If one fish has definitely been a staple this month. It’s been the Cobia! The Cobia fishing in Naples has been incredible for the last few months. Also with the numbers of fish that we were seeing we don’t see it stopping anytime soon! 

These fish can be an amazing sight fishing opportunity! For the most part. They’re not very picky. We’ve been hooking them anywhere from straight off the bottom. The mid water column. Even picking off fish at the surface from the tower. 

Most of the time with a hooked fish on the bottom. Halfway through the fight he will bring up lots of friends. That’s when we’re ready with any kind of artificial, jigs, even flies. Great opportunities happen very quickly! 

The wrecks have also been providing great table fare of mangrove snapper. Along side with these great tasting cobia makes for a nice mixed bag meal!  

We are completely gearing up and getting ready for the holiday season. We are taking the delivery of our complete restore of our second boat this weekend it is 100% brand new from bottom to top. 

This area took a devastating hit just a short time ago, but everything is open and we are anxious and ready to get back to work and get you on the water! 

In this downtime we have also started a YouTube channel for OAM team called Guide’s Day Off. Please check it out. 

Thank you the Bedell Captains. 

Fall fishing is in full swing and completely off the charts! Book your trips now to get in on some of this amazing fishing! 

The Cobia have completely invaded our area. Fish in all sizes. Definitely a few for the table. Also even more being released! We have been picking these fish up off the top and the bottom even the middle water column. Also site fishing packs of these fish off the surface with a well-placed fly or artificial has been sealing the deal as well. These fish are starving and hungry and cooperating like we love them too! 

In the same areas we have also been been rewarded by some massive offshore Snook. These fish are also eating everything from a frisky live bait to artificials as well! The Snook are a little more cunning and will try to break you off in the structure as much as possible. Please bring your A game! 

We have also been dabbling with some goliath groupers. A.k.a. the Jewfish! These fish also variety in sizes from 10 pounds to some little more manageable ones in the 60-80 pound range. We love these sizes, these are very manageable you can get them in rather quickly and released even quicker for the conservationist. These fish are protected, but a quick photo usually follows! 

We have also been noticing a lot of crabbers setting their stone crab traps out for season. Most everyone knows with the site of these the triple tail will soon be near! We have been seeing some little ones already lining up. Only a matter of time before the big prehistoric dinosaurs are up high and floating. Another amazing site fishing opportunity. Also amazing on the table. One of our favourites! 

Let’s also visit what just happened to our area. We all know that most of the world has seen the pictures and the devastation from our area. With this being said of course the news exaggerates a lot of this. We are not sugarcoating any of it, our friends and fellow guides to the north really took a devastating blow. On a lighter note we fared very well, our area our boats, our captains are eager and anxious to get back on the water! 

With this storm we have had lots of cancellations and lots of reschedules. We just wanted everybody to know we are up and running fishing is on fire and we are very much looking forward to getting this season underway.

Hope to see you all on the water very soon. Thank you the Bedell Captains. 

The first day of fall has arrived in Naples, Florida. Right on the schedule, fishing is off the charts and we have a hurricane coming up the pipe! 

As we stepped outside for work this week we’ve noticed a slight temperature drop in the air. Not very much but definitely noticed. With this change will bring a different batch of game fish to our area. 

The Permit are still around with some quality fish in our region. These fish have been taking a little longer to locate. Full day charters are definitely the only way you’re going to be able to find those fish. Half days it’s just asking too much. Along these wrecks we’ve been a steady stream of cobia coming through the area. Not huge fish but steady numbers. 

Also some great numbers of snook. These fish did just open up for season but with the pressure they’ve had for the last couple years we still do not bring them to the table. With that being said the mangrove snapper bite has been so good our clients and even ourselves have been  enjoying 1 to 2 dinners for the last few weeks. 

We are rounding the first week of October and the peak of hurricane season. We have one coming up the pipe and it supposed to be here in the middle of next week. They’re forecasting a category three. This will obviously shut our operation down for a week or so as these storms usually turn things up pretty bad.

Also silver lining of these storms they bring all kinds of new fish to our region. From the fresh new bait to a different show of gamefish. Going to be lots of water moving and lots of things moving with it. 

We have one more charter tomorrow and then we are shutting down operations till the storm passes. Wishing all of our clients, friends and family good luck in this storm. Batten down down the hatches and stay safe! 

Thank you. 
The Bedell Captains. 

We have finally reached prefall status in Naples, Florida. All of the usual suspects are around. We are wide open to put your family on some amazing fishing! 

This is the slowest month of the year. Also a great month to tighten everything up and get ready for season. That is exactly what we’re doing. 

We are also taking advantage of this beautiful weather and no one around! I must say we do not mind this time of the year at all.

Gives us the time to catch up on some things. We have one of our boats being redone and of course getting out and enjoying some time on the water with family is always nice. 

Lots of great fishing still to be had around here. The cobia have been a staple on every trip. Whether with clients or playing. FWC just changed the regulations on Cobia. They are now 36 inches to the fork and a lot of these fish are 2021 models. 

Unfortunately they don’t get to come home but they are great fight on light tackle. Also there have been some bigger ones lurking around we have lost quite a few at the boat. A few even to some big bull sharks. 

On the table fair side. The mangrove snapper bite has been incredible. These fish are not huge but incredibly tasty. The ones that have been coming over the gunnels you don’t even need to measure. When we knock those sides off it’s straight chicken breast size and we have been enjoying fish tacos over here once a week. 

Now, let’s revisit the Permit. Lots of fish still around. We have been finding some schools in all sizes. The little dinner plates from 10 to 15 pounds. Even some bigger bruisers in the 25 to 35 pound class are still patrolling a few wrecks. 

Our schedules are pretty wide-open even with one boat we’re doing about 2 to 3 trips a week right now. With that being said we have lots of flexibility if you need to flip a day because of weather. Or maybe you need to add another person to your party because it grows. We can accommodate to all of those things this time of the year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to anyone of our captains. 

Thank you the Bedell Captains. 

Well Summer is over and what a good one it has been. We capitalized on so many extremely large Permit this summer and spring that it was one for the record books! We are anticipating fall very much. Also winter will be here before you know it. 

Fall is a very special time of year in our Naples fishery and we anticipate it very much. With September being one of our slowest months of the year this is a great time for us to catch a little R&R and get out on the water for ourselves. Still trickling in 2 to 3 trips a week. 

Our offshore fishery still remains very solid. The water is still extremely warm the weather is usually mild and we can venture out to these inshore & offshore Wrecks that holds so many amazing game fish. On these wrecks you will find from surface to bottom a different variety of great fish! On the surface are large schools of giant barracudas. Also the permit will be tailing and bobbing. Although the schools have thinned a little bit this time of the year there are still some great permit fishing to be had. 

Next, in that middle water column. Have been a mixture of different size Cobia‘s. FWC just change the regulations on these fish, they were 33 to the fork and are now 36 to a fork. We have been getting one to two of these a trip. Although they are the 2021 models we are anticipating that first keeper any day now. 

Now for the bottom. All kinds of varieties of snappers have been making it to the table for our clients. These tasty fish are not big but will soon be your favorite! 

Next will be the gag grouper‘s. They are still in season although tough to get off the bottom they have been a nice mix for fillets. Then we get to the Goliaths. These fish are protected but sure are fun to fight. They will test every step of your ability and leave you coming back for more! Fish range from 10 pounds to well over 300. We enjoy the 40-100 pounds. These fish are manageable make great photos and usually don’t break you off in the wreck too bad. 

Our backcountry fishery still remains very solid. Although we have not been back there very much in the last two months. When the Gulf is as flat as it’s been you really need to take advantage of that. Although with this inshore fishery has spawned our Pilcherd migration. We have been flooded with baitfish everywhere. We are not complaining which makes our day very easy! It has been one & done with a castnet every morning the last month. These baits are only going to get bigger and only spread out all the way to Thanksgiving! They are all over the beaches and any kind of structure you can find is usually holding these. 

With September being the slowest months of the year we are wide open. We did put our sister boat into the shop for a full Restore and will be getting her back around Halloween. 

Our schedules are wide open. Fishing is great, please reach out to anyone of our captains for a chance to take the best out of this slow month! 

Thank you. The Bedell Captains. 

Pre-fall days are here. Everything seems very early and we are not complaining! 

Seems to be a mid flux of Cobia have been in our area in the last week or so. We have seen pairs and packs also some single large rogue fish. The fish are a little early. They usually show up around Halloween and Thanksgiving time when the water cools a little bit. Also we’ve been getting one just about every trip lost a couple of studs by the boat today. 

On the same wrecks we will find some large snook. Lots of packs of hungry barracudas on the surface just waiting for a frisky live bait or an artificial. A slew of every sized goliath grouper on the bottom waiting for a chunk or follow your snapper to the surface. All of these have been filling the gaps while we are looking for the Permit. 

The Permit have thinned a little bit. They have also moved off our normal Wrecks and are swimming around a little bit more. It takes a little bit of time to locate these fish but once we do they’re usually balled up and waiting for that live crabs to land right in front of their face. 

Our schedules have gotten a little tighter these last couple months. We have taken one of our boats and are doing a complete overhaul. All the way down to the stringers! This boat will be entering back into the fleet around Halloween. So with that notion we are down to one boat and our schedules are still very busy for this time of the year. We have one day available next week and that has been the norm for these last summer months. 

Please reach out to anyone of our Captains by phone, social media or even email. We would love to get you out in the water and experience some great fishing in our area! 

Thank you. The Bedell Captains! 

We have made it to August and the last month of summer. Things are already starting to change gears in Naples,  Florida.

The Permit game still remains solid when weather conditions being where they need to be. Lots of afternoon showers and wind direction all over the place has made it difficult to get to the grounds. Once you arrive. We have been greeted with some dirty water. Still some fish in the area and site fishing has pretty much disappeared. Soaking a well placed crab in the right area will be rewarded! Bring that extra bag of patience. 

With this unstable wind and weather. We have retreated into the near shore Wrecks. Seems like a lot of the larger snook have moved out of the back country and to these near shore structures. They are very large and most of them not much smaller than 20 pounds. 

These inshore structures also hold a variety of barracudas, goliath groupers, mangrove snappers, Spanish mackerel,  and a mixed bag of sharks to keep all anglers busy. 

With the last month of summer approaching we are already starting to see some fall patterns. Our pilchards hatch is all small and starting from scratch. These are growing every day and yet small are very useable and have been getting the job done! 

Our calendars are still quite busy for this time of the year. We did put one boat into the shop for repairs. We will be getting her back around Halloween. With us being down to one boat has been tricky to try to get some trips in but we are still getting it done. 

With this being said. I would still reach out to anyone of our captains when you have those fishing dates available. 

Thank you. 
The Bedell Captains. 

July always means big permit in Naples for the On a Mission team! Throughout my whole career we always looked forward to July.

This month has always been usually bittersweet for us. We’ve always looked forward to the new moon in July because it would always yield the largest permit of the year for us. Also this is the month where they usually start thinning out. This year seems a little different. As I’m talking to my captains and looking over our records. We’ve never had a year with so many quality fish over 40 inches. 

With these larger fish have come a new way to approach them also new tactics. These fish are so big. They are so strong. Most clients don’t realize the power and strength these fish have till they are completely blindsided and take them to the wreck like a freight train. We have been breaking hooks. That’s right. I said we are breaking steel hooks!! We usually have a couple rounds of trial by fire before clients start dialing these fish directions in the right way.

It’s a lot of give-and-take with these behemoth permit. Everything has to go right for you to get that picture and memory of a lifetime. So get plenty of rest and please listen to our directions and you can knock this fish off your bucket list as well!

Our calendars are thinning out a little bit. We really don’t mind. We get to reboot the system and go play with these dinosaurs a little bit ourselves. We’re not mad about that! It’s been a nice break for our team.

If this is something that you would like to do please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of our captains to book a trip of a lifetime! 

Thank you the Bedell Captain’s. 

The OAM team is wrapped up the month of June with a beautiful cherry on top! 

We have completely switched gears and put the Naples tarpon fishing on the back burner. The Permit Fishing is taking full presidents and with multiple 40 inch fish coming over the rail weekly you can see why! 

I was just speaking with my captains the other day about this. We can’t remember in any time of our fishing careers, even mine for that matter. When we have delivered so many 40 inch plus fish to clients. This year and season have just been incredible. Yes we’ve caught some amazing fish. In that fact we’ve also lost so many more. 

These fish are so big. So strong! We can’t  even say everyone is shocked when they realize what is on the end of the line. It’s very hard to coach or try to prep someone for this. It’s usually trial by fire and in the heat of the moment we hope the fish makes a mistake. 

So I always tell my clients get plenty of rest and please listen to our instructions. I know we sound very repetitive and probably like a broken record over and over again. Trust us. We want that picture and memory as bad as you do! 

We are happy to have another amazing June in the books. July is already wrapping up to be busy. Half the month is already booked and we are filling up trips daily. This is an amazing time of year to cherry pick days and make a memory for a lifetime. Keep an eye on our post, book your Naples fishing charter accordingly and we hope to get you and your family on the water! 

Thank you. The Bedell Captain’s.