Punta Gorda Weather Forecast

Fishing reports straight from our guides in Punta Gorda

Brandon Douberly
Brandon D.
Bartow, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
Nearshore has been our go-to all week long with calm water and winds. We are fishing between 6 and 9 miles out in 40-60 feet of water using live shrimp. Lanes and mangrove snapper, sheepshead, white grunt, red and gag grouper have been our main targets and we have been catching a boat full of everything. Groups have been keeping me busy baiting hooks, it’s typical to get one fish for every bait that hits the bottom and we’ve got some good fighters out there for light tackle. A two ounce knocker rig on a 3/0 circle hook and 40...
Brandon Douberly
Brandon D. Bartow, Florida Reported 3 years ago
Nearshore has been our go-to all week long with calm water and winds. We are fishing between 6 and 9 miles out in 40-60 feet of water using live shrimp. Lanes and mangrove snapper, sheepshead, white grunt, red and gag grouper have been our main targets and we have been catching a boat full of everything. Groups have been keeping me busy baiting hooks, it’s typical to get one fish for every bait that hits the bottom and we’ve got some good fighters out there for light tackle. A two ounce knocker rig on a 3/0 circle hook and 40 lb leader has been the setup that has been working best for these nearshore species. We take advantage of these calm days to go nearshore, they don’t come often enough this time of year and right on schedule the next week or so is looking to be windy and choppy in the deep water. Finding the window to go is imperative.
Lane Snapper, Scup Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper, Scup Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper, Scup Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Scroll for more
Brandon Douberly
Brandon D.
Bartow, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
Weather has been good at times windy a lot of the time but we are managing. Targeting sheepshead, redfish and trout inshore, days we are able to go a few miles offshore we are getting lane snapper, grunt, tripletail, red grouper and triggerfish.
Brandon Douberly
Brandon D. Bartow, Florida Reported 3 years ago
Weather has been good at times windy a lot of the time but we are managing. Targeting sheepshead, redfish and trout inshore, days we are able to go a few miles offshore we are getting lane snapper, grunt, tripletail, red grouper and triggerfish.
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Lane Snapper Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Scroll for more
Brandon Douberly
Brandon D.
Bartow, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
The last couple days have been nothing short of fishy, any and every species you can think of inshore and nearshore. The sheepshead bite has been as good as it’s ever been. Getting limits and personal best fish for customers. Lane snapper are plentiful on nearshore wrecks and reefs, and the redfish and trout have been keeping us busy inshore with a few snook mixed in.
The cold hasn’t slowed the bite down one bit. Fishing shrimp on jig heads for our bottom and structure dwelling fish and popping corks for the inshore fishing.
Sight fishing reds has been the...
Brandon Douberly
Brandon D. Bartow, Florida Reported 3 years ago
The last couple days have been nothing short of fishy, any and every species you can think of inshore and nearshore. The sheepshead bite has been as good as it’s ever been. Getting limits and personal best fish for customers. Lane snapper are plentiful on nearshore wrecks and reefs, and the redfish and trout have been keeping us busy inshore with a few snook mixed in.
The cold hasn’t slowed the bite down one bit. Fishing shrimp on jig heads for our bottom and structure dwelling fish and popping corks for the inshore fishing.
Sight fishing reds has been the
go-to on grass flats, pot holes and mangroves. We’ve been catching upper slot trout and getting a few over slot gator trout on every outing. The bite is bound to stay hot with some of these strong flowing tides we get in the winter months.
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Black Drum Fishing in Cape Coral, Florida
Scroll for more
Roger Gendron
Roger G.
Charlotte Harbor, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
I have always said when the weather is good the fishing is good. A recent stretch of favorable weather seems to have improved the fishes' appetites. Snook, Reds, and trout are making up for lost time on the flats as the bite is becoming more consistent.
Roger Gendron
Roger G. Charlotte Harbor, Florida Reported 3 years ago
I have always said when the weather is good the fishing is good. A recent stretch of favorable weather seems to have improved the fishes' appetites. Snook, Reds, and trout are making up for lost time on the flats as the bite is becoming more consistent.
Redfish Fishing in Charlotte Harbor, Florida
Scroll for more
Dylan H.
Cape Coral, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
Schools of redfish are all over the place eating artificial baits and live bait.
Dylan Hood
Dylan H. Cape Coral, Florida Reported 3 years ago
Schools of redfish are all over the place eating artificial baits and live bait.
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Scroll for more
Dan Muench
Dan M.
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
I took my brother out yesterday for an early morning Topwater lure run. Excellent morning as we caught three redfish on top water and a few snook as well, including a 28 1/2 inch one!
Dan Muench
Dan M. Fort Myers, Florida Reported 3 years ago
I took my brother out yesterday for an early morning Topwater lure run. Excellent morning as we caught three redfish on top water and a few snook as well, including a 28 1/2 inch one!
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Scroll for more
Dan Muench
Dan M.
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
Fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today the guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32-inch Snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this last week and the speckled sea trout bite is still hot as usual. No live bait needed for the Speckled SeaTrout, as they will hit soft plastics and hard Subsurface Baits as long as you work them correctly.
Dan Muench
Dan M. Fort Myers, Florida Reported 3 years ago
Fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today the guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32-inch Snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this last week and the speckled sea trout bite is still hot as usual. No live bait needed for the Speckled SeaTrout, as they will hit soft plastics and hard Subsurface Baits as long as you work them correctly.
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Scroll for more
Dan Muench
Dan M.
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
Hey David, the fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today my guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32 inch snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this last week and the speckled sea trout bite is still hot as usual. No live bait needed for the Speckled SeaTrout, as they will hit soft plastics and hard Subsurface Bates as long as you work them correctly.
Dan Muench
Dan M. Fort Myers, Florida Reported 3 years ago
Hey David, the fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today my guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32 inch snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this last week and the speckled sea trout bite is still hot as usual. No live bait needed for the Speckled SeaTrout, as they will hit soft plastics and hard Subsurface Bates as long as you work them correctly.
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Fort Myers, Florida
Scroll for more
Jon Fetter
Jon F.
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported 3 years ago
The inshore bite has been as hot as the temps here in SW Florida. The seatrout bite is crazy good around the grass flats in 3-5 feet of water. Shrimp under a popping cork is the ticket. There have been some quality redfish hanging around the mangrove edges and oyster bars on higher water. Free lined pinfish or pins under a float will work best. Just remember to get out early to beat the heat as the bite has been over around 11 am.
Jon Fetter
Jon F. Fort Myers, Florida Reported 3 years ago
The inshore bite has been as hot as the temps here in SW Florida. The seatrout bite is crazy good around the grass flats in 3-5 feet of water. Shrimp under a popping cork is the ticket. There have been some quality redfish hanging around the mangrove edges and oyster bars on higher water. Free lined pinfish or pins under a float will work best. Just remember to get out early to beat the heat as the bite has been over around 11 am.
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Redfish fishing in Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Scroll for more
Victor Medico
Victor M.
Cape Coral, Florida
Reported 4 years ago
The redfish bite in the back bays of Southwest Florida is starting to pick up and will only get better through the end of October. Plenty of breeder snook can be found in the passes and along the beaches. Bait has been plentiful on the grass flats which is a good place to work artificial lures for trout. Tarpon can still be found but time is running out on the 2022 season.
Victor Medico
Victor M. Cape Coral, Florida Reported 4 years ago
The redfish bite in the back bays of Southwest Florida is starting to pick up and will only get better through the end of October. Plenty of breeder snook can be found in the passes and along the beaches. Bait has been plentiful on the grass flats which is a good place to work artificial lures for trout. Tarpon can still be found but time is running out on the 2022 season.
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Bokeelia, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Bokeelia, Florida
Speckled Trout / Spotted Seatrout fishing in Bokeelia, Florida
Scroll for more

Target Species

View Full Species Seasonality Chart »
  • Get it while it's HOT!
  • This species is in play.
  • You might get lucky (as long as things are in-season).
  • Couldn't tell ya! (no data)

What's Biting in Punta Gorda

Top Fishing Trips in Punta Gorda

Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Bokeelia

Bokeelia Tarpon Action

100% (16)
30 ft 1 - 4 People From $900
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore Fishing in Cape Coral

Inshore 4hr Trip

100% (1)
21 ft 1 - 4 People From $600
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Deep Sea Fishing in Venice

12hr Offshore

100% (2)
30 ft 1 - 6 People From $2,550
Damn Good
Certified Damn Good Guides offer 10/10 trips. Guides earn this badge through quality reviews, quick and responsive communication, and low cancellation rates.
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Shelling, Sunset Cruise in Matlacha

Boat Day Shelling Beach Sightseeing

100% (53)
20 ft 1 - 8 People From $450
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, River, Flats in Fort Myers

Fishing Thrills In Fort Myers

92% (13)
22 ft 1 - 8 People From $550
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin
Fishing in Destin

Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Cape Coral

Inshore Fishing Charter Cape Coral

99% (190)
26 ft 1 - 12 People From $500
See all trips in Punta Gorda

Recent Punta Gorda Reviews

  • ★★★★★
    Captain Chris was amazing! He provided great communication before our iguana hunting trip and during. Captain Chris was great with his instructions for our 10-year old and 8-year old. He was also very considerate and had a great approach to dealing with kids. We saw quite a few iguanas, shot quite a few, and recovered quite a bit. Overall, it was a great experience and I'd highly recommend Captain Chris! Very knowledgeable and experienced!

    Jonathan D. | August 24, 2026

    Trip: Iguana Hunts

  • ★★★★★
    Easy to deal with great communication

    Bobby S. | August 23, 2026

    Trip: Iguana Hunting Veteran Guides

  • ★★★★★
    Absolutely a blast. Great group, great coordination, and a genuinely fun evening from start to finish. It took some getting used to at first, since you basically have to identify the animals by color alone, but once you get the hang of it, it clicks fast and makes the whole thing even more interesting. Everything was well organized and the communication was spot on. I would do this again anytime. Highly recommended!

    Markus F. | August 20, 2026

    Trip: Cape Coral Iguana Hunt

  • ★★★★★
    Dalton was great with the kids! Caught a lot of fish.

    Raymond D. | August 18, 2026

    Trip: Fishing Thrills In Fort Myers

  • ★★★★★
    Had a great time out on the water. Would highly recommend using Captain Brett

    Ryne S. | August 16, 2026

    Trip: 5 Hour Fishing

  • ★★★★★
    Al was great. We had a lot of fun and he was very knowledgeable.

    James R. | August 14, 2026

    Trip: 4 Hour Inshore

  • ★★★★★
    Damn Great Trip ! Damn Great Capt.! Capt Paul was very Professional and Super friendly. His knowledge of the water ways and the marine life was amazing. He lead us to the fish and we caught a bunch. Had a great time! Capt Paul really helpful with my grandson and definitely made his trip unforgettable! Thanks so much! 😁👍

    Frank D. | August 12, 2026

    Trip: Shallow Waters, Big Memories

  • ★★★★★
    We had a great time with Captain Austin! Caught lots of fish and enjoyed being on the beautiful FL waters!

    Clarice L. | August 11, 2026

    Trip: Half Day Charters In Boca Grande

  • ★★★★★
    I would give more stars if I could. Logan was a great guide and very knowledgeable about hunting SWFL. Kona was a great dog and one of the best parts of the trip was watching her retrieve the iguanas. When we do another iguana hunting trip we will definitely choose Logan as our guide!

    Matt C. | August 10, 2026

    Trip: Iguana Hunt With Iguana DOG!!!

  • ★★★★★
    Jesse was friendly, knowledgeable and was very helpful with a group of semi-newbies to this type of fishing. I’m not sure what other activities Jesse is involved in but I think he is a budding stand up comedian as well. We had three previous trips cancelled before Jesse jumped in at the last minute to save the day. Thank you Jesse

    Ken O. | August 6, 2026

    Trip: Fort Myers Beach Local Captain.

Need a Place to Stay?

Enter to Win a

$500 DAMN GOOD GIFT CARD

Gift Card

Sign up to win $500 towards ANY trip. Winners drawn monthly.

By subscribing, you agree to receive marketing communications from Captain Experiences. To opt-out, click the unsubscribe button at the bottom of our emails. Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions