Snook, Redfish and Seatrout Remain Catch and Release

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will extend catch-and-release measures for snook, red drum and spotted seatrout for an additional year via an Executive Order. All three species will remain catch-and-release through May 31, 2021, in all waters from the Hernando/Pasco county line south through Gordon Pass in Collier County.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has extended snook, red drum and spotted seatrout catch-and-release measures in areas impacted by prolonged red tide

02-19-2020 Obsession Charters Fishing Report
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Soon, Very Soon - Update; Jan 18, 2020

Happy January!I've been getting emails and texts asking if I am in Florida… No, not quite yet, I'm finishing up a few carpentry projects.  As I'm typing this the temperature is 1* but our wood stove is keeping the house, us and our westie Scotty toasty warm. Our second snow fall of the week is arriving tonight, another 5-9 inches. I love winte...
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Snook on Fly w/ Capt. Mike F.

Capt. Mike Faulkingham joined me for a day of snook fly fishing this past week. We had great action in Bull and Turtle Bays despite 15kt winds. Great job Capt Mike! By the way, Mike hammered them on his version of an all white snake fly. I'll be tying up some of them for sure! I'm off to Maine on business this weekend but will return to guide on April 16th - May 8th. Can't wait to get back to the Harbor! - Capt. Dave

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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report May 22, 2017

Most of the tarpon and snook action is in the sounds and along the beaches. The back country is still... 
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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report 05-15-17

We'll have east winds and water temps in the high 70s to low 80s. Perfect conditions for tarpon fishing on the...

05-15-17 Fishing Report - Capt. Dave Pecci
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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report 05-07-17

Watch for pods of tarpon a mile or more off the beaches early in the week.

05-07-17 Fishing Report - Capt. Dave Pecci

The cold front and northwest winds over the weekend moved the tarpon off the beaches and...

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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report May 2nd, 2017

Conditions: The tides will be productive in the mornings and again in the afternoons this week but there will be very little water... continued

Tarpon will be rolling and gulping air early. By mid-morning they will be running and daisy chaining below the surface.

05-02-17 Fishing Report
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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report April 24, 2017

There are a few tarpon and big snook on the beaches. More of them are showing up with each tide change.

Capt. Dave Pecci April 24th Fishing Report
The flats in Pine Island Sound are fishing better than the backcountry right now. Water temps are in the mid 70s and water clarity is good. Bait the fish are feeding on: Shrimp, crabs, pinfish, whitebait ...
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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report April 17, 2017

Conditions: Winds will be easterly or northerly less than 10mph most of this week. There is a slight chance of showers each day. Water temps will be in the mid to high 70s. We'll have neap tides the first of the week and...

Water clarity will remain excellent and the water level will be much higher on the flats than we've had the past several weeks...

Capt. Dave's April 17 Fishing Report
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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report April 10, 2017

Conditions: Morning low tides will provide good moving water and a variety of fishing opportunities this week. Water clarity will be excellent. Water temps will rise back into the high 70s.

The morning dropping tides this week will
provide great fishing around the oyster beds. As the tide comes back in and the
sun angle increases the flats will be the place to target...

Capt. Dave Pecci - Obsession Sportfishing
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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report April 3, 2017

Outlook: Hot with excellent morning tides all week. We'll have some southerly wind to contend with but with water temps in the high 70s...

April 3rd Fishing Report
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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report March 28, 2017

Light winds and no rain! Perfect fishing weather. There are some jack crevalle and huge snook on the flats so up-size your leaders and bite tippets.

03-28-17 Fishing Report

Great conditions this week! Morning low tides will provide lots of moving water. Water temps will be in the mid 70s and the water is very clear. Bait the fish are feeding on:
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A Cold March Morning Fly Fishing in Matlacha

 The Wilson family from Knoxville joined for a morning of fly fishing on Matlacha Pass.  An approaching clod front pushed the snook and trout off the flats and into deep water. Solution - sinking lines and weighted flies.

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Light Tackle Fishing Bull and Turtle Bays with Gordon Gillies

Gordon and I pre-fished Bull and Turtle Bays a day prior to one of my March charters. The wind was 15 and gusty out of the NE. We found most of the fish holding in deeper water but once we found them the snook, sea trout, jacks and ladyfish were very willing to bite our lures. There's some pretty cool underwater video included in this one. Enjoy!

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Charlotte Harbor Fly fishing Action March 14, 2017

John Albin and Jim McCadie joined me for a few days of fly fishing. We fished Matlacha, Pine Island Sound and the Cape Haze Peninsula. Water temps and water clarity provided some excellent sight fishing opportunities.  

Dry conditions continue. Water levels in the Harbor are low. Water Temps are in the mid-seventies. Water clarity is very good... 

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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report March 7, 2017

Conditions: Strong east winds drained a lot of water out of the backcountry over the weekend. Conditions will improve by mid-week as the wind subsides. Water clarity is very good. Water temps are from 65*-72*.

"Many of my redfish and snook spots are not holding bait or fish because of the low water conditions. Working potholes and deeper grass flats has been very productive..."

03-07-17 Fishing Report
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Sight Fishing Tips and Tactics Seminar This Sunday

I'll be doing a seminar at the Florida Sportsman Expo in Ft. Myers on sight fishing tips and tactics this Sunday. The Seminar covers ways to catch more snook and redfish on both spin and fly fishing gear. I'll share some of the things I've learned while fishing on Charlotte Harbor the past 8 years like reading the fish's movements, finding productive water dealing with weather changes and more.

​My Seminar is at 1pm on Sunday. It's full of cool pictures and videos of fishing action from Matlacha, Pine Island sound, Charlotte Harbor's East and West Walls, Bull Bay, Turtle Bay and more. More info on the Expo including other seminars

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Charlotte Harbor – Pine Island Sound Fishing Report February 1, 2017

Conditions: Water clarity is good. The water level is very low due to the winter tides. As long as water temps are in the mid-60s or above the fishing will be very good. Lots of snook around. The redfish have been a bit elusive (for me anyway). The fish have been moving back onto the flats with the incoming tide. Work the oysters and holes at low tide.

Bait the fish are feeding on: Shrimp, Crabs, Pinfish, some Threadfin Herring.

Lots of snook around. The fish have been moving back onto the flats with the incoming tide. Work the oysters and holes at low tide.

Fishing Report February 1, 2017
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Jerry Jamison with his First Charlotte Harbor Tarpon

​Last week's back to back cold fronts are behind us. The tarpon have returned to the beaches of Boca Grande and Captiva. Jerry did a great job hooking and getting his 75 pound tarpon to the boat on a live crab. Click read more for additional pictures. Video coming soon.  

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Doug Bates Fly Fishing Charlotte Harbor's Turtle Bay

Doug Bates from New Hampshire joined me for some snook sight casting in Bull and Turtle Bay in Charlotte Harbor. Water temps in the low 80's made the snook a bit sulky but we persevered. Caught em on Doug's 8wt TFO rod and one of his white and black deceivers.

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