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 Offshore Fishing Report – April 2025
Spring has officially arrived, and we’re making the most of the beautiful weather with our Boca Grande offshore fishing trips. With the cold fronts of winter behind us and temperatures rising, fishing conditions are improving, and the action has been incredible out on the water. While there are still some windy and rough days that keep us inshore for safety, we’ve been enjoying excellent fishing on the calmer days, and the results have been outstanding!
Red Grouper and Lane Snapper Are Now Open for Harvest!
Great news for anglers—Red Grouper and Lane Snapper are now open for harvest, offering even more opportunities to reel in a great catch. The offshore bite has been steady, and Snapper have been particularly eager to bite. We’ve been catching a fantastic variety of Snapper species, including Lane Snapper, Gray Snapper, Yellowtail Snapper, and Vermilion Snapper. Our top baits this season include squid, shrimp, sardines, and white bait.
Other Offshore Species to Target
In addition to Snapper, we’ve had success targeting a variety of other popular offshore species. Red Grouper, African Pompano, Cobia, Kingfish, Amberjack, Triggerfish, and Key West Grunts have all been putting up a great fight, keeping anglers busy and excited. If you’re looking to land keeper Grouper, we highly recommend booking an 8-hour offshore trip. The deeper waters allow for better opportunities to target larger Grouper.
Why Book an Offshore Fishing Trip in Boca Grande?
With the stunning Gulf of Mexico as your backdrop, there’s no better way to spend your day than enjoying a thrilling fishing adventure and returning with a cooler full of fresh fish. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to fishing, now is the perfect time to book your Boca Grande offshore fishing trip.
From Snapper to Grouper, Cobia, and much more, the fishing opportunities are endless this season. You won’t want to miss out on the action!
Book Your Boca Grande Offshore Fishing Trip Today!
Don’t wait! Contact us now to reserve your spot and experience some of the best offshore fishing Boca Grande has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a fun day out with family, friends, or targeting specific species, we have the perfect offshore fishing trip for you.
Inshore Fishing In Boca Grande/Placida
Boca Grande Inshore Fishing Report – April 2025
Spring is here, and inshore fishing around Boca Grande has been incredible this April. As water temperatures continue to rise, we’re seeing speckled trout and redfish biting aggressively, making for action-packed days on the water. Along with these popular species, anglers are also hooking snook, pompano, ladyfish, and some snapper, thanks to the warmer weather and the end of the cold fronts. The conditions are perfect for an exciting fishing adventure!
Why Boca Grande Inshore Fishing Is Hot Right Now
The fishing conditions around Boca Grande are improving every day. Speckled trout and redfish are feeding more actively, making this the ideal time to head out for a trip. With the right conditions, snook, pompano, and ladyfish are also abundant in our waters, providing great opportunities for anglers of all levels.
While inshore fishing can present challenges, a local and experienced guide can adapt to any conditions and make your trip a success. As a Boca Grande guide, I use an 18-foot shallow-running tunnel hull boat, which gives us an edge over larger, deep-draft boats. This allows us to reach those hard-to-get-to shallow areas, where fish are feeding and more likely to bite. We’re able to target fish in prime feeding zones that others can’t access.
Best Bait for Inshore Fishing
The best baits for this time of year have been live shrimp, jigs, and cut bait. These baits are producing strong bites and solid catches throughout the season, making for a productive and enjoyable day on the water.
Catch-and-Release Policy for Redfish & Snook
Please note that redfish and snook are catch-and-release only on my charters, even during the season. This practice is designed to help preserve our fishery and keep these species thriving for future generations. Many guides in Southwest Florida follow this approach as well. While we can’t keep redfish or snook, you’ll still be able to keep a few trout, along with snapper, sheepshead, and pompano on your trip. If you’re looking for a trip where you can bring home more fish, I recommend booking an offshore charter.
Book Your Boca Grande Inshore Fishing Trip Today!
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or new to fishing, I’ll make sure you have an unforgettable experience on the water. With fantastic spring fishing conditions right now, there’s no better time to book your Boca Grande inshore fishing trip.
Don’t miss out on the action! Book your trip today and enjoy the incredible fishing that Boca Grande has to offer.
👉 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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