all charters, even when these species are in season. Responsible Southwest Florida fishing guides are leading a growing conservation effort to ensure healthy fish populations for years to come.
Guests can keep a limited number of trout, snapper, pompano, and sheepshead, following current regulations. However, if your main goal is to bring home a larger catch for the table, I recommend booking an offshore fishing charter instead, where you can catch and keep a wider variety of species.
Whether you’re an experienced angler or a beginner looking for a great day on the water, I’ll tailor the trip to your skill level and fishing goals. Fall in Boca Grande offers some of the most productive inshore fishing of the year—don’t miss your chance to experience it.
Book your inshore charter today , and let’s make the most of these outstanding fall conditions on the water!
👉 Reserve Your Trip Now!
November 20th 2022
On This Boca Grande/Placida Fishing Report we are still recovering from Hurricane Ian and it will be ongoing for quite some time but everyone is making a lot of progress and we are slowly but surely getting back to normal. As expected after a major Hurricane we have some Red Tide https://mote.org/pages/florida-red-tide1 in the area with all the rain run off mainly inshore and on the beaches but still plenty of spots inshore to get away from it for some catch and release fishing as I don’t recommend harvesting any inshore fish to eat during this. Offshore we get far away from it in the deeper waters and bring back some great table fair.
We have been up & running for over a month now and the fishing has been great. Offshore on the 8 hour trips we’ve been catching plenty of delicious Snapper including Yellowtail , Gray, and Vermillion also some catch and release Red Grouper & Lane Snapper as both are closed until the first of the year. Gag Grouper & Triggerfish are open until Jan 1st 2023 and we have been getting a few of those as well. Cobia, Kingfish, and even a few Scamp Grouper have been making an appearance. We have been running the 8 hr offshore and we’ve been fishing 36-47 miles out. NO RED TIDE!! anywhere to be found out there. We’ve been mostly bottom fishing with live and cut bait has been the best producers dropped down on a chicken rig set up. With winter approaching and the water temps will start dropping the fishing will heat up even more and we can’t wait for some cooler weather as it’s been a long hot summer. Get your trip booked early so you don’t miss out . https://anchorsaway-charters.com/reservations/
November 20th 2022
Boca Grande/Placida Fishing Report -Inshore/Backcountry fishing in Boca Grande is on fire. We do have some red tide around but we can still get out and do some spectacular fishing. The Redfish really start to school up in big schools of sometimes 100’s of fish and then the fun starts. Anything from cut baits, live baits, & artificial baits like Johnson Gold Spoons, DOA Paddle Tails work great too.
Furthermore late October through the rest of the year is some of the best inshore fishing you will find. With the cooler weather and water temps dropping results in great fishing. The Speckled Sea Trout have also been steady action with mainly using Shrimp, and artificial baits. Snook are pretty much everywhere. With the bigger ones mainly on the docks close to the passes where the bait and current is plentiful. And last Tarpon !! we still have quite a few around, mainly the up river around the bridges and a few of the sand bars throughout the harbor. Doa Bait busters are my number one go to this time of year. Book today @https://anchorsaway-charters.com/reservations/
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