September 2026 Punta Gorda Fishing Report & Boca Grande Fishing Report

🎣 September Fishing Report at a Glance

🐟 Tarpon: Excellent (9/10) – Double-digit hookup days continue as post-spawn fish feed throughout Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound.

🐟 Redfish: Excellent (9.5/10) – Large schools are forming for the annual spawn, creating outstanding sight-fishing opportunities.

🐟 Snook: Very Good (8.5/10) – Great action continues around Boca Grande Pass, Captiva Pass, Burnt Store Marina, and Charlotte Harbor.

🐟 Trout: Very Good (8/10) – Plenty of fish with quality keepers mixed in over grass flats.

🐟 Mangrove Snapper & Pompano: Very Good (8/10) – Excellent opportunities for anglers looking to bring home fresh fish for dinner.

☀️ Conditions: Warm mornings, scattered afternoon thunderstorms, and abundant baitfish continue to make September one of the best months to fish Southwest Florida.

🎣 Best Bets: Redfish, Tarpon, Snook & Mangrove Snapper

If you’re looking for a Punta Gorda fishing charter, Boca Grande fishing charter, or Charlotte Harbor fishing charter, September has gotten off to an outstanding start. While summer temperatures are still hanging around, we’re beginning to see some of my favorite fall fishing patterns develop.

Tarpon continue feeding aggressively after the spawn, redfish are beginning to school for their annual spawn, and snook, trout, mangrove snapper, and pompano are all providing excellent action. Whether you’re chasing a trophy fish or simply looking for a fun day on the water with family and friends, September offers incredible variety throughout Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, Boca Grande Pass, and the surrounding Southwest Florida waters.

Tarpon fishing continues to be outstanding.

We’ve had several trips with double-digit hookups, and although the fish are moving around quite a bit, they’re feeding aggressively once you locate them.

The upper Charlotte Harbor has been especially productive, particularly around the mouths of the Peace River and Myakka River. One of the biggest keys has been watching for diving birds and schools of feeding baitfish. If the birds are working and other fish are feeding, the tarpon usually aren’t far behind.

Best Live Baits

• Live ladyfish

Best Artificial Lures

• DOA Bait Buster

Fly anglers have also been enjoying some excellent action. Floating gurglers and floating crab patterns have both been producing exciting surface eats and some unforgettable fights.

If you’re hoping to cross a trophy tarpon off your bucket list, September continues to offer excellent opportunities throughout Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound.

The redfish bite continues to improve as we move closer to their annual spawn.

I’ve already located several impressive schools containing well over 150 fish, and while they can take some work to find, the payoff has been well worth the effort.

Artificial lures have been my first choice while searching because they allow us to cover a lot of water quickly.

Best Artificial Lures

• Gold Spoon
• Berkley J-Walker
• Paddle-tail swimbaits

Once we’ve found the schools, live pinfish have been extremely effective, especially when fishing deeper water or during slower feeding periods.

As we move deeper into September, I expect these schools to continue getting larger and more predictable. Fall is one of my favorite times of year to target redfish, and the bite should only continue getting better over the next several weeks.

The snook bite remains very consistent.

Large numbers of fish continue holding around Boca Grande Pass, Captiva Pass, docks, and current points as they finish up their spawning cycle.

Best Live Baits

• Live pinfish around the passes, especially during tide changes.
• Live sardines throughout Charlotte Harbor.

The east side of Charlotte Harbor around Burnt Store Marina continues to hold large numbers of smaller fish, making it a great place to keep the rods bent throughout the day.

Best Artificial Lures

• Berkley Stick Shad
• Berkley PowerBait Power Swimmer (Sight Flash)

Trout fishing has remained very steady.

There are plenty of smaller fish keeping anglers busy, but if you’re willing to sort through them, you’ll find some quality keeper trout mixed in.

Best Live Bait

• Live sardines

Best Artificial

• Berkley Stick Shad

The grass flats throughout Charlotte Harbor continue producing the most consistent trout action.

If you’re looking to bring home fresh fish for dinner, September continues to provide excellent mixed-bag opportunities.

Mangrove snapper have continued improving as more baitfish move throughout Charlotte Harbor. The best action has been around:

• Dock pilings
• Oyster bars
• Residential canals
• Bridges
• Any structure holding schools of small baitfish

Pompano have also been showing up along the east side of Charlotte Harbor. You’ll usually have to work through a few ladyfish before connecting with them, but the reward is definitely worth the effort.

While afternoons can still be warm, September mornings have been absolutely beautiful. Getting an early start allows us to take advantage of cooler temperatures, calmer water, and some of the best feeding activity of the day before the afternoon sea breeze and scattered thunderstorms develop.

If you’re fishing with me this month, I recommend lightweight moisture-wicking clothing, polarized sunglasses, sunscreen, and staying well hydrated. I always keep bottled water onboard, and you’re welcome to bring additional drinks or snacks.

Don’t let the warm weather keep you off the water. September consistently produces some of the best fishing of the year, and we’re already seeing the early signs of an outstanding fall season.

What fish are biting in Punta Gorda and Boca Grande during September?

September offers excellent fishing for tarpon, redfish, snook, trout, mangrove snapper, and pompano throughout Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, and Boca Grande Pass.

Where are the tarpon this month?

Most of our tarpon have been feeding throughout the upper Charlotte Harbor, especially near the mouths of the Peace and Myakka rivers. Watching for diving birds and active baitfish has been one of the best ways to locate them.

What bait has been working best?

Live ladyfish have been outstanding for tarpon, while live pinfish and sardines continue producing for snook, trout, and redfish. Artificial anglers have had excellent success with the DOA Bait Buster, Berkley J-Walker, Berkley Stick Shad, and paddle-tail swimbaits.

Is September a good month to book a fishing charter?

Absolutely. September combines excellent tarpon fishing with the beginning of the annual redfish spawn, while snook, trout, mangrove snapper, and pompano provide outstanding opportunities for anglers looking for variety.

Whether you’re looking to battle a trophy tarpon, sight fish for massive schools of redfish, catch hard-fighting snook, or bring home fresh mangrove snapper and pompano for dinner, September offers some of the most exciting fishing of the year in Southwest Florida.

With more than 30 years of local fishing experience and over 250 days on the water each year, Captain Danny Latham customizes every trip around current tides, weather conditions, and seasonal fish movements to give every angler the best opportunity for a successful day on the water.

Whether you’re an experienced angler chasing a bucket-list fish or introducing your family to saltwater fishing for the very first time, I’d love the opportunity to show you why so many anglers return to ReelFishing Charters year after year.

Planning a trip later this season? Check out our Fall Fishing Guide for Boca Grande & Punta Gorda for a look at what to expect throughout September, October and November.

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