SWFL Fishing Forecast for August, 2017

Well folks summer is in full swing here in South West Florida. It has been blazing hot and raining everyday. For the most part the weather has been holding off till the afternoon, although we have had some close calls in the AM. The biggest thing is not to let those storms get in between you and the boat ramp. With the technology of the phones we have these days that becomes a lot easier. Well enough about the weather lets talk fishing.

The water on the flats is probably as dark as it gets. So sight fishing has been non existing. So I try to get a little more bait this time of year to let my chum locate fish for me. Sometimes finding the potholes can be a little tougher. A little extra live chum in the water can help solve this problem. For the most part the Snook action has been pretty steady. Normally this time of year the fish in the north end of the harbor are on the smaller side. The average Snook is around 20-22″, however we have been starting to have some bigger fish show up.

With the higher summer tides we have been focusing on mangrove shorelines. The barrier islands with moving water have been producing the best action. For the anglers out there that like a fresh fish dinner, we have good news for you. The Mangrove Snapper bite has been very good. We have been catching some really nice Mangs lately, some pushing 14″. The deeper shorelines and points have been producing well. Also the potholes have been holding good numbers of fish. The smaller bait we have has been working very well. You might want to drop down on your hook and leader size. I like a number 1 circle hook with 20# fluorocarbon leader.

The last week we’ve been seeing some Redfish move in the area. On my last few charters we have caught multiple Reds. We had a first time angler 14yr old David Landers put a Grande Slam to the boat on his first time fishing. He caught a very nice Snook and Red, then finished it of with a juvenile Tarpon and a Trout. Its great to see the love of the sport of fishing in the young anglers. He also accomplished something that not many seasoned anglers have.

The flats have been holding a lot of Juvenile Tarpon this summer. We have been having very good success targeting these guys the last couple weeks. Some days have been better than others, but we have hooked up on a daily basis. Last week Forrest was able to hook 10 and landed 6, also rounding out the day with a Grande Slam.

So folks even with the hot weather and summer rains the fishing has been good. I recommend trying to get out on the water early to beat the heat and storms. However if you do have to fish later in the day, please pay close attention to the sky.

To experience some of the best fishing in Charlotte Harbor give me a call or send me an email. All of our fishing charters are customized to best fit your party's needs. Also remember to keep an eye in the sky, these afternoon storms blow up quick.

You can also follow me on Twitter @ backbayxtremes for daily and weekly updates.

Captain Dave Stephens * (941) 916-5769 * Back Bay Xtremes * PO Box 510746, Punta Gorda FL 33951

Flats Fishing Charters for Charlotte Harbour, Punta Gorda, Florida