November Fishing Report – A Look Back at a Boca Grande Classic
Originally posted November 2012 — Updated for 2025
We’re taking a look back at one of the all-time great fall fishing months here in Boca Grande and Punta Gorda. November 2012 brought incredible action across Charlotte Harbor, with plenty of Snook, Redfish, and Trout filling the backcountry. The water was clean, the tides were perfect, and every trip was loaded with variety.
If you love seeing how the patterns change each year, check out our Latest November Fishing Report → for updated conditions, current bite details, and recent photos from the water.
Throwback Highlights
Looking back, that November was all about strong Snook and Redfish numbers on the grass flats and mangrove edges. Cooler mornings had the fish fired up, and a good mix of Trout and Mackerel made for exciting light-tackle days.
The bite pattern we saw that year still holds true for late fall in Southwest Florida — big schools of bait, steady tides, and fish feeding ahead of the first cold fronts. It’s always a fun time to be on the water here in Charlotte Harbor.
Our first few cold fronts have come through Southwest Florida, giving us cooler temps and super comfortable fishing conditions. The reds are feeding like mad, the snook are fattening up for winter and the big trout are starting to show up on the flats! November is looking like it is going to be pretty good in the backcountry.
Every year after their annual spawn the large breed schools of redfish begin to break up. The rigors of spawning leave these fish with a crazy appetite as they move back onto the flats in search of food. Low tides and cooler weather will push most of the baitfish off the flats and into deeper water, forcing the reds to rely on bottom forage like shrimp and crabs. One of the most effective patterns is fishing potholes on the grass flats with live shrimp. These holes attract a ton of fish this time of year due to the lower tides. This is one of my favorite ways to fish not only because it produces reds but also because you catch such a variety of fish. Sheepshead, flounder and trout are just a few of the likely candidates while targeting reds. The average full day trip has been producing 20-30 reds anywhere from 20” to 35” and weighing as much as 18lbs.
Most of the Snook have started their journey from the flats and passes to the backcountry as they prepare for the cooler winter months. These fish will begin to stage in and around the deeper protected water like canals, creeks and deep shorelines. Boca Grande fishing charters are still producing 10-20 fish a day from 22”- 26” and I am also catching a lot of fish over 10lbs. It hasn’t gotten too cold yet and the snook are ready to eat!
Trout fishing continues to improve and I am still very impressed with the size of some of the fish. I am consistently catching fish in the 3-5lb range which is not the norm for this time of year. If this is any indication of things to come this could be one of the best big trout years ever!
Pompano continue to be on the menu. These tasty guys have been pretty cooperative the past month and if you have never caught them they are a great fight. I have been averaging 2-10 fish and have only been targeting them for short periods during my charters.
The Boca Grande Tarpon fishing is pretty much over for the year. The last few cold fronts and windy weather have pushed most of the tarpon to points further south. We wont enjoy really good tarpon fishing until next year but don’t forget to start planning your 2013 Boca Grande tarpon fishing charter now!
The nearshore fishing has begun to slow up as the migrations of Kingfish and Spanish Mackerel have passed us by. With the sale of my bay boat I really have not been able to do much nearshore fishing recently and won’t be able to until my new boat arrives in a few months.
Whether you want to catch the fish of a lifetime or just relax with friends, you can count on Reelfishing charters to put together the ultimate Southwest Florida experience! Capt. Danny is the guide that will bring everything together for a fun, exciting fishing charter that you’ll remember.
Reelfishing is a Boca grande fishing charters as well as a Boca Grande fishing guide service. We pick up at several locations around Southwest Florida including Burnt Store Marina, Pineland Marina, Placida and the Boca Grande guide docks. Other arrangements can be made if necessary. We try to make fishing with Reelfishing charters as easy as possible.
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