Anglers who fish Pine Island Sound for the first time often describe the experience in superlatives. The redfish are bigger than expected. The trout are more abundant than anticipated. The snook are in places that seem impossibly predictable once a knowledgeable local guide points them out. And the wildlife — dolphins, manatees, roseate spoonbills, ospreys, and wading birds in numbers...

Your first guided fishing charter in Fort Myers is going to be one of the better days of your Florida trip. That's not promotional optimism — it's what the data from Southwest Florida's charter fishing industry consistently shows: first-time guided anglers in this region have an overwhelmingly positive experience. The combination of accessible inshore water, species variety, experienced...