We have been following our standard summer protocol down here in Naples, FL. The typical species have been around in the summer heat and they’ve all been complying nicely. Big Snook and Permit have been steady targets with plenty of Barracudas and goliaths around to fill in the gaps. This is hands down the best time of the year to target large Snook as they’ve been on every wreck we fish.

What’s so great about this time of the year is how hungry and aggressive the fish can be. Higher water temps mean a sped up metabolism in all the fish so it’s very rare to get refusals this time of year. It’s been a great summer so far and it’s far from over.

Looking forward to the coming months with our clients. Please reach out to any of our captains regarding any questions. 

Well we have switched from Spring to Summer overnight in the Naples area. It’s getting extremely hot and the fish are loving it. We’re finally falling into that Summer pattern where the hot slick calm days are extremely common. These conditions are perfect for sight fishing to schools of Permit. They will be the staple for the foreseeable future offshore. This is the best time of the year to come knock these fish off your bucket list. They will comply every time we fish them and eat every crab in sight!

There’s also monster cudas out there to fill in the gaps in between the Permit. Tarpon fishing in Naples has been decent with some solid strings swimming up the beach. These are the two prime glory targets on our full days and even six hour trips. The Snook bite in Naples has been great inshore for anyone who likes to fish inside. Fish of every size have been active as they’ve preparing for their spawn. Contact any of our captains for questions about a potential trip. We’re looking forward to an epic summer season in Naples with all of our great clients.

It’s been the same story this whole winter thus far. Nonstop cold fronts have kept things cool and rough but we’re still making it work. Fishing nearshore wrecks and the backcountry have kept things in motion and have kept rods bent! There have been many good meals caught recently with lots of Snapper and Sheepshead around. We’ve also had a lot of sharks around to add a little bit of sport into our charters as well. Still some stray Cobia and Snook being caught to fill the gaps. One thing we have to look forward to is once this wind subsides the Cobia and Permit fishing will be epic! We’re filling numerous trips daily for February and March. This is a good time to get your trips in our calendar before things get crazy! 

With the recent temperature drop down into the high 40s and nothing but stiff north wind for the foreseeable future it’s safe to say winter is here. As we move into winter fishing things will change inshore and offshore. Lots of backcountry fish will head way back into the shallow creeks seeking refuge from the cold and dirty water. Our prime inshore targets during the winter are Redfish, Trout, and sheepshead with some Snook mixed in as well. Offshore fishing in between the fronts when the wind lets up can be extremely good.

When you get a chance to get out there after things have been cold, dirty and rough the fish are always starving! The typical staples we target will be around with some additional ones like kingfish and sheepshead showing up on the scene. We are booking numerous trips daily for the holiday week and the month of January. Please feel free to reach out to any of us for any questions you may have or to get a trip in the book! 

-The Bedell Captain’s 

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. 

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. 

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!