Wishing you great family fishing and a Merry Christmas from Captain Van Hubbard.

          Enjoy this special time with family and friends. Make time to share some outdoor time with them; life is short. Walk in the woods or try some of our Venice to Boca Grande fishing. Our weather has been warm and wonderful waters have been calm most of the time and fish are waiting for your presentation.

          Weather does control our options; so we work with what we get. We have redfish and trout now along the back country mangrove edges and flats. We can cast lures, soak natural baits, or mix it up; just let me know beforehand so I can accommodate your desires. Both are great eating and fun to catch. Snook are closed but we still stumble into a few.

          We also have a mixture of flounder, sheepshead, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and a shot at pompano if you like? We usually jig for these but sometimes shrimp work well here also. Water clarity helps with the mackerel and pompano. The variety is always exciting and with ladyfish and assorted unusual species you never know what we’ll pull in. The action is frequent and fun for less patient anglers.

          If the weather holds as beautiful as it has been we could even have a shot at Spanish or king mackerel, sharks, and more outside in the near shore Gulf. Calm, clear conditions are required here. It has been warm so far.

          What ever you decide to do, find time to enjoy our great outdoors with the folks that are special to you. We have an abundance of bird life for observation also, if that tickles your fancy? Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from sunny Southwest Florida. Captain Van Hubbard