Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Port Charlotte, FL (A Guide)
Port Charlotte offers some of the best fishing on Florida’s west coast. Knowing the best times to fish the local waters is a key to anglers’ success.
The best time to fish near Port Charlotte is from March through November for amberjack, barracuda, cobia, jack crevalle, ladyfish, mangrove snapper, permit, redfish, spotted seatrout, red grouper, tarpon as well as tripletail.
This area is known for its productive fishing spots. Anglers interested in freshwater can go fishing in the rivers. You can also go fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Brackish estuaries, expansive grass flats, reefs as well as wrecks hide an abundance of fish.
Best Time to Fish near Port Charlotte
The fishing season in the region starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. Anglers should take into account various factors in order to decide when to go fishing in Port Charlotte.
The best time to fish Port Charlotte depends a lot on the fish species that you are targeting during a trip. Anglers should always study the bite times of the most sought-after fish species in the region ahead of time. Find the time when the species that you expect to battle are the most active in the area and then pick your fishing charter.
Port Charlotte Species: Best Times & Seasons
Amberjack
Amberjack is active in the waters near Port Charlotte during the winter months. Amberjack bites well either in the early morning or in the evening. Amberjack can be found near Punta Gorda.
Black Drum
Black drum fishing is good in Port Charlotte throughout the year. The best season to fish for black drum in the region starts in March and ends in October. Black drum feeds actively at night. Black drum fishing is very productive near North Port.
Cobia
Cobia fishing is very productive in Port Charlotte between February and November. The best months to target cobia in the local waters are April and September – October. Cobia is the most active in the middle of the day. Placida is the right place to target cobia in the area.
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove snapper is active in the waters near Port Charlotte year-round. The best season to catch mangrove snapper in the region starts in April and ends in November.
Mangrove snapper bites well in the early morning and in the late afternoon. Mangrove snapper is one of the top targeted species in North Port.
Red Grouper
Red grouper fishing is excellent in Port Charlotte throughout the year. The best season to catch red grouper in the region starts in January and ends in September.
The early morning is the best time of day to catch red grouper in the area. It’s possible to catch red grouper near Punta Gorda.
Jack Crevalle
Jack crevalle fishing is good in Port Charlotte throughout the year. The best season to catch jack crevalle in the region starts in April and ends in November.
It’s a good idea to go fishing for jack crevalle in the morning. Placida is one of the best places to target jack crevalle near Port Charlotte.
Redfish
The season to catch redfish in Port Charlotte is high between March and December. Redfish is the most active in the area in the late spring and during the fall months.
Redfish bites well either in the morning or in the afternoon. It makes a lot of sense to target redfish in the waters near Placida.
Spotted Seatrout
Spotted seatrout fishing is good in Port Charlotte throughout the year. The Port Charlotte spotted seatrout fishing is high between January and October.
The best time of the year to catch spotted seatrout in the region is between April and June. Spotted seatrout bites well in the morning and at night. Punta Gorda is one of the best fishing spots to catch spotted seatrout.
Tarpon
The tarpon fishing season in Port Charlotte begins in the early spring and ends in the early fall. The best time of the year to fish tarpon is between the late spring and the early summer.
Tarpon is the most active in the local waters in the early morning. Visit Placida if you would like to catch tarpon during your fishing trip.
Tripletail
It’s possible to target tripletail in the local waters year-round. The tripletail fishing season in Port Charlotte starts in the late winter and ends in the late fall.
The best time of the year to target tripletail in the region is between April and June. Tripletail can be found in the waters near Englewood.
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.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in the Port Charlotte
These Port Charlotte-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional 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 |
| Capt. Scotty Roe Fishing Charters | Port Charlotte, FL |
| Fish-On Sport Fishing | Port Charlotte, FL |
| Straw Hats Fishing Charters | Port Charlotte, FL |
| Get Some Fishing Charter | Port Charlotte, FL |
| Southern Charm Charters | Punta Gorda, FL |
| Fast Cast Fishing Charter | Punta Gorda, FL |
| Endless Pursuits | Punta Gorda, FL |
| High Tide Fishing Charters | Punta Gorda, FL |
| Fish Whistle Charters | Punta Gorda, FL |
Best Seasons to Book a Port Charlotte Charter
Depending on the time of year, anglers can target many different fish species in the waters of Port Charlotte. That’s why it’s so important for fishermen to know what species are active in the region during the spring, summer, fall, and winter months. Now, we’ll talk you through each season of the year and explain what anglers can catch in each season.
Spring
The early spring is the beginning of the fishing season in Port Charlotte. In spring, fishing is good in grassy areas. Offshore fishing trips can get you hooked on the monster fish of your dreams. The late spring is the best time of the year to do fly fishing in the region.
Tarpon is the main target in the local waters during the spring months. Anglers can also catch such species as barracuda, black drum, cobia, groupers, jack crevalle, king mackerel, ladyfish, redfish, permit, snappers, spotted seatrout, tripletail as well as snook.
Summer
Many fish species are active in the region during the summer months. Fishing is excellent in inshore waters and offshore waters. In summer, anglers prefer to use trolling as well as bottom fishing techniques. The late summer is the best time of the year to fish the Myakka and Peace Rivers.
Snappers are the main target in the area during the summer months. Summer is the great time of the year to target amberjack, barracuda, jack crevalle, kingfish, ladyfish, groupers, mahi-mahi, spotted seatrout, tarpon, tripletail as well as bass, bream as well as crappie.
Fall
In the fall, anglers can still enjoy fishing in inshore and offshore waters. Redfish is the main target in the region during the fall months.
It also makes a lot of sense to fish for amberjack, barracuda, black drum, cobia, jack crevalle, groupers, tarpon, king mackerel, ladyfish, snook, redfish, snook as well as spotted seatrout.
Winter
Winter fishing in Port Charlotte is less productive compared to fishing in spring, summer, and fall. Nevertheless, anglers can still get good results. In winter, it makes sense to visit the rivers, the Charlotte Harbour or go fishing in offshore waters.
Such species as amberjack, black drum, groupers, king mackerel, ladyfish, sheepshead, speckled trout, redfish, pompano, mangrove snapper, and snook can bite well in the local waters during the winter months.
Best Time of Day to Fish near Port Charlotte
The best time of day to fish Port Charlotte depends on the fish species that you are targeting. That’s why it’s so important to study the bite times of the top targeted species in the area ahead of time. Anglers need to find out what time of day their favorite species are the most active in the local waters.
It’s also important to note that the feeding activity of fish depends a lot on the time of the year. Water cools down and the vast majority of fish species feed actively in the morning and in the evening during the summer months. Some fish species can be targeted at night.
However, it would be better to fish Port Charlotte in the afternoon during the colder months. The water heats up and fish get active during the afternoon hours.
Port Charlotte Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Fishing bite times depend on tide times. Anglers also need to study Port Charlotte tide charts when planning their fishing trips. They have to find out the low and high times in the area before booking a fishing trip.
Fishing in Port Charlotte is best during the incoming and outgoing tides. Tides cause the rise and fall of water levels. Tides cause movement of water that increases the activity of fish. On the other hand, it’s not recommended to fish Port Charlotte when tides are highest and lowest.
Storms & Port Charlotte Fishing
The wet season in Port Charlotte starts in the early summer and ends in the early fall. That means that storms, as well as rainstorms, can be expected at this time of the year.
Storms and rainstorms mean challenges for anglers. It’s widely known that fishing is impacted by storms. That’s why anglers need to know how fish feed before, during, and after storms.
Fish are feeding actively before storms due to the change in barometric pressure. So, anglers get a great fishing experience before storms come in Port Charlotte. However, it’s necessary to stop fishing before storms hit.
High waves as well as strong winds cause stress to fish. That’s why fish move to deep waters and stay inactive during storms. It’s also important to note that storms pose a risk to anglers and make fishing dangerous. So, fishing during storms should be avoided. If bad weather is expected, then it would be better to cancel a Port Charlotte fishing trip.
It makes a lot of sense to go fishing after storms. The activity of fish increases and the ideal fishing conditions are created after a storm. Storms bring nutrients and oxygen-rich waters to the area. Waters calms down after a storm. Barometric pressure changes and fish begin to search for food actively.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Port Charlotte?
Port Charlotte is known as a year-round fishing destination. That means that anglers can visit the region at any time of the year.
The weather is getting colder, but anglers can still continue fishing in the local waters during the winter months. In winter, it’s possible to catch such species as amberjack, black drum, black grouper, gag grouper, red grouper, king mackerel as well as ladyfish.
Night Fishing in Port Charlotte
Some anglers give a preference to night fishing in Port Charlotte. Charlotte Harbor is one of the best night fishing spots in the area. It’s a great idea to fish at night during the hot summer months. It’s not cold and it’s not hot during nighttime.
But most importantly, fishing in Port Charlotte can be very productive during night hours. Anglers can target saltwater species such as black drum, groupers, snappers, tarpon, and redfish and freshwater species such as largemouth bass, bream, and catfish when fishing in the region at night.
Top Fishing Spots near Port Charlotte
Punta Gorda
Fishing in Punta Gorda is very diverse. The destination attracts both saltwater and freshwater anglers. Fishermen can target many different species in the local waters. The chances to land a trophy fish in the waters near Punta Gorda are always high. The reefs in nearshore waters attract a lot of fish. Fishing in the region is best between April and September.
Among the species that anglers can target during a Punta Gorda fishing trip are amberjack, barracuda, black drum, cobia, king mackerel, groupers, snappers, bull shark, jack crevalle, permit, redfish, sheepshead, snook, spotted seatrout, tarpon, and tripletail.
North Port
North Port is one of the best fishing spots near Port Charlotte. The peak fishing season in the region is between April and July. The most popular species that can be targeted in the local waters are black drum, groupers, snappers, redfish, snook as well as tarpon.
Charlotte Harbor
The Charlotte Harbor is the place where two rivers the Myakka and Peace Rivers merge into one. The rivers meet the Gulf waters. The harbor offers excellent fishing and impresses anglers with a great variety of species.
The best time of the year to fish the Charlotte Harbor is between the late spring and the late fall. The top species to catch in Charlotte Harbor include cobia, groupers, spotted seatrout, snook, redfish as well as tarpon.
Myakka River
Anglers, who want to experience freshwater fishing in Port Charlotte, should visit the Myakka River. Fishing in the Myakka River is fun and very productive. It’s possible to enjoy fishing in the Myakka River at any time of the year.
However, the peak of the Myakka River fishing season starts in the late spring and ends in the late summer. The top targeted species include bream, catfish, jack crevalle, ladyfish, largemouth bass, red drum, tarpon, sheepshead, and snook.
Peace River
The Peace River has gained popularity among anglers in Port Charlotte. Fishing in the river is good throughout the year. However, anglers get the best results during the spring and summer months. When fishing in the river fishermen can catch such species as bream, catfish, largemouth bass, and snook.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
Anglers don’t necessarily need to book a charter to enjoy fishing in Port Charlotte. It’s possible to fish in the region without a boat as well.
A lot of anglers choose to fish from shore in the area. It’s also important to note that there are many good surf fishing spots to explore in the region. Beaches, bridges, and parks attract many shore anglers in Port Charlotte.
And of course, surf fishing is excellent from piers. There are many fishing piers in Port Charlotte and its surrounding areas. The best fishing piers near Port Charlotte in the region include Bayshore Live Oak Park Fishing Pier, El Jobean Fishing Pier, Coral Creek Fishing Pier/Centennial Park, Ainger Fishing Pier Park, North Shore Park Fishing Pier, Tarpon Street Pier, Bokeelia Fishing Pier, Sanibel City Pier, Four Mile Cove Fishing Pier, Venice Fishing Pier, Osprey Fishing Pier, Riverside Pier, and others.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Homestead, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Venice, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish near Shalimar, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Niceville, check out this helpful guide.
