Fishing Reports: Summer 2026
Bonita Springs to Marco Island
By Captain Barry Cuda
We’re now into the summer Rainy season pattern. Water temps are in the mid to high 80’s. There will be quite a bit of freshwater coming down the creeks, as well as some dangerous thunderstorms in the afternoons.
If you’re fishing offshore, typically the wind will be from the east and push you out early. Later in the day, it will be from the west and push you in. A wonderful assist in offshore fishing, but be watching for those thunderstorms.
For the backwater, an important part of your fishing arsenal should be a good popping cork. When you’re fishing the flats, especially for trout. It’s a big space, and you have to make the most of your presence.
Once you find the Trout, they’re usually in a good size school, but finding that school can be tricky. Your popping cork is basically a fish call. Start with finding good grass, and focus on potholes or bare spots.
The heavy rains now are having a strong effect on the salinity of our creeks. Fish like tarpon, Snook, and even mangrove snapper don’t mind some freshwater. So trout and redfish will be coming out from the far backwaters now. The trout will be on the grass flats, and the redfish up against the mangroves. Fish the pockets. The reds and snook will also be up against the oyster bars, right where it gets deep. What I call the “fish highway.”
There are still trout in the passes, 8 to 10 feet deep over the sand. Shrimp on a circle hook with enough sinker to get it to the bottom will get the job done. Bounce it up and down a couple of feet. A 3/8 oz to half ounce jig with a live shrimp works great too.
You may pick up pompano there too. The good thing about passes is that there are a lot of different species that you might catch there: mackerel, cobia, grouper, snapper, ladyfish (which are often in the company of trout).
For fishing tips, check out my Facebook page: Capt. Barry Cuda Charters at facebook.com/CaptBarryCuda/
Tight lines, and take care,
Capt. Barry
Tampa/St Petersburg
By Capt. Dylan Hubbard
Inshore fishing continues to produce quality catches, with snook thick along the passes, beaches, and bridge structures. Many fish are also holding in the outer bay areas where moving water provides relief from the summer heat.
Snook: Use live baits like greenbacks, threadfins, and shrimp, or try flair hawks and soft plastics at night.
Redfish: Look for them around mangroves, oyster bars, and flats, and use dead baits during higher tides.
Trout: Target them with soft plastics, white bait, and shrimp around deeper flats and potholes.
Tarpon: Target them during the full moon with crab flushes, making it an ideal time to target them.
Flounder: Find them near sandy bottoms and structures, biting on bottom baits.
Pompano: Be prepared to move frequently to stay on their bite.
Sharks: Use big dead baits in areas with moving water.
Near shore waters have been productive, but keep an eye out — hogfish season may not be in full swing yet, but they aren’t far off, and cooler months will bring them closer to shore.
Red Grouper: Target the deepest near shore waters with big dead baits or solid live baits. Use 60 lb test and 7/0 hooks for best results.
Red Snapper: Use big dead baits like whole squid and bonita strips with heavy tackle to focus on larger fish. Prime trips include the 12-hour extreme, 39-hour, and 44-hour trips.
Scamp Grouper: Use small to medium pinfish and cut threadfin, especially while targeting mangrove snapper.
Mangrove Snapper: Near shore, use live shrimp and small chunks of threadfin on 30-40 lb test with 3-4/0 hooks. Offshore, use bigger chunks of cut threadfin or medium pinfish on 40-60 lb test with 5-7/0 hooks.
Vermillion Snapper: Start around 100 feet of water using cut squid or threadfin. These fish are aggressive and not leader-shy.
Yellowtail Snapper: Use shrimp, cut squid, and threadfin.
Pelagic Species: Keep flat lines and pitch rods ready for sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, tuna, and mahi mahi.
Don’t forget, that we have some great videos on our fishing tips and tricks page here to show you how to target and rig for almost any species: hubbardsmarina.com/fishing-tips
Thank you for reading our report.
Capt. Dylan Hubbard,
Hubbard’s Marina
Sarasota to Englewood Fishing Report
Sarasota to Englewood Fishing Report
By Captain Matt Davie
Well anglers we had a hot and cold summer, literally. Helped out our fishing and water temps. Let's get into it!
Bait is everywhere. Go check out Lee Fisher Sports for a cast net; they have instructional videos to help. Also you don't need a $500-1,000 setup to catch fish. Shimano, PENN, Daiwa all make a saltwater reel that will do the job and last. Bull Bay Rods makes an outstanding fishing rod that has a great warranty. I prefer the assault 7'6" medium heavy. That's my do-it-all rod. I pair them up with a 3000 series PENN Battle. In total about $280-300 setup that I can get 2-3 years out of hard fishing with clients.
Redfish are back! You can catch them in the flats, but to really bring them in you will need the bait to do it. Bait is key here. Snook are starting to move back from their spawn. Did I mention bait is the key? Once you get comfortable throwing a net, (though it doesn't have to be a giant net), fill your livewells and start chumming. Watch for the fish busting on them. Some will explode on the baits, some will just swirl up on it. If you do not see this doesn't mean they're not there. Just not aggressive as some days can be. Give yourself a little time. Throwing live baits out in multiple areas can help bring the fish to you.
Some of you might be interested in tournament fishing. There's a great tournament Casting for the Kids later this year, September 26th & 27th. It’s run by a nonprofit of the same name that is helping families and kids get the help they need. There will be an offshore and an inshore division. Captains, feel free to contact me if you want to help out as well.
Now to a different subject. Let's talk about etiquette, and that goes for all shore fishing, pier fishing, or on a boat. It’s never really made a lot of sense to me why anglers want to be right on top of each other. Give a little space and some will invite you in to catch the fish they may be on.
Till next time!
Thank you,
Captain Matt Davie
Charlotte Harbor to Ft Myers
Southwest Florida's summer rains bring a darker tint to the waters of Charlotte Harbor. While you might be missing the beautiful Caribbean blue we experienced this past winter and spring, water made brown by tannic acid actually makes fishing quite a bit easier.
How many times have you heard someone say that if you can see the fish they can see you as well? We say it because it's true, and fish that are looking at you are less likely to bite. The standard advice in clear water is to stay farther back and make long casts, but let's be honest: A lot of you aren't very good at that. Rainy season fishing means you can get a lot closer and still have a good shot at getting bit. In dark water, the visual appeal of your lure matters a lot less.
Instead, focus more attention on sound and scent. A fish's lateral line is finally tuned to feel any sort of movement in the water. They easily detect the thumping tail of a soft plastic lure or the vibration of a crankbait. In addition, fish also have pretty good hearing, so anything that rattles or makes a commotion on the surface will get their attention. How much of a ruckus you want to make will depend on your particular conditions and the species you're targeting. If you're after snook in calm water, don't go overboard — too much noise can actually have the effect of driving fish away. If it's choppy, or if you want to hook a jack, too much noise might not be enough.
When fish cannot see their prey well, they are more likely to follow their noses. For artificial lures, an application of Pro-Cure or other scent is a good plan. Gel formulas stick better and last longer than oils or sprays, but any of them can get the job done. If you prefer natural bait, you may find more success using dead than live this time of year. A frozen shrimp puts out an enormous amount of scent compared to a live one. Similarly, a thread herring torn in half releases blood and oil, and will sometimes get the attention of a fish that may not even notice a live bait.
A couple more quick tips: Bacteria is more abundant and grows a lot faster in warm water, so be very careful with any puncture wounds from hooks or fish fins. Carry a first aid kit and sterilize even minor injuries. Also, warm water holds less oxygen, and even short fights can leave fish struggling. Take a moment to revive fish if necessary. Hold the fish by the lower lip and move it in a figure-eight pattern, with water flowing in through the mouth and out through the gills. If the fish is too large for that, idling the boat forward will accomplish the same thing. Remember, if it doesn't live there is no point in releasing it, and we want to make sure we have good catching opportunities in the future.
Don't forget to subscribe to be notified when a new video drops: youtube.com/@FishinFranksClub
Tarpon Springs to Inglis
The summer holds a lot of exciting things, with red snapper season just opening this June! We are running private go fast charters on our 42-foot Invincible and have been very productive. If you’re looking to catch red snapper on your own, you wanna get to 100 feet or more of water in order to find the larger schools. The trips are long distance so if you’re doing these on your own, make sure that you have all the proper safety equipment and would also highly suggest carrying a satellite phone as an extra precaution.
Along with the red snapper we are also seeing great numbers of large red grouper, big mangrove snapper, yellowtail snapper, as well as a few mutton snapper! The fishing has been phenomenal! Now is the time to book your trips. See what we’re all about at www.thunderfishingco.com
On the other hand, we have scallop season opening July 1 which is an awesome fun way to spend the day with friends and family on the water! It’s best described as an adult Easter egg hunt. The water is warm, sun is shining, and the summer is waiting for you to come out and enjoy it.
Be safe out there everyone and tight lines,
Capt Chaz
352-597-3900
chazcorradini@yahoo.com