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the little circle thing — if nothing changes, we ain't done it yet
Place-by-place Fishin' Report Here it is SCROLL down
This report is updated most
(but not all) weeks on Saturday.
Don't
see this week's report? REFRESH
your browser.
the little circle thing — if nothing changes, we ain't done it yet
Peace River Harbor Heights & upriver along with Shell Creek "Fishin' History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — A couple small bull sharks, some Mayan cichlids, and a few very small mangrove snapper.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Some Mayan cichlids, a few mangrove snapper and tilapia hanging around docks.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports.
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Darst Park boat ramp — I-75 bridges "boat only"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — The bridge has been producing some black drum and a few redfish.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — A few smaller snook, a couple black drum reported, at least a couple trout and a juvenile tarpon jumped right at the I-75 bridges.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Some smaller snook and maybe bigger ones under the bridges, plus some chunky black drum. One baby bull shark from the ramp. Also a few baby sawfish in the general area.
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US 41 bridges - ..... Live Oak Point park "Fishin' History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — A few small bull sharks, some very small mangrove snapper, a handful of black drum.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — A few small bull sharks. A couple redfish, smaller snook and juvenile tarpon too.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Mixed reports. Lots of mangrove snapper including some good keepers. A few small bull sharks. A few cobia, including at least one keeper. A few small snook. Juvenile tarpon rolling but not hooked.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — A lot of mangrove snapper, including some fish up to about 14 inches. Lots of little snook and a handful of small trout. A few undersize cobia and good numbers of baby bull sharks.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — A few small trout and a handful of keepers. Lots of mangrove snapper, mostly short. Juvenile tarpon early in the morning (hard to hook). Itty-bitty baby sharks also.
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Laishley Seawall (pier currently closed due to hurricane damage) "Fishin History River Side
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — A few mangrove snapper of mixed sizes, and also lots of hardhead catfish.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports.
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Bayshore Pier "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — A couple small bull sharks. Two tarpon jumped. A few sand bream reported also.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — A couple small bull sharks.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Two baby bull sharks, two undersize cobia, and a few tarpon reported rolling.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — A couple short bull sharks, one legal cobia, one tarpon jumped. A few sugar trout (Cynoscion nothus) on small pieces of shrimp.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Small bull sharks, a few small trout, some small mangrove snapper, and black drum moving thru.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Just two reports: One guy caught a couple small snook. One caught a couple black drum, a couple small bull sharks, and one slot redfish.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Quiet, except for the mangrove snapper. There are fish under the pier and also out away from the pier.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Mangrove snapper (with some good keepers) and some trout (mostly shorts). A couple very short snook.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — A bunch of mangrove snapper (with some as big as 15 inches), a handful of trout, a few small snook, and a couple baby bull sharks.
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Port Charlotte canals salt/brackish
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Lots of black drum. Some juvie tarpon, but they might be in this canal today and that canal tomorrow. Small live shrimp have been working for the tarpon, or try any small artificial. Sand bream and Mayan cichlids are around the docks and bridges.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Lots of black drum. Quite a few small snook. A handful of jack crevalle. The mangrove snapper are pretty much gone, at least the decent sized ones.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — There are good mangrove snapper in here too, mostly around the mouths. Some black drum around, mostly in little groups but also big schools. A few jacks, small snook and baby bull sharks.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — A few bull sharks within a mile or two of the mouths. A few small snook. Lots of mangrove snapper. A few sand brim starting to show up.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Some small snook. A handful of jacks. Some of the canals (Pelham Waterway, Spring Lake) have juvenile tarpon, which have sometimes been willing to eat small 3-inch paddletails, live shrimp or chunks of cutbait. They have been moving around randomly.
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El Jobean Pier "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — The pier is closed due to fire damage. Probably won't be open for a long time.
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Myakka River area (the bridge all the way to Marker 8) "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Juvenile tarpon early at the bridge. Redfish and peanut snook in the Myakka Cutoff. Marker 8 has had a few Spanish mackerel, caught on trolled spoons.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — The river mouth and cutoff have been producing quite a few redfish, and a handful of small snook.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Juvenile tarpon around the bridge in the mornings. The northwest end of the Myakka Cutoff has juvie tarpon too, plus some snook and redfish.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — A couple Spanish mackerel and baby bull sharks. Juvenile tarpon reported rolling around the bridge at sunrise. Small snook and trout at the mouth of the Myakka Cutoff.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — A couple oddball Spanish mackerel, a few small bull sharks, and at least a couple short cobia.
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South Gulf Cove canals "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports. If you have reports, please call Robert at the shop (941-625-3888).
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports.
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The West Wall "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — The upper end is quiet, but farther south we're seeing a lot of redfish in the middle to upper slot, plus a few over. Try moving water under the bushes. Live and frozen shrimp are working, or you can try cut ladyfish or blue crabs. A few smaller snook have also been around.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Some redfish and some snook, but the reports have slowed down a little. A couple cobia were reported swimming behind a manatee on top of the bar.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Scattered snook and redfish under the mangroves. More fish in creek mouths, more fish south than north. Shrimp and soft plastic shad are hot, a few have also been caught on whitebait. A few juvenile tarpon around the inside of the bar, and pushing out onto the flats soon(ish).
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Lots of little snook and some slot redfish, mostly on shrimp but some on whitebait too. Fish the creek mouths or just along the bushes. Small cobia and bonnetheads cruising the bar. Also, four live horseshoe crabs seen on the bar. Report horseshoe crab sightings here: Horseshoe Crab Survey (arcgis.com)
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — The best spot in the upper Harbor. Lots of little snook trout, and redfish in the slot, on the flats inside the bar and in the creeks. Moving water is key; shrimp are hot but soft plastics are working.
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Cape Haze Bar "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Some small to medium sharks on the west side of the bar along the drop. Some Spanish mackerel and ladyfish here as well.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — The west side of the bar has Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, small trout and a handful of small sharks, mostly along the dropoff.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports. There should be Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and small sharks.
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Turtle Bay & Bull Bay "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Redfish and smaller snook are abundant. Smaller trout are scattered around. Some sharks have been spotted cruising around. A few tarpon have been moving around the cuts between Bull and Turtle.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Redfish and lots of little snook under the bushes and scattered on the oyster bars. A few trout and a few mangrove snapper. Water temperatures are in the mid 90s here.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Redfish and lots of little snook under the bushes and scattered on the oyster bars. Whitebait and shrimp are both good. Sharks of assorted sizes cruising around. Mangrove snapper under the shacks, plus a few around the trees.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Bunches of redfish and little snook. Trout have thinned out a bit. A couple baby black drum caught. A handful of shark sightings.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Trout and little jacks through the middle of both bays, and snook and redfish around the edges eating whitebait and shrimp.
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Cape Haze Reef & Danger Reef "Fishin report archive History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Some Spanish mackerel, a handful of sharks, and one undersize cobia.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — A few mangrove snapper. Some Spanish mackerel. At least one undersize cobia and one pompano.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — A few smaller sharks, a few Spanish mackerel. No mangrove snapper reports, but it wouldn't be surprising (plan to chum).
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Spanish mackerel around. A few blacknose and sharpnose sharks. A few spadefish too.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Spanish mackerel are in the area.
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Gasparilla Sound "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and small trout in 5 to 10 feet of water. Quite a few redfish and snook around the bushes, and the snook are a bit bigger than farther up the Harbor (mid 20 inch range). A fair number of small to midsize sharks.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Three Sisters has some trout. Whidden Creek has trout, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel in 4 to 6 feet of water, and some redfish and decent snook around the shrubbery. A few bonnethead sharks around. Live shrimp are small, so many anglers have switched to live whitebait, frozen shrimp or cutbait.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Three Sisters has had some trout, and there are also some around Sandfly Key. The mangroves shorelines have snook and redfish, plus a few mangrove snapper.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Spanish mackerel, ladyfish and bluefish. Some of the ladies and blues have been bigguns. Redfish and small snook around the shrubbery.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — One of the better areas for larger snook as they head toward the beaches. Most are around the bushes; some are on oyster bars. Trout, random tarpon, and small/medium sharks are also around.
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Placida
"Fishin History"
Placida Pier
—
Placida
Trestle
—
Coral Creek Pier
—
Gasparilla Pass
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Some bigger snook at night along with some oversize redfish. A mixed bag of sharks and tarpon of all sizes randomly showing up. Some Spanish mackerel during daylight hours. Trout and mangrove snapper are around, but all small.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Decent mangrove snapper reports all around the area, with fish up to 16 inches. A few tarpon. Several varieties of sharks. Snook at night, mostly under lights (and at least one redfish).
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — A lot of snook, mostly smaller, mostly at night. A handful of sharks are in the area. Some tarpon in Gasparilla Pass. Mangrove snapper around the dock and bridge pilings.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Spanish mackerel. A few tarpon in the pass and around the bridges. Short snook caught, bigger ones seen. Good-size mangrove snapper in fair numbers, eating both shrimp and small whitebait either dead or alive.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — The Coral Creek Pier has had some snook around it, mostly early. There are also snook around the trestle, mostly at night. Sharks have been around the area, including at least one 6-foot hammerhead. A few trout and a few Spanish mackerel.
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Stump Pass — Lemon Bay Park — Indian Mound Park
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Some trout around the Ski Alley/Stump Pass area in 6 feet of water. A few snook under the docks.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports. Crystal ball says there should be snook, since they love Stump Pass so much, and some trout around the grass. If you have reports, call Robert at 941-625-3888.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports. Crystal ball says there should be snook, since they love Stump Pass so much, and some trout around the grass.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports. Crystal ball says there should be snook, since they love Stump Pass so much, and some trout around the grass.
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Englewood Anger Pier
(next to Tom
Adams bridge) "Fishin
History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Some snook at night and some Spanish mackerel during the day.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Spanish mackerel and a few little mangrove snapper (expecting bigger ones soon). No snook reports this week.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Spanish mackerel, a couple ladyfish, and a couple short snook. Bigger snook seen around the bridge, but they had lockjaw.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — A couple snook, a few Spanish mackerel, and one unidentifiable shark.
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Gulf of Mexico bottom
fishin' & trolling
Reefs & Wrecks
"Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Red snapper in 150 to 160 feet. Red grouper are closed. Mangrove, yellowtail and lane snappers at 15 to 25 miles out. Wrecks have had barracuda. Some bonita schools blitzing at the surface in random spots.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — From shore to 20 miles out, mangrove and lane snapper are on structure, plus an odd yellowtail snapper. A handful of Spanish mackerel are around too. The bigger red grouper and red snapper are out from 125 to 180 feet. Some are solo and some are in groups, so look for "Christmas trees" on the bottom but don't overlook likely structure.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Wind kept most boats inside, and most that got out didn't get past 10 miles. Spanish mackerel are out to 10 miles. Mangrove snapper, lane snapper, grunt and porgies. One permit hooked at the Power Poles reef.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Red snapper, red grouper, a few African pompano, some beeliners (vermilion snapper), lots of lane snapper and some good mangrove snapper are out 45 to 70 miles. Expect to be in at least 150 feet of water if you want red snapper.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — The red grouper are in 100 to 140 feet of water. A few red snapper reported in 165 feet of water. Some good mangrove snapper too. Yellowtail snapper are getting better every week. Lots of lanes, including some bigger ones, starting at 12 miles. Some grunts and porgies too. A few barracuda have been popping up. A couple short cobia. A few Spanish mackerel, mostly within a few miles of shore.
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Venice Jetties and Venice Pier
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Spanish mackerel all day. Oddball pompano showing up. Small snook during the day, bigger ones at night. The south jetty is still closed but they're supposed to be working on it really soon.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Snook at night and a few during the day. Some Spanish mackerel. A few bigger ladyfish. Fewer mangrove snapper than before, but the average size is still good.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Spanish mackerel at both. Snook and small mangrove snapper at the Venice jetties.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Lots of Spanish mackerel from both. The jetties have had snook and a few whiting, along with the possibility of pompano and big bluefish.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Lots of Spanish mackerel from both. Snook at the jetties.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2023 — Some tarpon reported in the area, from here to St James City.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Some Spanish mackerel and some snook.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Some Spanish mackerel, lots of smaller snook along the shoreline, a couple sharks, and random tarpon.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Spanish mackerel, a few sharks, a few tarpon.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — A few snook and a few tarpon.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — A few tarpon, a few Spanish mackerel, a couple small sharks, and some snook along the north side of the pass.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Spanish mackerel, a handful of snook, and a couple tarpon. Robert also mentioned some hobberdobbers in the podcast report.
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Boca Grande Pass "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Tarpon have been in and out, especially very early. Spanish mackerel in and out all day, along with a few blue runners. Bigger snook and reds, mostly at night, mostly around the rocks.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Tarpon reports are about the same as last week, only the fish have been a bit more cooperative early early in the day. Some Spanish mackerel around. This is the best spot for inshore mangrove snapper right now.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — The tarpon have been surprisingly slow, with only a few hundred fish in the pass and a few hundred out on the Pan reported this weekend. Crabs have been flushing in large numbers. A few Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — It's all about the tarpon and the lunatics who fish for them. Actually, there are mangrove snapper here, but it's not the best place to fish them because of the tarpon lunatics.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Lots and lots and lots of tarpon, mostly feeding from 3am to a half-hour after sunrise, plus a few biting in the evening. Spanish mackerel and some bigger bull sharks have also been around.
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Walkin' the Gulf beaches,
from Sanibel
to Venice. Surf fishing anywhere along the Gulf shoreline.
17th
street,
Stump
Pass Park "Fishin'
History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — There have been some whiting and pompano, plus snook of assorted sizes and random over-slot redfish (both better after dark). Sharks have been mostly small but a few bigger bulls have been caught.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Quite a few snook in the surf. Good whiting at Stump Pass and Middle Beach (Blind Pass Park). Some pompano, a few bonnethead and blacknose sharks, a few trout, and at least one decent bluefish.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Lots of snook in the surf, with some decent fish included. Some whiting, a few pompano, some big ladyfish, a few Spanish mackerel. Some trout from the beach at Cayo Costa.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — The rocks at Boca Grande Pass have produced snook, redfish, Spanish mackerel and at least one big bluefish. Middle Beach (Blind Pass Beach) has had a few trout, some whiting, and some inky-dinky flounder. Stump Pass has the same, plus mangrove snapper.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Lots of action from Blind Pass, Stump Pass and Boca Grande. Good numbers of snook all over, some Spanish mackerel, a few jacks and pompano, some whiting, and a handful of small flounder. Shrimp has been the best bait.
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Indian Fields — Smokehouse Bay
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports.
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Pine Island Sound
"Fishin History"
Rat and Cat keys,
Mondongo & Patricio
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Redfish around the trees. Trout on the flats. Tarpon scattered all over. A few small sharks.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Spanish mackerel. A few trout. Redfish and snook scattered around the bushes. A few tarpon in the deeper cuts and along the ICW.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — One report: Some trout, Spanish mackerel, small snook and one redfish.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Spanish mackerel, an assortment of sharks from tiny to 6 feet, a few full-grown tarpon. Oddly, no snook, redfish or trout reports.
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Jug Creek Shoal & Bokeelia "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Some Spanish mackerel and a few small trout.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Spanish mackerel from the pier. A few whiting and mangrove snapper.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Small trout, Spanish mackerel.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Spanish mackerel and a few trout.
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Burnt Store & Two Pines "Fishin report archive History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — A lot of little snook and a few slot-size redfish. Tarpon, sharks and ladyfish are outside the bar. Crystal ball says the tarpon fishing here should get better over the next couple weeks.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — A few redfish and a couple snook around the mangroves. A few baby bull sharks around.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Some snook, a few redfish. Some ladyfish and little sharks on top of the bar.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Some redfish and snook along the shoreline. A couple ladyfish around. Trout on top of the bar. One big cobia hooked and lost.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — A couple redfish and small snook. Some trout, ladyfish and Spanish mackerel outside the bar.
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East Side "keys" "Fishin History"
Cormorant Key — Bay Back Key — Sneaky Creek
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — The Winegourd Creek area has been producing redfish from about 24 to 32 inches. Oxygen levels are low, so be sure to resuscitate your fish. A few little snook around also.
------------------------------------
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Some redfish around the mangroves. Pirate Harbor has produced a few tarpon and mangrove snapper on soft plastics.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — A handful of snook. A few juvie tarpon moving out of the creeks. Overall it's very slow.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Robert made a "pbbbbbt" sound when I asked about this spot.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — The only report was it was pretty quiet here.
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Alligator Creek "Fishin
History"
Poachers
Cut
&
The
Skating
Rink
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — A few black drum and rolling tarpon in the Burnt Store Isles canals.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Some mangrove snapper in the creek.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Some jack trolled in the creek.
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Ponce de Leon Park "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — A few black drum. A few smaller jacks. Some teensy-weensy mangrove snapper.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — A few black drum cruising thru. Snook hanging out just to tease you. A few jacks. The mangrove snapper are getting small.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — A mixed bag of mangrove snapper sizes. Black drum moving thru. Some undersize snook.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Some nice mangrove snapper (and a bunch of dinks). Lots of snook seen, few caught. Some big jacks have been cruising thru.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Some nice mangrove snapper (and a bunch of dinks). Lots of snook seen, few caught. Some big black drum have been cruising thru.
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P.G.I. canals & Punta Gorda "Fishin History
Elizabeth Park — Barge Canal — P.G. Nature Park
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Lots of black drum reports in the canals. A few snook caught on the troll around docks and bridges. A scattering of baby tarpon that might eat shrimp or small lures, or might not. Some itsy-bitsy mangrove snapper.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Lots of black drum. A handful of snook. Some of the canals are holding good numbers of baby tarpon, which can be sometimes hooked on flies or tiny lures such as the DOA Tiny TerrorEyz. Mangrove snapper have made a mass exodus.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Lots of mangrove snapper, especially at the canal mouths. Black drum are forming groups. Bull sharks up to 6 feet have been caught in the canals, which is odd. Some jacks have been chasing threadfins around and taking topwater baits.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Lots of mangrove snapper, and lots of little snook. A couple sheepshead, but just a couple. Black drum seen, not caught. Some juvenile tarpon caught on soft plastics or whitebait.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Mangrove snapper of assorted sizes. Sheepshead are really slowing down. There have been a few black drum scattered around. Snook and juvenile tarpon are swimming around the lights at night.
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Gilchrist Pier "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — No reports.
------------------------------------
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Some small mangrove snapper and trout, plus a couple little sharks swimming past.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Some small mangrove snapper, and a handful of small trout.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Two bull sharks and some small trout.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — No reports.
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Alligator Creek Reef
AKA Concrete
Reef, 1 Mile Reef,
Charlotte Harbor Reef, 41 Bridge Reef
"Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — A few anglers have fished it and said it's terrible. Tarpon are there and gone first thing in the morning. Spadefish have been in and out.
------------------------------------
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — No reports. Ghost town.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — No reports.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Extremely slow.
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Deep holes in Charlotte Harbor — AKA the 20-foot holes "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Tarpon have been in and out, moving with the bait. The Pirate Harbor hole (south) has had a few sharks.
------------------------------------
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — There was bait around with mangrove snapper, jacks and Spanish mackerel feeding on them, and then sharks eating anything they could get. That may or may not be relevant now (which is to say, your results may vary).
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — No reports. Should be a few Spanish mackerel and mangrove snapper, and the tarpon may show up over the next few weeks.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Some Spanish mackerel, a few sharks, and some slightly misplaced tarpon.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — A very few Spanish mackerel. A couple short cobia. Probably plenty of sailcats.
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Baitfish
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Some whitebait at Pirate Harbor and Two Pines, plus Jug Creek and Devilfish Key. Threadies are scattered from the 20-foot holes to Bokeelia, with some Atlantic bumper (locally called butterfish) mixed in.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — A little bit of whitebait and threadfins mixed around Marker 2. There's more bait around Bokeelia and Devilfish, then up to the trestle. The pinfish we've been seeing are mostly nickel to quarter size. Offshore threadies and cigar minnows are scattered all over the place.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Threadies in the PGI canals, and scattered around the middle of the Harbor. Whitebait and small threadies are at Marker 2 and over by Fishermen's Village.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Some at Marker 2. Better at Devilfish, Jug Creek and along the ICW. Most of the bait in the upper Harbor has been threadfins - check the dorsal fin!
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Jug Creek Shoal and Devilfish have had a few whitebait, and there are some out off the beaches.
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Freshwater canals, creeks, rivers, ponds and lakes "Fishin History"
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Any canals with moving water (spillways, culverts, etc) will have bass and bluegills. Live shiners will get the bass, or you can try a lipped plug or plastic frog. Some big tilapia have been caught from the Cocoplum on worms and bread.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — Any place with moving water is producing bass, mostly on shiners but also on plastic frogs, worms and lizards. Some bluegill and tilapia have also been caught, mostly on live worms but also on Beetle Spins.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — The rain has helped. Bigger bass have been biting in the Cocoplum Waterway and residential ponds. Soft plastic worms and lizards, Beetle Spins, inline spinners and live shiners have all been catching fish. Bluegills and Mayan cichlids have also been eating.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Terrible. We need more rain to cut down the heat.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — Still slow, but if the rain keeps up it should improve. A few bass have been hitting shiners, and some bluegill and tilapia have been caught on worms.
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Tarpon reports 
Robert & Capt. Josh 07/20/2024 — Your best shot at fish is off the beaches, from a couple hundred yards to 5 miles out. There are also some fish in the 20-foot holes, in Boca Grande Pass and in Gasparilla Pass. If that doesn't pan out, try the ICW from Englewood down to Captiva. They're mostly done with crabs — live threadies or DOA Bait Busters are doing much better.
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Robert & Capt. Josh 06/29/2024 — There are fish in Boca Grande Pass, eating crabs and threadfins mostly very early in the day. Gasparilla Pass also has some fish, and there are more offshore of the beaches from Captiva Pass to Venice. You might find some fish along the ICW from Pine Island Sound to Gasparilla Sound. A few fish have been reported in the 20-foot holes. In shallower water they are more likely to eat DOA Bait Busters.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/22/2024 — Despite the fish not being present in the numbers we expect, Boca Grande Pass is still your best chance. There are also fish in Gasparilla Pass. Lesser numbers might be found anywhere off the beaches from Sanibel north.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/08/2024 — Your best shot is still Boca Grande Pass, but also the beaches from a half-mile to 5 miles offshore heading north to Venice. Crabs are best in the pass, but threadies are good in the Gulf. There are some fish south of the pass also, all the way down to Sanibel both off the beaches and along the ICW. You may find some tarpon in the 20-foot holes or at the mouths of the Punta Gorda canals.
Robert & Capt. Josh 06/01/2024 — The best bet has still been Boca Grande Pass, although more fish have been focused on eating threadfins instead of crabs. There are also tarpon in Captiva Pass and scattered off the beaches from Venice south to Boca. A few fish have also been showing up in Gasparilla Pass and down the ICW all the way to Punta Rassa.
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In memory of Capt Angel Torres, 1975-2010
Angel remains here with us,
He was my friend, I miss him
Fishin Frank-----
It would be hard to picture life without fishing.
People who do not fish do
not understand the
therapeutic value of fishing, losing yourself to
the motion of the waves and
just relaxing.
The best things about fishing is where you do it,
and that you do not carry a score card.
Since 1984 when I first walked through the door
here at Fishin Franks,
I found the people / customers to be the best part of this job,
and all these decades later that is still true.
You all are the best part of the day.
Thank you for letting me be a part of your lives so many years
Fishin Frank
