Fresh Lee County Fishing Reports

Southwest Florida’s Charlotte Harbor remains a premier destination for diverse fishing charters, boasting endless mangrove backcountry, current-rich cuts, and vast seagrass flats with pristine waters teeming with fish. From the explosive topwater strike of a trophy snook to sight-casting a fly to tailing redfish, Reel Rich Fishing—departing daily from Safe Harbor Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda, Florida—offers tailored trips to make your 2026 adventure unforgettable. Come create lifelong memories in Charlotte Harbor with us! Charlotte Harbor’s unparalleled diversity stems from its expansive estuary system, comprising five contiguous aquatic preserves: Lemon Bay in the north, Cape Haze and Gasparilla Sound, the core Charlotte Harbor Preserve, Matlacha Pass, and Pine Island Sound to the south. Together, these span over 150,000 acres, fostering a thriving ecosystem. A standout feature is the shallow average depth of just 7 feet, with much of our fishing in waters under 3 feet—more akin to northern bass or pike lakes than deep-sea pursuits. When Is the Best Time to Fish Charlotte Harbor? Anglers often underestimate Charlotte Harbor’s bounty. When asked what you can catch, the real question is: “How much time do you have?” Home to nearly 300 fish species, our focus centers on “The Big Ten”: tarpon, shark, snook, redfish, sea trout, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, pompano, Spanish mackerel, and cobia. Black drum, bluefish, ladyfish, permit, grouper, king mackerel, and more round out the action. Note: We’re highlighting inshore fishing inside the barrier islands; offshore is a topic for another post. Something bites year-round, though tides and weather play key roles. Seasonal patterns for prime species remain reliable for 2026, per Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) updates—always verify at **hidden content** for regulations, including slot limits and closures. Your 2026 Charlotte Harbor Fishing Calendar January–February Trout shine, alongside sheepshead and mangrove snapper. Pompano and scattered redfish add variety. March Trout hold strong; bonnethead sharks and early cobia appear on flats. Redfish and snook improve with warming waters, while spring Spanish mackerel runs begin. Sheepshead remain excellent. April Prime snook month (harvest open March 1–April 30 in Charlotte Harbor region). Small sharks increase, Spanish mackerel fluctuate, and first tarpon arrive. Thick trout and ladyfish ensure non-stop action. May Tarpon high season kicks off (peak April–June). Snook closed for spawning (May 1–August 31), but catch-and-release is superb. Shark fishing explodes with large bulls and hammerheads; cobia numbers rise, redfish steady on flats, and Spanish mackerel/trout consistent. June Tarpon peaks here—world-class action in passes and harbors. Catch-and-release snook thrives, sharks are reliable, and redfish flats fishing delivers. July–September Tarpon lingers in bays and rivers; snook and redfish steady (snook closed to harvest until September). Mangrove snapper surge, and shark fishing is exceptional. October Redfish excels; snook and trout solid (harvest reopens October 1–November 30). Mangrove snapper plentiful, with larger Spanish mackerel returning. November Trout, snook, and redfish all strong; mangrove snapper and Spanish mackerel persist. Black drum and bluefish possible. December Focus shifts to trout, redfish, mangrove snapper, and sheepshead as waters cool. Flounder and pompano round it out. Explore Reel Rich’s Updated 2026 Offerings We’ve enhanced our lineup for 2026 with new targeted options to match Charlotte Harbor’s rhythms. Visit our offerings for full details: • Inshore & Flats Charters (January–June): Versatile trips for snook, redfish, trout, and more. • Shark Charters (April–July): Thrilling battles with blacktip, bull, hammerhead, and lemon. • Live Bait Tarpon in Boca Grande (May–July): Iconic pursuits of 100–200+ lb silver kings. • Targeted Redfish & Snook (January–July): Catch-and-release focus, redfish year-round, snook from late March. Gear Up with Our Latest Updates Great fishing starts with top equipment. The Un-Reel, our 24’ Nautic Star 2400 Sport, features recent upgrades including a tuned Suzuki DF250 outboard for smoother runs and enhanced stability. We’ve also outfitted with new high-performance rod-and-reel combos—light yet durable for everything from finesse flats work to battling tarpon acrobatics—ensuring you’re ready for any bite. Of course, prime waters are just half the equation. Captain Rich Damianos brings over 10 years of focused Charlotte Harbor expertise to every trip. Whether easing into inshore relaxation or chasing bucket-list tarpon, Reel Rich delivers the best action possible. Ready for your 2026 charter? Book now or inquire about Punta Gorda perks— Message Capt. Rich Right here on FishingBooker.

Fished with jig and shrimp around structure.

The December bite has been excellent with tons of hungry redfish working the flats and mangrove edges. Cooler temps have the fish stacked up and feeding steady throughout the day. Lots of action, consistent hookups, and plenty of slot fish hitting the deck. Great time to get out and bend some rods!

Here’s the low-down on what anglers around Matlacha, Florida have been seeing — and what you might expect this week as we roll into December. According to recent data, fish activity is forecast to shift from “high” (late November) down to “average” by the first few days of December. Tides4Fishing That said: winter conditions often bring clearer water and cooler temperatures — which can concentrate fish and make hiding spots like oyster bars, mangroves, and flats more productive. Port Sanibel Marina+2Guidesly+2 ? What’s Biting (and What to Target) Redfish (Red Drum): Redfish remain reliable inshore targets. Look for them along mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, grass flats, and flats around passes — especially near tidal movement. Soft plastics, shrimp, or cut bait work well. Port Sanibel Marina+2onWater+2 Spotted Seatrout (Trout): Trout continue to show up on grass flats and shallow flats. With cooler water and clearer conditions, they tend to hold in deeper holes, potholes, and near dropoffs — shrimp under popping corks or slow jigs are a good bet. KingFisher Charters+2onWater+2 Sheepshead & Structure Fish: As winter settles in, sheepshead — and other structure-oriented species like mangrove snapper — start to show up near docks, mangrove roots, oyster bars, bridge or pier pilings, and other hard structure. Small hooks, fiddler crabs or shrimp, and light tackle can pay off. KingFisher Charters+2CyberAngler+2 Snook: Snook may be more sluggish in cooler water, but they shouldn’t be ignored. Focus on deeper holes, canals, or mangrove-lined pockets — particularly where there's some structure or warmer-water outflows. Early-afternoon when the sun warms water may help trigger bites. KingFisher Charters+2onWater+2 ? Where to Fish — Good Spots This Week Mangrove shorelines & flats — excellent for redfish cruising and trout feeding. Oyster bars, creeks, shallow flats, and potholes — ideal for seatrout, sheepshead, snapper, and structure fish. Bridge/pier/dock/mangrove-root structure — prime for sheepshead, snapper, and maybe even a snook if you get lucky. Inlets, passes, channels near stronger tidal flows — good for redfish and occasionally larger trout or snook looking for moving bait. ? Tackle & Strategy Tips Bait & Lures: Live or fresh shrimp — especially under popping corks — and small soft plastics or cut bait for reds/trout; fiddler crabs or shrimp on small hooks for sheepshead; soft plastics or live bait around mangroves for snook. Tides & Timing: Watch tidal movement — rising tides that push bait into flats and mangroves often trigger redfish and trout bites. If you can, plan around mid-morning or early afternoon when tide + light combine for best results. Water Clarity & Light Conditions: Cooler winter water often means clarity — good for sight-fishing in flats for reds and tailers, but be careful of overly light gear spooking wary fish. ? What I’d Do If I Hit Matlacha This Week If I were getting on the water in Matlacha this week, I’d: Head to shallow flats or mangrove flats on an incoming tide with a light spinning rod, shrimp under a popping cork — targeting trout early. Work mangrove edges and oyster bars with soft plastics for redfish in the mid-morning as the tide pushes in. Check dock pilings, oyster beds, and mangrove roots for sheepshead or snapper through the midday, using fiddler crabs or shrimp on light hooks. If the day warms, scout deeper holes, canal mouths, or mangrove channels for a snook or two — especially around structure or warm spots.

Here we come, December. Cooler temps, hotter action, and some of the best fishing of the year. Book your trip and let’s load up on memories (and a few trout for dinner). ⚓️?

The snook bite has been on fire before this cool front plus lots of jacks and snappers