Posts by Capt. Debbie Hanson

Author

Capt. Debbie Hanson

Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. She is the owner of SheFishes2.com and is also a weekly contract blogger for TakeMeFishing.org.

Sunrise at Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area, Punta Gorda, Fla.

Making the Most of Your Day at Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area

By Capt. Debbie Hanson on Nov. 25, 2019

There's nothing that can soothe the soul quite like time spent outdoors in Charlotte County. Whether you're a bird-watcher, angler, hiker, camper, or target-shooting enthusiast, you can get your nature fix by venturing just five miles southeast of downtown Punta Gorda to Babcock/Webb Wildlife…

Debbie Hanson of SheFishes2 and Largemouth Bass at Lake Babcock

Freshwater Fishing in the Midst of Sustainability

By Capt. Debbie Hanson on Sep. 18, 2019

As I stood along the shoreline and sipped on my organic Chiapas dark roast, the sun started to peek over the eastern edge of Lake Babcock. The pine flatwoods off in the distance seemed to cradle the…

Avocado Toast at Ana's European Cafe in Punta Gorda, Fla.

Fuel Up at These 5 Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte Breakfast Stops

By Capt. Debbie Hanson on Sep. 16, 2019

No matter how often you might make excuses for skipping it in your standard morning routine, there's just something about breakfast when you're in vacation mode. You know… that mouth-watering aroma of bacon frying up in a pan, the sound of fresh-ground coffee dripping into a glass carafe, and a…

Audubon-Pennington Nature Park, Port Charlotte

5 Parks and Preserves Worth Adding to Your Must-Visit List

By Capt. Debbie Hanson on Jun. 25, 2019

Whether you're waiting to catch a glimpse of a Florida scrub jay or seeking shady solitude beneath the branches of a live oak, there are plenty of places to find a calming respite in Charlotte County. Check out this list of five peaceful parks and preserves that are worth adding to your Punta…

Photo of fishing guide Debbie Hanson catching a bass with a client

5 Freshwater Fly Fishing Spots to Visit in Charlotte County, Florida

By Capt. Debbie Hanson on Mar. 20, 2019

While some might visualize a Florida fly fishing trip on the flats with a guide perched high atop a poling platform, still others yearn for freshwater spots where bass and bluegill abound. Charlotte County offers freshwater buggy whippers of all experience levels a place to perfect tight loops or…

Angler showing a Largemouth Bass caught in Shell Creek

7 Reasons to Plan a Shell Creek Fishing Trip

By Capt. Debbie Hanson on Aug. 02, 2018

There are days when you're on a fishing mission, and there are days when you want to slow down your angling pace in a beautiful place. One of the best spots in Charlotte County to do the latter is Shell Creek. Drive 15 minutes east of downtown Punta Gorda in search of species like largemouth bass…

Outdoor Writer and Freshwater Fishing Guide Debbie Hanson Shows Off a Bass Caught in Webb Lake.

5 Summer Bass Fishing Tips for Webb Lake

By Capt. Debbie Hanson on May. 29, 2018

Take a short drive 5-mile drive from Punta Gorda to enjoy the experience of simple summer days spent fishing for largemouth bass. Webb Lake, located within the Fred C. Babcock/Cecil M. Webb Wildlife Management Area, is the ideal place to decompress while pursuing America's favorite freshwater game…