Finished off the 2024 year with some beautiful red snapper days as well as started off with some nice red grouper to open the year. A couple jumbo sized Goliaths joined the party as well. Inshore, the trout bite has been consistent but most of the trout are on the small side. Picking away at mangroves, sheepshead's and grunts on the nearshore trips.
Finished off the 2024 year with some beautiful red snapper days as well as started off with some nice red grouper to open the year. A couple jumbo sized Goliaths joined the party as well. Inshore, the trout bite has been consistent but most of the trout are on the small side. Picking away at mangroves, sheepshead's and grunts on the nearshore trips.
The bite has been productive. Inshore and nearshore bite has produced snappers that will reopen Jan 1. The redfish snook and trout are gorging on white bait before the water gets too cold. Good fishing good fun filling coolers
The bite has been productive. Inshore and nearshore bite has produced snappers that will reopen Jan 1. The redfish snook and trout are gorging on white bait before the water gets too cold. Good fishing good fun filling coolers
The winter feels are here in Southwest Florida. We may not be in full blown cold season but it feels like it some days. Early cold fronts that have not been common the past several years, extreme low winter type tides and of course our northern visitors have made their appearance. The other, more notable signs of winter fishing is the invasion of big sheepshead in to our inshore waters. When the temps drop these delicious fish make their way inshore to engage their annual spawning. Sheepshead are big, hardy, tasty and strong fighting fish that feed exclusively on crustaceans...
The winter feels are here in Southwest Florida. We may not be in full blown cold season but it feels like it some days. Early cold fronts that have not been common the past several years, extreme low winter type tides and of course our northern visitors have made their appearance. The other, more notable signs of winter fishing is the invasion of big sheepshead in to our inshore waters. When the temps drop these delicious fish make their way inshore to engage their annual spawning. Sheepshead are big, hardy, tasty and strong fighting fish that feed exclusively on crustaceans like barnacles, shrimp, crabs and even sand fleas. Our sheepshead are a structure oriented species, meaning they like cover such as docks, rock piles, mangrove branches and you can sometimes find them along oyster beds where a lot of their food can be found. They have big strong jaws, lined with rows of rounded teeth resembling human teeth. They are quite the sight to see, but despite their strange appearance they taste much like the food they consume. Some people would compare their meat to crab. I typically target these fish using a sharp 1/4 ounce jig head tipped with a small shrimp or if need be a piece of a larger shrimp. The key is to cover the hook without giving them enough hanging off the hook where they can pull it off. Covering the hook makes them have no choice but to eat the whole bait. Their mouth is so full of teeth sometimes it is difficult to get a hook in them, needless to say it is not uncommon to miss them.
James was very knowledgeable about the fish we were trying to catch! Really had a great time caught many fish right off the bat. He also cleaned them all so we could est them. Thank you keep up the good work!
Captain Adam was fantastic. We had a group of 6 - all first time iguana hunters! We had to wait out a some unpredictable weather before starting, and Adam was extremely accommodating. A wonderful unique experience and would absolutely book again! Highly recommend.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re thinking about booking a fishing charter, stop thinking and book with Captain James!
Three of us hit the water expecting a good day—but we got an unforgettable one. We reeled in mangrove snapper, battled sharks, and hooked into tarpon! The rods stayed bent, the laughs never stopped, and Captain James knew exactly where to put us on the fish.
Professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated to making sure everyone has an amazing time. Whether you’re chasing a trophy catch or just making memories with friends and family, Captain James is the one to call.
We’ll definitely be back. Highly recommended!
This was a bucket list trip for me and Captain Phil didn’t disappoint! We landed 3 out of the 4 fish we hooked with the biggest weighing roughly 180 lbs. I can’t thank Phil enough for making this a trip of a lifetime!
We met James at the dock and he was all ready to go. We hooked up on some nice snook within minutes of leaving the dock. It was a great day. He is very professional, knowledgeable and did everything he could to make our trip enjoyable. We highly recommend him and look forward to another visit!
Leighton was an absolutely fantastic guide, and great person. He was super knowledgeable, resourceful, and patient on our trip. He helped us get on some of our first saltwater fish on the fly, and made it an enjoyable time while doing so! I would 100% book another trip with Leighton.
Sign up to win $500 towards ANY trip. Winners drawn monthly.
Welcome to the Crew!
If you're lucky enough to win $500 we'll email you by the end of the month. If not there's good news: we still have thousands of Damn Good Guides who would love to take you out!