Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Fishing Forecast

There's a lot of great fishing of all kinds in the waters of Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, no matter what time of year you visit. Use these handy monthly overviews of what's biting (and where) to help you plan you next fishing trip.

Thank you to Capt. Ralph Allen of King Fisher Fleet and Capt. Van Hubbard for assisting in the creation of these forecasts. Both have fished the Charlotte Harbor area for decades and we appreciate their knowledge.

Family fishing trip, showing off a freshly-caught barracuda

Fishing Forecast: September

September is a month of transitions on Florida's Gulf Coast. The days are getting shorter, the bait is starting to move, and the harbor's big four—trout, redfish, snook, and tarpon—are all in play. Here's what to expect on the water this month.

Capt. Van Hubbard and a child hold a freshly-caught shark

Fishing Forecast: October

Few months deliver as much variety as October on Florida's Gulf Coast. From smoker kings…

Capt. Van Hubbard and young fisherman holding a freshly-caught King Mackerel

Fishing Forecast: November

The fall migration is in full swing in November, and Southwest Florida is right in the middle of it…

Man holding freshly-caught sheepshead fish

Fishing Forecast: December

December on Florida's Gulf Coast is a pleasant surprise for a lot of visiting anglers. The…

Fishing: woman holding a freshly-caught red grouper fish

Fishing Forecast: January

Cold weather up north means fishing weather down here. January on Florida's Gulf Coast is a…

Fishing Forecast: February

Little boy holding a freshly-caught redfish

Fishing Forecast: March

March is the month everything starts happening at once on Florida's Gulf Coast. The spring…

Fishing Forecast: April

April will remind you why people plan fishing trips to Southwest Florida. Tarpon are arriving, the…

Fishing: Woman holding a nice trophy snook

Fishing Forecast: May

May is one of the best months to fish this stretch of southwest Florida, and 2026 is shaping up to…

Fishing Forecast: June

June in Southwest Florida is not a month for half measures. The water is warm, the bait is thick…

Capt. Jay Withers with a freshly caught Snook

Fishing Forecast: July

July in Southwest Florida turns the heat up on everything, the water, the bait schools, and the…

Fun family fishing: showing off a speckled trout caught in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach

Fishing Forecast: August

August keeps its rhythm here: warm water, early mornings, late evenings, and fish holding tight to…

Further Fishing Insights:

Fishing 3 years ago

>Celebrating the Mighty Tarpon in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach

1 minute read

In 1885, the first tarpon ever caught on a rod and reel was documented in Southwest Florida…

Fishing 2 years ago

>Traveling To Fish: The Best Places in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, Florida

5 minute read

Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is happy to present this post from life-long angler and editor of…

Debbie Hanson of SheFishes2 and Largemouth Bass at Lake Babcock

Fishing 2 years ago

>Freshwater Fishing in the Midst of Sustainability

3 minute read

These expert fishing insights come from a true fishing authority: Captain Debbie Hanson, a…

Aerial shot of Capt. Jay Withers fishing at sunset

Fishing 3 years ago

>Top 5 Reasons Why Fishing is Just Better in Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach

2 minute read

Some places have fishing. Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach is built around it. Whether you're a…

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