Well, some things have changed around here. Here is the last photo before old man winter showed up on our doorstep. We are doing everything we can to make this last week of the year memorable. 
  
As our fishing reports have shown for the last three or so months, the cobia fishing has been one for the record books. We were averaging 8-10 fish per half day trip.

That is going to be over for a little while until we can get some decent weather. 

With our temperatures now averaging in the low 40s. Water temperatures in the 50s we are definitely going to be switching gears. When are now in full winter swing. We definitely got the best of the fall and pre-winter. 

This week we are doubled up every day. With shrimp being on the table for Bait for the next few months. We might have a few warm up days and a few cherry pick days where we will be able to sneak offshore and play with some more cobia, Kingfish, Bonita, Gag Grouper, jewfish, sharks and Tripletail. 

With the shrimp being the bait of choice. Also of course our species are going to change. Sheephead , mangrove snapper, trout, redfish, and black drum will be the species around mid February. 

Also, some slow played artificial’s coming to play this time of year. We will be using a different variety of jigs tipped with shrimp just to try to cover some more of the water column. These work very well with a slow, retrieve and bounce on the bottom with the water being so cold. 

This is a very difficult time of year for us to fish. Ironically also everyone and their mother is here. We know everyone looks at our social medias and wants to cherry pick their favorite fish like they’re ordering it off the menu. With this being said. Please try to have some patience with us in these winter months.  

We want to deliver the best memories we can to you and your family. Please just remember this is not the type of fishing we do all year! If you come prepared, dress warm, you and your family will still have a fantastic day on the water! 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the Bedell Captains. 

Well, we had cobia for Halloween. We had cobia for Thanksgiving, and by the looks of it lots of cobia for Christmas! 

As long as the weather remain solid and beautiful, we can capitalize on herds, packs, and giant schools of these fish have infested our area. 

Also, let’s get real. It is December and these cold fronts are gonna start stacking. Hopefully we have enough flexibility to move or shuffle your offshore charter. 

With that being said, we are getting ready to switch gears into our winter grind next week lows in the 50s we will be shrimping it and trying to find some shrimp eaters and stay out of the cold. 

We’ve been very lucky with mild weather, and been able to capitalize on some offshore fishing. The triple tail, king fish, Bonita, should all be following suit in the next few days or so. 

Our calendars are jamming the week of Christmas and New Year’s. Captain Perry Bedell’s boat is getting ready to enter the fleet again and we will have all of those days to fill. 

Please keep an eye on our fishing reports and our calendars and make an unforgettable time for your family. 

Please continue to have tight lines until you’re on our bow! 

Thank you, the Bedell Captains. 

The transition from Thanksgiving to December has been a pretty amazing week of fishing.

Things are pretty much back to normal here in Naples, Florida. Lots of family tourist are in town. Our books are very busy. The weather is beautiful & fishing is off the charts.

Let’s start offshore. That’s where we’ve been fishing for the majority of the time since the beginning of October. If you time it right and keep your eye on the weather, you can cherry pick some amazing days for your family.

The cobia fishing still remains as solid as can be. There are still wolf packs, trains, herds, schools, whatever you wanna call it they’re everywhere. These curious fish are all over the water column. Frisky live bait or a well place jig or even a plethora of assorted Topwater plugs will get destroyed by these fish.

Let’s not forget about the table fair. These fish are delicious prepared anyway. You cannot mess them up. Although there has been a new rule adjustment this year these fish used to be 33 inches minimum to the fork now they are 36 inches to the fork. We have been catching a lot of smaller fish in 2021 models. Which are still fun site fished. Take a great photograph and released for next season.

Also, on these wrecks, we have been in countering incredibly large schools of Jack’s. All sizes from 5 to 20 pounds. These large packs of fish, just ravish and destroy anything insight. Toss a top water plug out in the middle and watch it get destroyed. Very cool stuff to witness.

Also, a large variety of Apex sharks. From bulls to sandbars, lemons, even occasional tiger, and hammerhead have been stopping by. These are great fish for the whole family. There’s no shame in the game and passing the rod over and letting everybody grab a turn. It’s incredible to feel the immense power these fish have, and it’s always great to see all the smiling faces.

Now, if that’s not enough for you, drop one of those chunks to the bottom and hold on with everything you got. The goliath grouper have been stopping by and visiting as well. We’ve been getting fish from 20 pounds all the way up to 150 these fish are dinosaurs. They eat anything and everything in sight and this is also a get the whole family involved because it’s very hard to do solo.  

Our month is getting very busy. Lots of people in town. Lots of beautiful weather around. Our books are jamming all month especially the end. If you or your family has any ideas of going out on one of our excursions, please let anyone of our captains know. We would love to get you and your family on the water this holiday season. Please have a safe one and we will see you on the water. 

Thank you, the Bedell Captains. 

We had cobia instead of turkey this year!

The cobia fishing remains as solid as it’s ever been. I believe our headcount for just this fall has reached 50+ fish! That’s not counting the ones lost at the boat or any others lost. Kind of incredible numbers considering we just had a category five hurricane go through here. 

Speaking of the hurricane and our area. Our area has bounced back and is very resilient like we always are after a storm. The water is beautiful fishing is incredible despite what the news says every day! 

We are full this week but still have room for a last minute half day here or there. We’ve got some beautiful weather all the way to Saturday with this oncoming front. 

Actually, Thanksgiving was gorgeous. We worked a full day last year and probably will again this year.

We hope everyone had a safe and happy Thanksgiving on the water!

Thank you the Bedell captains. 

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.