AFRICAN POMPANO MAY 7, 2025 Where did the African pompano go this year? Charter captains are puzzled as to why the trophy size African pompano were a no show at all the favorite hang outs. A few were caught here and there but the overall season was practically a bust.

Charter boats typically offer this option when they know the big silvers are around and chewing. I have been here eight years now and this is the first year that the option to ice two African pompano was off the menu. Typically, the run is about fifteen miles farther than the normal fishing areas. Captains want to be sure that the odds are favorable before making the run.

Maybe the hurricanes shifted their annual migration to different locations? The boat limit is two fish per day; can it be possible to overfish this valuable resource? It’s hard to imagine, a fish that is sometimes so thick, that it can be a nuisance, can get overfished. We had a day in December that the African pompanos were so thick we could not get away from them. We had our two big fish on ice early and then proceeded to release fifteen fish that were keeper size or better. Along comes February and March, when the big pompanos are supposed to be stacked up and they are a no show. Go figure. A mystery until further notice I suppose. We will find out next February when they should be back in good numbers, hopefully.

Enjoy a Six Hour Trip By Robert” Snapper “Lee May 10, 2025

The six-hour trip is for those anglers who would like to sample the fishing off of Southwest Florida but don’t want to spend all day out on the water. Anglers seeking these six-hour adventures are often older or may want to introduce a kid to the sport of fishing. This type of trip is also good for family fishing trips. The faster boats will travel up to thirty miles into the Gulf of America on these outings. There are plenty of fish to catch in this range which makes it a popular choice amongst visitors and locals alike.

If the authorities decide to open the season, keeper gag grouper like the one pictured above, are usually readily available on six-hour trips. The cooler water brings them into the shallow ledges and wrecks and the captains know where to find them.

Lane snapper and Key west grunts will take up a large portion of your catch on these trips. The fish are relatively easy to catch, and the kids will have a ball due to the fast-paced action. The full fillet table above was caught on the Bad Habit out of Venice, Florida on a May 1st 2025, six-hour trip. Rough seas offshore forced the captain to go to plan B and the clients ended up with a box full of tasty fillets.

Depending on the time of year, a number of species can be caught within twenty miles of Venice, Englewood, Fort Myers and Sarasota. The cost is reasonable and if things to go well due to seasickness or other unforeseen issues, the captain can have you back at the dock quickly. Winds out of an Easterly direction usually will allow for calm seas for at least five miles.

During the winter, sheepshead gather on all the nearshore ledges and man-made reefs and offer plenty of action. Sheepshead are in the porgy family and have some of the best tasting fillets there are. The limit is a generous eight fish per person, and they are usually cooperative on the bite. Limits can easily be caught during six-hour trips.

Red Snapper Here We Come! May 11, 2025 By Robert” Snapper” Lee

Call your local charter captains and book your seats for the Gulf of America red snapper season. Charter boats can harvest red snapper 16-inches in length or better, from June 1, 2025 to September 15, 2025. Follow the Facebook pages of Bad Habit Offshore Fishing Charters for trips out of Venice, Fl. Follow Fin Seekers Fishing and Best Catch Fishing Charters for trips out of Englewood, Fl.

The limit is two red snappers per person. Boat limits are usually reached in short order. Once your twelve big American reds are on ice, you get to explore around and catch whatever else is in season. Red groupers are usually available for harvest for at least some of the summer Red Snapper season. The groupers that are in these deep-water haunts are usually tackle busters.

American Red Snapper can be caught in as shallow as one hundred feet deep on occasion but the big fish like the deeper water. Depths ranging from one hundred and fifty to two hundred feet will be where the big sows will be hanging out. Tug of wars at this depth are no joke folks, the fish out here are tough to bring in.

Hydration is very important when spending long, hot days chasing red snapper and grouper. The tune ” Country State of Mind” by Hank Williams Jr. opens up “That hot old summer sun, will make you beg for your next breath, so you best be on the creek bank laying in the shade”. It is one of my favorite Bocephus tunes and it comes to my mind every time that hot sun is beating down on me out there.

Light colored protective clothing and plenty of electrolyte type drinks are mandatory for your health and well-being. Hydrate before you leave the dock, on the way out and hourly during fishing time. Save a drink or two for the ride home also. A friend of mine almost got a ride in the Coast Guard helicopter due to dehydration. The crew had to work feverishly to rehydrate and cool him down. Luckily, he came around and was able to finish out the day.

The Winner Is ……? By Robert “Snapper” Lee May 19, 2025

Subscriber Joey Jackson’s name was drawn out of twenty-four subscribers to receive the John Wood speckled trout carving. The hand carved and painted work of art looks great on my supervisor’s desk.

Congratulations to Joey Jackson on winning a fine work of art by John Wood. A few other items can be found on the John Wood Facebook page, or you can call or text Woody at 609-638-8431. Custom orders are also accepted.

The Canada Goose and Elliott’s Pheasant, pictured above, were available for purchase the last time I stopped by the studio. You never know how long Woody’s artwork sticks around. He has a strong following of interested collectors and art dealers.

June 27, 2025

News From the Deep

The Bad Habit ventured out past the century mark on Thursday June 26, 2025 and filled all the fish boxes on the boat. The trips typically take fourteen hours and visit some of the most fish rich waters in the Gulf of America. The $ 700.00-dollar all-inclusive fee buys you a seat on these amazing adventures.

The trips will leave around three in the morning and return to port the same day around five in the afternoon. The crew will combine different methods throughout the day. Big wahoo and blackfin tune can be caught on the troll. Mahi can invade your space at any time and the bottom fishing is full of surprises.

Stay tuned for an update on today’s trip, June 27, 2025. My neighbor is out on this one so I should get a good report to add soon.

A limit of scamps and a limit of jumbo American red snapper to go with a pile of other various fish.

Six happy anglers going home with a pile of tasty fillets and some fishing stories to tell. The Bad Habit contact is Captain Mike Patterson 941 306 9726