Fishing Reports by Captain Bill Russell

About The Author: Captain

Company: Gulf Coast Limited Professional Guide Se

Area Reporting: southwest florida including Sanibel, Pine Island Sound, Charlotte Harbor, Matlacha Pass

Bio: "Catch The Action" with Captain Bill Russell. As a native of Pine Island Bill has spent his entire life fishing the waters surrounding the Island and has been a professional fishing guide for fourteen years and loves to share the local knowledge and history of the waters. The waters surrounding Pine Island including Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, Charlotte Harbor, Sanibel, Captiva and Boca Grande are a true fishing Mecca that provide a wide choice of angling thrills. We specialize in light tackle fishing for Snook, Tarpon, Redfish, Sea Trout, Sharks and a variety of other species. Not only do our waters provide World Class fishing opportunities our Islands and waters are also abundant with a wide variety of wildlife and beautiful scenery, so bring a camera! We customize each trip to ensure everyone on board has a great time and will return again. From the small child to the novice to the most experienced angler we will make your trip a memorable one. Spend a day on the waters of Southwest Florida and "Catch The Action" with Captain Bill Russell

(239)283-7960
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain
Fishing Southwest Florida for Redfish, Snook & Trout (4/28/2012)
[Sanibel,FL] For the past week or so we have fished just about any kind of weather you could throw at us; there were days of strong winds, days with no wind, sunny days, rainy days, and a late season cold front. Through it all the bite varied each day around Pine Island in southwest Florida.
Redfish, Trout and Snook in Southwest Florida (4/10/2012)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] As the waters continue to warm around Pine Island huge bait schools are invading the inshore waters and flats. A combination of warm water and oily baitfish, plus spring tides can really get the bite going.
Spring Action Begins in Southwest Florida (3/20/2012)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Winter closed out with a whimper as we found near picture perfect weather leading up to the arrival of spring in southwest Florida. With blue skies and shirt sleeve temperature fishing continues to get better each day.
Early Spring in Southwest Florida (2/16/2012)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] It may be February in southwest Florida but Spring is in the air. And in the water, with each passing warm week, set back by a cool day here and there, you can already feel the transition of the seasons on the water
Holiday Fishing in Southwest Florida (12/21/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] With the exception of an occasional day or two of cool weather it has remained warm in southwest Florida with warm weather forecasted through the Christmas Holiday. Visitors from the north are loving the warm sunshine and some pretty good fishing.
Warm Weather Keeps the Fish Biting in Southwest Florida (11/24/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] So far November has remained a month with mild weather, a few slight cool fronts but nothing more. With no reason for baitfish or predators to head for warmer water good fishing continues around southwest Florida.
Plenty of Action in Southwest Florida (10/04/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] The beginning of October greeted southwest Florida with a pleasant change. Our first touch of cooler weather and lower humidity after a long hot summer made for perfect fishing conditions. The winds were a little breezy at times, but overall the fishing is very good.
Change of Season sparks action in Southwest Florida (9/21/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] After a hot summer things are coming to life on the waters around Pine Island and Southwest Florida. The fall migration has begun with hordes of bait moving south for the upcoming cooler months and plenty of hungry predator's right on their tails.
Fishing is HOT in southwest Florida (8/11/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Summer in southwest Florida means hot temperatures and plenty of rain and often thunderstorms. If you don't mind working around the weather the fishing around Pine Island is often pretty good and competition from other boats is scarce.
Sharks and more in Southwest Florida (7/15/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] The July full moon this week brought us strong tides with good fishing around Pine Island.
Fishing is Hot in Southwest Florida (6/28/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Finally we are getting our daily summer rains in southwest Florida. This is a relief as the rains have dropped both the air and water temperatures that were becoming uncomfortably hot for both fish and anglers.
Unusual Weather Pattern Finally Lifting in Southwest Florida (6/06/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Finally, it appears a high pressure system that has hung over southwest Florida for the better part of the past week has finally lifted. The system brought northeast winds both day and night that really played havoc with our tarpon fishing off the beaches, in Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor.
Tarpon, Sharks, Snook and more in Southwest Florida (5/25/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Over the past week or so weather has dictated how and where we fish, and what we target. Of course it's tarpon time in southwest Florida, for many anglers that's the primary target.
Windy Weather Fishing in Southwest Florida (5/06/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] We had to deal with wind much of the week fishing around Pine Island, but fortunately strong tides helped counter it and the bite wasn't too bad. We needed to adapt to the conditions Mother Nature dealt us each day and work around it to find and catch fish.
Southwest Florida Fishing for Redfish, Sharks, Snook and more (4/22/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Strong tides with big afternoon highs gave us good opportunities for a host of fish around the waters of Pine Island. The bite wasn't always red hot, possibly due to the full moon, but fishing was good overall each day.
Slammin with Snook, Redfish and Trout in Southwest Florida (4/10/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Over the week we targeted snook, trout redfish, Spanish mackerel and sharks around the waters of Pine Island. Despite several days with slow tides we still put together southwest Florida inshore slams that include snook, trout and redfish.
Trout, Snook, Redfish, Mackerel and more in Southwest Florida (4/01/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] After several weeks of perfect weather this past one was more of a challenge as poor tides and days of really strong winds and some rain gave us a challenge. Even so, fishing was good as our waters continue to warm as we move into one of my favorite months to fish.
Spring Action Begins in Southwest Florida (3/20/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] The last week of winter closed out in southwest Florida with a whimper as perfect weather and good fishing welcomed the arrival of spring. With blue skies and shirt sleeve temperature fishing continues to get better each day. Large fish continue to move inshore as schooling tarpon were sighted along with sharks, Spanish mackerel, big trout, redfish and snook.
Sure Feels Like Spring in Southwest Florida (3/08/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] It's less than two weeks until its official, but it sure feels like spring has already arrived in southwest Florida. Bait fish have arrived and we are catching an increasing number of species around Pine Island and larger fish are moving in every day. Many days of strong wind made for some challenging days on the water over the past week but the bite has remained steady
Southwest Florida Fish Respond to Warm Weather (2/06/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] A complete week of mild weather brought up the water temperatures around Pine Island and put fish on a good feed. The sun wasn't shining every day, matter of fact several days a heavy fog never lifted until noon, but it was the first week in a long time where I never had to wear a winter jacket on the water, not once.
Southwest Florida Fishing as good as the Weather (1/12/2011)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Weather has dictated how and where we fished around Pine Island in Southwest Florida for the better part of the New Year. We are catching a mix of sheepsheads, sea trout and redfish in both Matlacha Pass and Pine Island Sound.
Southwest Florida Fishing Getting Back on Track (12/19/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Fishing in southwest Florida changed dramatically over the past week or so as the mild days of fall fell way to our first real winter cold. On many of the days the weather was just too miserable (cold, wind, rain, fog) to attempt fishing, but we are gradually returning to a better weather pattern.
Good time to Fish in Southwest Florida (11/20/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Fishing around Pine Island in southwest Florida has been about looking for opportunities and exploiting them. Live bait is still thick and readily available, but to cover any situation that may arise it's the time of year to bring along some shrimp and artificials to complete your arsenal.
Opportunity Knocks around Southwest Florida (10/25/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Fishing around Pine Island in Southwest Florida remains good if you keep your options open and take advantage of opportunities that arise.
Great Weather and Good Fishing in Southwest Florida (10/04/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] The weather is absolutely perfect and the fishing is pretty darn good too around Pine Island in southwest Florida. Last week started off a little on the breezy and rainy side but by the weekend the temperature, humidity and wind dropped leaving us with bright blue skies and calm seas.
Good Fishing around Bait Schools in Southwest Florida (9/18/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] I can't remember a time when there has been more bait fish around the waters of Pine Island and Southwest Florida. From small inch long glass minnows to large mullet bait is everywhere, on the calm days it looks like rain on the water except the skies are clear. We are finding the best fishing around the bait schools for redfish, sea trout, snook, bluefish and mackerel.
Redfish, Snook and Tarpon Action in Southwest Florida (9/01/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] We have experienced lots of rain over the last couple weeks in Southwest Florida. In return the water temperature has dropped making for good fishing conditions around Pine Island.
Best Fishing Early and Late in Southwest Florida (8/16/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] The Best fishing around Pine Island has come during the early and late hours of the day. This is the most comfortable time to fish the summer heat in southwest Florida and generally the time fish are most active.
Tarpon, Redfish and more in Southwest Florida (7/08/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Our weather in southwest Florida around Pine Island continues to search for its consistent summer pattern. A low pressure system brought all day rains for the holiday weekend and now we are on a high with thunderstorms few and far between. It's all good though as the rainy days brought down the high water temperatures and now we are experiencing beautiful weather to take advantage of it.
The Heat Is On In Southwest Florida (6/26/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] You can sure tell summer is here, it's getting hot. The good thing with summer is plenty of fish and fewer anglers not a bad trade off for a little sweat.
As Good As It Gets In Southwest Florida (6/14/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] I dont know if fishing could have been any better over the past week around Pine Island in southwest Florida. We found tarpon plentiful and more than willing to eat, sharks of all sizes plus all the big mackerel, bluefish and trout you wanted to catch.
It's All About Tarpon in Southwest Florida (6/05/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Another week of beautiful weather and pretty darn good fishing around Pine Island in Southwest Florida. Tarpon continue to get the spotlight with good numbers of fish showing off the beaches, in the Passes, Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor.
Tarpon, Goliath Grouper and More in Southwest Florida (5/30/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Although our primary target was tarpon almost all week we ended up catching a lot of different species in the waters around Pine Island including one unexpected surprise.
Tarpon at Both End of Pine Island in Southwest Florida (5/24/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] We split the week tarpon fishing between the beach off Sanibel to the south and in Charlotte Harbor to our north. Both areas held plenty of fish, some days the bite was great all day and other days we had to work for our fish, but overall it was a good week.
Tarpon, Snook and plenty of others biting around Pine Island (5/15/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Fishing around Pine Island in southwest Florida was good for a variety of species from trout to tarpon over the past week. We had to work around the wind on most days but the fish were ready and waiting.
Tarpon Numbers Increasing Around Pine Island (5/06/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Warm weather has the tarpon moving into southwest Florida. Snook, trout, sharks and mackerel were also caught over the week.
Good Action around Pine Island and Southwest Florida (4/24/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Rod bending action was steady this week from a variety of species while larger fish including tarpon and others are moving into the waters around Pine Island.
Despite the Wind Fish are Hungry around Pine Island and southwest Florida (4/15/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] It was a windy week, however we still found plenty of action with a variety of fish
Southwest Florida Mackerel Action Non Stop (4/03/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] You just knew once we had a few consecutive days of warm sunny weather something good was going to bust loose. Well it happened this week as Spanish mackerel invaded Charlotte Harbor in a big way.
Fish Getting Bigger in Southwest Florida (3/28/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Were getting there, slowly, but we are getting into spring like fishing. We had a few cool mornings and several windy days however overall fishing is getting better and larger fish are moving in.
Spring, Mackerel & Bait have arrived in southwest Florida (3/22/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Three good things happened this week, first we said good bye to one long winter and welcomed the arrival of spring (even though it's still kinda cool). Second, Spanish mackerel showed up all around the southern side of Charlotte Harbor and third, the one that excites me the most, baitfish arrived.
Southwest Florida Fishing Getting Better With Each Warming Day (3/14/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Our waters are warming and fish are beginning to respond. We had a couple bad weather days but at least the cold stayed away.
Another Cold Week in the Books (2/20/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] This will be the winter we remember for a long time, I never understood why so many people leave the cold states to our north to move to Florida, but now I know why. A couple days of cold weather is tolerable, but when it's constant it really is miserable. And to think this really isn't that cold for northern standards, but for a Florida boy it's been one miserable cold winter that can't end soon enough.
Here We Go Again (2/14/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] I am beginning to wonder if we will complete a week of fishing in southwest Florida without weather becoming an issue. This past week was pretty brutal on the water with lots of wind, rain and more cold.
Waters are Coming Back to life in Southwest (1/30/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Our fishing improved each day after a mild week. Water temperatures are rising and nature is responding as our waters again look alive
Southwest Florida Fishing Improves with Warming Trend (1/24/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] Our fishing is getting better each day as the water warms. The week starter out slow but improved vastly by weeks end.
Thawing Out in Southwest Florida (1/16/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] After a long stretch of unprecedented cold weather we are finally thawing out in southwest Florida.
Too Cold To Fish In Southwest Florida (1/09/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] I know compared to what's going on to our north our weather probably isn't that bad, but with temperatures expected to dip into the low thirties again tonight it really hurts our fishing in sub-tropical southwest Florida.
Southwest Florida Cold Weather Fishing (1/03/2010)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] The New Year brought cold weather to our waters. But with a few adjustment to our tactics the fishing was not bad.
Time to Change Tactics in Southwest Florida (12/27/2009)
[Pine Island Sound,FL] With the water cooling down it's time to switch tactics. Shrimp and shrimp imitations will out fish live baitfish in the upcoming months.
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