Winter redfish action in Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor with ReelFishing Charters.
ReelFishing Charters
Mid-December fishing across Southwest Florida has been excellent, with weather conditions that feel more like early fall than winter. The 10-day forecast is showing daytime highs in the upper 70s to mid-80s, keeping water temperatures stable and fish active throughout the region.
Punta Gorda • Upper Charlotte Harbor • Peace River
Fishing in and around Punta Gorda has been on fire, especially in the upper Charlotte Harbor and Peace River systems. Anglers targeting snook and big jack crevalle are finding steady action along river bends, deeper shorelines, and around structure.
👉 If you’re planning a trip in this area, our
Punta Gorda fishing charters
(https://reelfishing.com/trips-rates/punta-gorda-fishing-charters/)
are dialed in right now.
Bait is still holding around markers and channel edges, but if live bait is tough to come by, artificials are producing very well. Berkley Paddlin’ Power Stingers in Sightcast and Pinfish colors have been extremely effective when casting to cruising fish.
Redfish and trout fishing along the east side of Charlotte Harbor remains solid.
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Live shrimp has been the top producer
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Artificial anglers are finding success with Gulp! Dragon Tails, especially when worked slowly along grass edges
Nice winter snook caught in the Boca Grande area during warm December conditions.
Boca Grande Fishing Report
The Boca Grande area continues to deliver excellent action this December, particularly for anglers chasing quality spotted seatrout. Large numbers of trout are stacked on deeper grass flats, and the bite has been consistent day after day.
👉 Learn more about our
Boca Grande fishing charters
(https://reelfishing.com/trips-rates/boca-grande-fishing-charters/)
while the bite is this strong.
Trout
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Live shrimp under popping corks has been the most effective setup
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Bigger trout are responding best to a slower presentation
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⚠️ Regulation reminder: Only one trout over 19” per boat
Redfish
Redfish are spread across the flats, offering great opportunities for:
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Sight casting
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Fly fishing, especially on lower tides when fish are tailing
On higher water, redfish are pushing closer to the shoreline grass.
Best approaches include:
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Live shrimp freelined on a cork over grass
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Shrimp on a jighead when fishing sandy bottom
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Artificial standouts include Gulp! Dragon Tails and Nemesis Prawn
Snook
There are also some very nice snook around Boca Grande right now. Fish are a bit spread out, with action both:
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In the backcountry
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Along outer sandbars
Live sardines have been producing best, but with the warmer weather, don’t hesitate to throw topwater plugs, especially early morning and late afternoon.
Tarpon & Sharks
Surprisingly for mid-December, there are still some tarpon around, giving anglers a rare winter opportunity at the silver king. In addition, we’ve been seeing some really nice sharks, perfect for anglers looking to battle something big and powerful.
Quality winter trout caught on the grass flats in Boca Grande.
Book Your Winter Fishing Trip
With calm conditions, warm temperatures, and a wide variety of species available, December is one of the most underrated months to fish Southwest Florida.
Whether you’re looking for:
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Family-friendly inshore trips
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Sight-casting redfish
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Trophy trout
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Snook, tarpon, or sharks
Now is a great time to get on the calendar before peak season fills up.
