Understanding and exploring the seasons

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Winter/  December thru February

During this period we experience our coolest temps with frequent cold fronts and north winds, keeping our water temperatures at there coldest readings of the year. Along with daily negative tides and gin clear water our tactics are specific. A large percentage of our fish head deep into the backcountry where they are sheltered from the wind and the extremely shallow water will heat up during the afternoon sun. Poling around the labyrinth of mangrove creeks searching for the hidden haunts that our beloved redfish and snook call home for the winter can be nothing short of spectacular.

Due to the lack of rain this time of year our water is gin clear. This adds a level of excitement to the day when you can see the fish your trying to catch. 

With the daily negative tides and lower water levels that come with this time of year it is also a great time to see and catch tailing redfish.

And the combination of both of those things makes this a favored time of year for fly anglers.

This is also the time of year that we get to enjoy targeting large speckled trout, "Gator Trout" as many people call them. It's not uncommon to catch a dozen or more fish in a day 20"+ in size. 

Also during this time of year its common for us to opt for a little later start, fishing mid morning through the afternoon. Let the sun come up and start to warm the water.... this puts the fish in the mood to eat.

Spring/ March thru May

A time of transition as the weather and the fishing are both heating up!!! The temperatures are starting to rise and the water is warming up. As we move through this period the fish begin to make the move from their winter haunts out to the open flats and mangrove islands in search of food. Their  focus changes from staying comfortable to strapping on the feed bag.

This time of year can get crazy... the fish are everywhere.... now is the time to go catching and not as much fishing.

Spring is also prime time to catch you inshore slam... which is a redfish, snook and trout all in one day!

Summer/ June thru August

Summer bring yet another change in conditions and stratagies. First of which is the heat, our daytime temperatures are typically in the low 90's with afternoon heat index reaching 100+ every day... add to that our daily afternoon thunderstorms and our program changes.

 At this time of year the fish are going to be the most active when the water is at its coolest, which is going to be first thing in the morning. So its common practice for us to start our day as early as possible, quite often leaving the dock well before sunrise in the dark.

The fish don't leave we're just targeting them in different areas due to the much warmer water temperatures. Our focus will be deeper grass flats, channel edges and areas with deeper water.

Night fishing this time of year can also be an exciting way to escape the heat of the day. Big snook and redfish can be targeted on a variety of artificial lures, There's nothing quite like feeling the pull of a big fish and the sound of a screaming drag all in total darkness.

Fall/ September thru November

This is probably my personal favorite time of year... With our weather patterns beginning to show signs of change, the nights start to cool, the humidity starts to subside and afternoon showers become less frequent.

Our fish are on the move... and they only have one thing on their mind, LETS EAT!!! Find the food and you've found the fish. They know winter is coming and its time to pack on the pounds. For me this time of year is that simple and straight forward.

Summary of the Seasons 

We are truly blessed here in SW Florida, we can go out on the water any day of the year and confidently know that we can target and catch Snook, Redfish and Trout!!! Some days are better than others, we may look forward to a certain scenario ... but the bottom line is this... the fish are here all year long and they really are simple creatures, they want to be comfortable and they need to eat, 

Regardless of when your schedule allows you to visit this beautiful area and spend a day or two on the water with me you can be confident in knowing that we're going to bend a rod and the fish of a lifetime is only a cast away!!!