Fall Fishing in Boca Grande & Punta Gorda: September–November Guide

Ask me my favorite time of year to fish Southwest Florida, and my answer might surprise you.

September, October and November are hands down some of my favorite months of the entire year to be on the water.

Spring tarpon season gets most of the attention around Boca Grande, and there’s no question it’s an incredible time to fish. But if you’re looking for variety, quality fish and great numbers, it’s hard to beat fall fishing around Boca Grande, Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor.

One of the biggest advantages is variety. During the fall, we can have excellent opportunities for tarpon, redfish, snook, trout, pompano and mangrove snapper, with nearshore species like Spanish mackerel, kingfish and bonito joining the mix as the season progresses.

There’s another benefit that doesn’t get talked about enough: there’s simply less pressure.

Boat traffic drops considerably compared with the busy spring season. Hotels and restaurants around Southwest Florida aren’t nearly as crowded, and as we move farther into fall, the weather becomes absolutely beautiful.

For anglers planning a fishing vacation—or Florida residents who have never experienced Charlotte Harbor in the fall—September through November can be one of the best times of the year to fish.

September is an incredible transition month because we still have many of our summer fishing opportunities while the first signs of fall fishing begin showing up.

Tarpon

Tarpon fishing can be excellent throughout September.

The huge spring migration may get most of the attention, but that doesn’t mean tarpon fishing suddenly ends when summer does. September can produce some outstanding tarpon days around Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande.

For anglers who missed the traditional spring season—or simply want another shot at one—September can be an excellent time to experience Boca Grande Tarpon Fishing.

Redfish

September is also when our redfish are schooled up and aggressive.

This can produce some of the most exciting redfish fishing of the year. Instead of hunting individual fish, we can encounter large groups of reds moving and feeding together.

When you find the right school, the action can be incredible. If catching a big red is on your list, learn more about our Redfish Fishing Charters.

Snook

Snook fishing remains very good as the fish continue their spawning season.

September also gives us a legitimate shot at a big snook, which is always one of my favorite fish to put somebody on. You can learn more about how we target them on our Snook Fishing Charters page.

Mangrove Snapper & Pompano

Mangrove snapper continue to provide excellent action and remain one of our favorite options for anglers hoping to bring home something for dinner.

At the same time, pompano fishing begins getting good, adding yet another species to an already impressive September lineup.

September highlights: Tarpon • Schooling Redfish • Big Snook • Mangrove Snapper • Pompano

If I had to show someone why I love fall fishing in Southwest Florida, October would make a pretty convincing argument.

There’s an incredible amount happening at the same time.

Redfish

The reds are still schooled up and biting.

These schools can provide some fantastic fishing throughout Charlotte Harbor, making October another prime month for anglers specifically interested in redfish.

Tarpon

Tarpon fishing can still rock in October.

That’s something many visitors don’t realize. You don’t necessarily have to visit Boca Grande during the height of spring to have an opportunity to catch a tarpon.

Snook

Snook fishing actually gets even better as fish move back inshore after spawning.

They’re hungry, they’re feeding, and October can provide excellent snook action.

Trout

As water temperatures begin cooling, trout start moving back onto the flats and the fishing can become very good.

That makes October especially fun because we can have excellent fishing for several of Southwest Florida’s premier inshore species at the same time.

Pompano & Mangrove Snapper

Pompano fishing remains good.

Mangrove snapper are still around as well, although I usually expect that bite to begin slowing as our water temperatures drop.

And then something else starts happening…

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Later in October, I start paying close attention to what’s happening along the beaches and nearshore waters of Southwest Florida.

As conditions change, we can see:

• Spanish mackerel
• Kingfish
• Bonito

show up in a big way.

That opens up an entirely different style of fishing and gives us even more options when planning a charter.

On the right October day, the hardest decision may simply be what we want to fish for.

November brings another change to Southwest Florida fishing.

Cold fronts begin playing a much bigger role, but fishing can remain outstanding.

The Last Hurrah for Tarpon

November is usually our last hurrah for tarpon.

Exactly how long they stick around depends heavily on the cold fronts. We normally get our first significant front sometime during November, and once that happens, many of the tarpon begin moving south.

Until then, we can still have some very good opportunities.

That’s one of the things I love about fishing Southwest Florida: the fish don’t follow a calendar. They follow the conditions.

Nearshore Fishing

Nearshore fishing along the beaches should be very good in November.

Mackerel, kingfish, bonito and other nearshore species can provide fast-paced action and give us another option when conditions are right.

Redfish

The big spawning schools of redfish begin breaking apart, but the fishing doesn’t stop.

Those fish continue feeding aggressively after the spawn, giving us excellent redfish opportunities as we transition toward winter.

Snook

Snook begin moving into the backwaters and flats, where they continue feeding and fattening up in preparation for colder temperatures.

That creates a very different fishery from the summer spawn and gives us opportunities to target them in areas we weren’t fishing a couple of months earlier.

Trout

November is when I really expect the trout fishing to pick up.

As water temperatures continue dropping, trout become increasingly active and move into areas where we can target them consistently.

November highlights: Nearshore Fishing • Redfish • Snook • Trout • Late-Season Tarpon

After more than 30 years of fishing these waters, fall is still one of the seasons I look forward to the most.

It’s not because of one particular fish.

It’s because of everything happening at once.

In September we can be chasing tarpon one day and huge schools of redfish the next.

By October, snook and trout fishing are improving while tarpon and schooling reds can still be going strong—and the nearshore bite begins coming alive.

Then November brings cooler temperatures, excellent trout and snook fishing, aggressive post-spawn redfish and some of our best nearshore opportunities.

But there’s another reason I love it:

Less Boat Traffic. Fewer Crowds. Beautiful Weather.

Fall simply isn’t as crowded as our busy spring season.

There are fewer boats on the water. Hotels and restaurants around Boca Grande and Punta Gorda generally aren’t nearly as busy. And as summer fades, Southwest Florida starts getting some of the beautiful weather we’re famous for.

For someone planning a fishing vacation, that’s a combination that’s pretty hard to beat.

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You don’t necessarily have to decide.

I fish both the Boca Grande and Punta Gorda/Charlotte Harbor areas, and where we fish on a particular day depends on the species we’re targeting, weather, tides and where the best bite is happening.

If you’re planning your trip, learn more about our Boca Grande Fishing Charters or Punta Gorda Fishing Charters to see what each area offers.

Rather than forcing every trip into the same location or targeting the same species every day, I customize each trip around what gives us the best opportunity that day.

Absolutely.

In fact, fall can be one of my favorite times to take families fishing.

We’re not limited to chasing one particular species. With so many options available, I can tailor the trip to the anglers onboard.

For experienced fishermen, that might mean hunting a school of big redfish or looking for a late-season tarpon.

For kids or first-time anglers, the goal may simply be keeping the rods bent and putting together a fun mixed-bag day on Charlotte Harbor.

Everyone starts somewhere.

Is September a good month to fish Boca Grande?

Yes. September can offer excellent tarpon fishing along with schooling redfish, snook, mangrove snapper and improving pompano fishing.

Can you still catch tarpon after the spring Boca Grande tarpon season?

Absolutely. Tarpon opportunities can continue throughout September and October and sometimes into November. How long they remain into November depends heavily on cold fronts and water temperatures.

What is the best month for fall fishing in Charlotte Harbor?

There isn’t one month I’d call the universal “best.” September, October and November each offer something different. September provides excellent tarpon and schooling redfish opportunities, October offers tremendous variety, and November brings cooler weather and excellent inshore and nearshore fishing.

What fish can you catch during fall in Punta Gorda?

Depending on the month and conditions, fall fishing can include tarpon, redfish, snook, trout, mangrove snapper, pompano, Spanish mackerel, kingfish and bonito.

Is October a good time to fish Southwest Florida?

October can be outstanding. Redfish remain schooled, tarpon fishing can still be excellent, snook fishing improves as fish move inshore, trout return to the flats, pompano remain available, and nearshore fishing begins picking up later in the month.

Is fall less crowded than spring in Boca Grande?

Generally, yes. One of the reasons I enjoy fall is the reduced boat traffic compared with the busy spring season. Visitors can also find the overall area less crowded than during peak season.

If you’ve always thought you had to come to Southwest Florida during the spring to experience great fishing, give fall a try.

September, October and November offer some of the best variety of the entire year—and they’re hands down some of my favorite months to be on the water.

Whether you want to chase tarpon, hunt schools of redfish, catch a big snook, work the flats for trout or head toward the beaches when the nearshore bite turns on, we’ll build the trip around the conditions and the fishing.

READY TO EXPERIENCE FALL FISHING IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA?

September, October and November are some of Captain Danny’s favorite months of the year to fish Boca Grande, Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor. With fewer boats, incredible variety and excellent fishing, fall is a great time to get on the water.

Catch Fish, No Excuses!

Want to see what’s biting right now? Check out our latest Southwest Florida Fishing Reports for current conditions around Boca Grande, Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor.