SWFL Fishing Forecast for August, 2018

I’ve been lucky, I was able to spend my youth growing up on the waters of Charlotte Harbor. Over those years we’ve had years better than others. However it has seemed the past few have been getting worse every year. I can remember dealing with red tide as a kid. We would go to the beach, and have to leave because of it. We would return the next weekend and things where back to normal. This year this thing has ravaged our coasts and killed more fish than I can remember. The amount of game fish that has been killed is off the charts. One of the biggest game fish that people visit our area for has taken a horrible hit. Spawning Snook have been killed this year in the hundreds, possibly thousands. The scariest part of this is those fish where all spawning fish. So the long term effects could even be worse than just the kill itself. I’m not writing this to point fingers at any one direction. We have a lot of issues that need to be addressed. Issues as large as the water releases from Okeechobee, to the smallest as being more vigilant about the fertilizer we put on our yards. The biggest news if you haven’t heard is the possibility of the phosphate mining to the north of us. Folks it’s the old saying crap runs down hill, well we need to open our eyes. Because we are down hill! We are at the very bottom, all those feeder creeks, head waters all flow to Charlotte Harbor. If we don’t make our voices heard we are going to lose the one thing that most of us live here for. This year is an election year, I’m not trying to push any political views on anybody. I don’t care if your republican or democrat. We are all Americans living on one of the greatest estuaries in the state of Florida. All I’m asking is to investigate each person that is running to assure that they have our states best interest at heart, and not there best interest at heart. Remember these politicians work for the people of Florida.

With everything going on in the harbor we have been keeping the rods bent. It’s not been as easy as it should though. The Snook bite has been good on the incoming tide. The barrier islands and potholes have been holding good numbers of fish. Look for good moving water. For the most part they’ve been running 20-25″, but we have had some fish over thirty inches. This summer has been a very good year for mangrove snapper. It seems just about everywhere we fish these guys are hanging around. On the higher water deeper points have been producing some of the bigger fish. As the tides drop look for fish to move to the outside of bars.

The past few days I have noticed schools of glass minnows showing up in the harbor. Normally you will see schools of ladyfish and Spanish mackerel mixed in with these guys also. I also recommend keeping a rod ready for Tarpon. This is the time of year that these guys will be feeding heavy before their migration. Getting out early to beat the heat will help, and remember to keep an eye out for storms.

If you would like to experience some of South West Florida’s finest fishing. Give us a call or send an email, all our trips are private and customized for you and your party’s needs.

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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