Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Placida, FL (Complete Guide)
Placida offers some of the best fishing in Florida which is often very overlooked by anglers and tourists alike. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish these rich waters can really help your success rates.
The best time to fish near Placida, Florida is from April through July for barracuda, cobia, goliath grouper, gag grouper, jack crevalle, mangrove snapper, redfish, spotted seatrout, permit, and tarpon.
Placida is the perfect place for anglers, who would like to enjoy fishing on the southwestern coast of Florida.
Best Time to Fish in Placida
Placida is the destination where anglers can enjoy fishing throughout the year. Generally speaking, a peak fishing season in the area starts in the late spring and ends in the late summer. Many species of fish are active in the waters surrounding Placida at this time of the year.
Local waters impress angling enthusiasts with their abundance of fish. It’s worth noting that the fishing destination is home to various species. Some species can be caught in the region every month of the year.
There are also seasonal species that are active during cold and warm months. And of course, fishing in Placida is best when your favorite fish species are the most active.
Fishing in the area is different during different seasons of the year. That’s why it’s so crucial for anglers to study the bite times of the top targeted species in Placida ahead of time to find out what species they can target in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Placida
These Placida-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Saltwater Spoiled Fishing–Englewood | Placida, FL |
| Family Traditions Charter Co. | Placida, FL |
| Boca Grande Fishing Charters | Placida, FL |
| Shallow Water Experience LLC | Placida, FL |
| Coastline Fishing Charters-Placida | Placida, FL |
| Capt. Scotty Roe Fishing – Boca Grande | Placida, FL |
| Boca Grande And Beyond | Placida, FL |
| Saltwater Spoiled Fishing – Placida | Placida, FL |
| Boca Grande Fishing Guide | Placida, FL |
| Anchors Away Charters – Offshore | Placida, FL |
| Offshore Boca Grande | Placida, FL |
| Southern Tail Charters | Placida, FL |
| No Slack Fishing Charters – Boca Grande | Placida, FL |
Placida Fishing Species Breakdown: Best Time
Barracuda
Barracuda fishing is good in Placida throughout the year. However, the barracuda fishing season is high in the area between March and October. Barracuda bites well in the early morning and in the late evening. Barracuda can be found in the waters near Englewood.
Cobia
Cobia fishing in Placida is good between February and November. The best months to target cobia in the region are April, September, and October. Cobia bites well in the middle of the day. Bokeelia is one of the best fishing spots to catch cobia in the region.
Gag Grouper
Gag grouper fishing is very productive in Placida year-round. The best times of the year to target gag grouper in the local waters are between January and March and between November and December.
Gag grouper is the most active in the area during the morning hours. Gag grouper is one of the top targeted species in Bokeelia.
Goliath Grouper
It’s possible to fish for goliath grouper in Placida at any time of the year. However, the peak season to catch goliath grouper in the region is between April and October.
Goliath grouper feeds actively during the morning hours. It’s a good idea to target goliath grouper in the region in the waters near Englewood.
Jack Crevalle
Jack crevalle is active in Placida throughout the year. However, the best time of the year to fish for jack crevalle in the region is between April and November. Jack crevalle can be found in the waters around Port Charlotte.
Redfish
It’s possible to catch redfish in Placida between March and December. The best times of the year to catch redfish in the region are the late spring and the fall.
Redfish feed actively in the area in the morning and in the afternoon. Boca Grande is the perfect place to target redfish in the area.
Spotted Seatrout
Spotted seatrout fishing season starts in January and ends in October. The best time of the year to target seatrout in the region is between April and June.
Spotted seatrout is the most active during the evening hours. It makes sense to target spotted seatrout near Port Charlotte.
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove snapper fishing is great in Placida throughout the year. However, the best time of the year to fish for mangrove snapper in the region is between April and November. It’s a good idea to fish for mangrove snapper in the waters around Boca Grande.
Tarpon
The tarpon fishing season begins in Placida in the early spring and ends in the early fall. The best time of the year to fish for tarpon in the region is between the late spring and the early summer. Tarpon bites well in the region in the early morning. Tarpon fishing is excellent near Boca Grande.
Permit
Angling enthusiasts can target permit in Placida between the early spring and the late summer. Permit fishing is best in the area between May and July. Permit can be found near Port Charlotte.
Best Time of Day to Fish in Placida
Choosing the right time of day to go fishing in Placida is vital to an angler’s success. It’s worth noting that the best time of day to fish in the local waters depends on the fish species that you are targeting and the season of the year. Anglers should also analyze weather forecasts and take into account the weather conditions in the region.
The vast majority of fish species feed actively in the waters near Placida at dawn and at dusk during the summer months. Waters cool down and fish begin to feed actively. It’s also important to note anglers can avoid fishing in the hot weather when fishing during morning and evening hours.
It would be great to fish Placida in the afternoon during the spring, fall, and winter months. Waters heat up in the area in the afternoon during the colder months. That’s why fish are more active and bite well during the afternoon hours.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.
Placida Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Anglers should always get ready for an amazing fishing trip. It’s necessary to take into account the tide times for Placida. Fishing in Placida is excellent during the rising and falling tides. When tides are rising or falling, water moves, and fish get active.
Rising tides bring nutrients to the area. So, fish start searching for food actively. When tides are falling, anglers have easy access to deep areas. On the other hand, it would be better to avoid fishing when tides are highest and lowest in the region. It’s the period of time when fish are inactive and don’t bite.
Best Seasons to Book a Placida Charter
Fishing in Placida is always productive. However, fish get more active and anglers achieve better results at certain times of the year. It’s incredibly important for anglers to book a Placida charter at the right time.
Spring
Fishing in the region gets better in the spring. The weather is getting warmer and more species get active in the local waters. The late spring means the start of a peak fishing season in the region.
Spring is a great time of the year to target such species as barracuda, black drum, cobia, jack crevalle, groupers, king mackerel, ladyfish, permit, snapper, spotted seatrout and tripletail.
Summer
Summer is the best time of the year to experience fishing in Placida. The weather is getting warmer and water temperatures begin to rise. The vast majority of fish species are active in the region in the early summer.
Anglers can target barracuda, groupers, jack crevalle, ladyfish, permit, snappers, spotted seatrout, tarpon as well as tripletail during the summer months.
Fall
Fishing is good in the area during the fall months. Despite the fact that it’s getting colder in the region in the fall, fishing is still very good. Many species of fish are still active in the early fall.
Fish are less active in the late fall. Among the fish species that anglers can catch in the region during the fall months are barracuda, black drum, cobia, groupers, jack crevalle, king mackerel, ladyfish as well as redfish and snappers.
Winter
It’s worth noting that many fish species are inactive in the waters around Placida during the winter months. However, it’s still possible to enjoy fishing in the region in winter.
Anglers can catch amberjack, black drum, groupers, king mackerel, and ladyfish during winter fishing adventures in the region.
Storms & Placida Fishing
Storms affect fish as well as anglers. Fishing is bad during storms. Fish move to deep waters, stay inactive, and don’t bite during storms and rainstorms. It’s also important to note that storms are a big problem for anglers.
Strong winds as well as high waves make fishing in the region difficult and dangerous. That’s why fishing during storms should be avoided. However, it makes a lot of sense to fish Placida before and after storms.
Anglers should always study weather forecasts for Placida, Florida before booking a fishing charter. Keep in mind that the month with the highest number of rainy days in the region is in August.
That means that storms, as well as rainstorms, can be expected in the late summer. If you see signs of bad weather, then it would be better to cancel or reschedule a fishing trip.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Placida?
There is no bad time to go fishing in Placida. So, anglers can visit the region during the winter months. Many fish are inactive in the region during the winter months, but anglers can catch something anyway.
Winter is a great time of the year to catch such species as amberjack, black drum, black grouper, gag grouper, red grouper, king mackerel, and ladyfish.
Night Fishing in Placida
Some anglers prefer to fish Placida during nighttime hours and they do this for good reasons. It’s important to know that fishing at night has many great benefits for anglers.
Fishing in hot weather can be hard. Fish usually move to deep waters and anglers find it difficult to catch them in the heat. So, it’s comfortable to fish at night during the hot summer months. Night fishing makes it possible for anglers to avoid fishing in hot weather. Night fishing is a great way to avoid crowds during a busy fishing season.
But most importantly, night fishing trips in Placida are very productive. It’s possible to catch such species as black drum, groupers, snappers as well as tarpon during night fishing adventures in the region.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Placida
1. Boca Grande
An angler of any skill level can enjoy fishing in Boca Grande. There are mangroves, flats, reefs, and wrecks in the area. The region is well-known for its rich fishing grounds. Boca Grande is a year-round fishing destination.
However, the best time of the year to go fishing in Boca Grande is between May and June. Among the fish species that anglers can target in Boca Grande are amberjack, cobia, goliath grouper, king mackerel, mangrove snapper, red snapper, permit, redfish, sharks as well as snook and tarpon.
2. Englewood
Englewood is a fishing village with a rich history that dates back to the 19th century. The destination has gained popularity among anglers and tourists. It’s fair to say that Englewood is an inshore angler’s dream.
When fishing in Englewood, anglers should visit mangroves and flats. Such areas usually attract plenty of fish. Angling enthusiasts can go fishing in offshore waters as well. Fishing in Englewood is best between April and July.
Englewood is the place where anglers can target such species as amberjack, barracuda, cobia, groupers, jack crevalle, snappers, flounder, permit, redfish, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, and tripletail.
3. Port Charlotte
Port Charlotte is another good fishing location near Placida. It’s one of the best places to fish on Florida’s west coast. Placida is a dream fishing destination for fly anglers. Here, anglers have an opportunity to fish in the Gulf waters. It’s also possible to fish the Myakka and Peace Rivers.
Fishing in Port Charlotte is best between April and July. It’s possible to target both freshwater and saltwater fish species in the region. Bream, largemouth bass, catfish, crappie, and tilapia as well as amberjack, grouper, snapper, mahi-mahi, redfish, snook, tarpon, and trout can be caught in the area.
4. Bokeelia
Anglers can also go fishing in Bokeelia. It’s a good place to experience fishing on flats and in inshore and nearshore waters. There are also lakes, reservoirs as well as streams in Bokeelia and its surrounding areas.
The best time of the year to fish Bokeelia is between April and June. It’s possible to catch cobia, jack crevalle, mangrove snapper, gag grouper, goliath grouper, redfish, tarpon, spotted seatrout, and many other species during Bokeelia fishing adventures.
5. North Port
North Port is a good place for anglers, who are interested in river fishing. Here, anglers can experience fishing in the Myakka River. Angling enthusiasts can also fish on flats, in inshore and nearshore waters.
The river provides anglers with amazing fishing. While fishing in this region, anglers can use such fishing techniques as spinning, trolling, and light tackle.
Fishing in North Port is good year-round. However, the best time of the year to fish in the waters near North Port is between April and June. The main targets in the area are mangrove snapper, redfish, snook, and other species.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Placida is a fishing destination that attracts anglers who take an interest in offshore fishing adventures as well as shore anglers. So, you can do surf fishing in Placida if this type of fishing is more to your liking. The region has something to offer for every angler.
There are places where anglers can experience shore fishing in the area. It’s possible to do shore fishing on beaches, from bridges, and from piers.
Among the most popular fishing piers near Placida are Coral Creek Fishing Pier, Ainger Fishing Pier Park, Chadwick Park Fishing Pier, El Jobean Fishing Pier, Venice Fishing Pier as well as Bokeelia Fishing Pier, and Osprey Fishing Pier.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Bokeelia, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Englewood, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Matlacha, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Captiva, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Homestead, check out this helpful guide.
