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Photo Copyright © 1999-2000
Lee Island Coast VCB
Fishing On & Off Sanibel & Captiva Islands
The pristine waters surrounding Sanibel Island and Captiva Island provide excellent opportunities for fishermen of all skill levels…from the novice to the World Record seeker. Whether offshore, inshore, back bay, pier, beach or wade fishing, fish can be found here year ‘round.
OFFSHORE FISHING
The Gulf of Mexico is a shallow
body of water meaning anglers can be 20 to
30 miles offshore and be in only 50 to 75
feet of water. No coral reefs here but
numerous artificial reefs and wrecks for
good fishing and diving. Hard bottom
(coquina shelves) offers some of the finest
grouper fishing in the state – black grouper
(gag) and red grouper. Other offshore
species include shark, tripletail, tarpon,
cobia, spanish mackerel, king mackerel,
barracuda, jack crevalle, amberjack, permit
and numerous kinds of snapper.
Fishing, snorkeling and scuba
dive charters and instruction are available with
local professional guides. Check out http://www.lee-county.com/naturalresources/artreef.htm for reef and wreck locations.
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INSHORE / BACK BAY FISHING
Sanibel and Captiva
Islands area offers prime fishing for many species
including the much sought after snook, redfish, sea
trout and tarpon.
- SNOOK: Because the habitat around our islands
contains numerous inlet river mouths, oyster bars
and mangrove shorelines, there is an abundant snook
fishery here…12 months a year.
- REDFISH: Our islands have one of the healthiest,
largest redfish populations in the State of Florida.
Picture the excitement of sight casting to a
“tailing” redfish in crystal clear, shallow water or
pulling a hefty redfish out from the mangrove
shoreline.
- SEATROUT: Seatrout are becoming more plentiful as
well as larger due to good fishery management. With
more fish and larger fish, the sea trout is gaining
a healthy respect as highly sought after saltwater
gamester.
- TARPON: Tarpon fishing is so spectacular around
Captiva and Sanibel Islands, it deserves its own
write-up. This area is the cradle of tarpon fishing.
The first tarpon caught on rod and reel was in 1885
by W.H. Wood using bait and thumb stall reel with
linen line right here on Sanibel Island in Tarpon
Bay.
The annual migration of tarpon starts around
mid-April and goes well into the month of July.
Tarpon fishing in famous Boca Grande Pass (known as
the World Capital of Tarpon Fishing) with
professional captains is usually drift fishing in
large boats using at least 50# tackle.
The fleet of Sanibel professional fishing guides
fish primarily off the east end of Sanibel offshore,
anchored up, chumming and use light to heavier
tackle.
For the light tackle and fly fisherman, professional
tarpon guides use skiffs from 16 feet to 23 feet
cruise the beaches and back bay areas in hot pursuit
of the migrating fish.
This area offers the ultimate in tarpon fishing…so
many casts, so many opportunities.
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FLY FISHING
Sanibel and Captiva Islands is a place
where anglers enjoy saltwater fly fishing at its
finest. Experienced fly rodders fish this area every
month of the year because of the abundance of fish
and the unsurpassed sight casting opportunities. Fly
fishermen making the transition from freshwater to
the salt may want to take advantage of the local
Professional Fishing Guides skilled in the art of
teaching.
Picture casting to a redfish tailing up over the
shallow water flats and watch it charge and eat the
fly. Or, seatrout often in the two to four pound
range as it straightens out a fly line. Or, a snook
strike a fly so violently that the hookup is almost
instant and runs with incredible speed interrupted
only by its acrobatic jumps. Or, picture this: a 100
pound tarpon following the fly with its huge bucket
mouth open, see the fly disappear into its mouth,
and as it turns off with such force and speed it
starts going into uncontrollable jumps. This makes
tarpon on fly the ultimate challenge.
There are numerous other species that can be pursued
on fly whether inshore or offshore: ladyfish, jack
crevalle, spanish mackerel, kingfish, barracuda,
cobia, permit, pompano, flounder, snappers, shark,
etc.
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FISHING WITHOUT A BOAT
Off the beaches: The
causeway beaches, the beaches near the Lighthouse
end of the island, Bowman’s Beach and the beaches
off West Gulf Drive are areas to fish in shallow
water with light tackle using live bait, artificial
lures or fly rods. Early morning or late afternoon,
anglers can walk the beaches and cast to snook, sea
trout, whiting, sheepshead, flounder, mackerel or
pompano.
Fishing pier: Fishing from the pier, or just
alongside it, offers catches of redfish, snook,
sheepshead, black drum, snapper and other species.
Fishing on the pier usually requires heavier tackle.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge: good
fishing along Wildlife Drive for mangrove snapper,
seatrout, redfish, snook and sometimes baby tarpon.
TIME OF YEAR TO FISH / SPECIES
ALL YEAR:
- Snook
- Redfish
- Sea trout
- Spanish mackerel
- Snappers
- Grouper
SPRING AND SUMMER:
- Tarpon
- Pompano
- Cobia
- Permit
SPRING AND FALL:
- King mackerel
- Tripletail
- Black Drum
WINTER AND SPRING:
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RENTALS
Marinas on the islands rent boats, canoes
and kayaks. Marina personnel give quick lessons on
boat handling and charts for the area for those who
want to adventure on their own.
Tour boats and some professional fishing guides
offer charters for: shelling, sightseeing, lunch,
birding, eco / nature, or photography. Some guides
are Certified Master Naturalists. Snorkeling and
SCUBA dive charters and instructors are available in
this area. Also, fishing charters for the disabled
are available.
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FISHING LICENSE INFO
Fishing: Most residents and
visitors must purchase licenses for fishing in salt
or fresh water. You can purchase a license at The
Bait Box on Periwinkle Way; at Bailey' Center at the
corner of Tarpon Bay Road and Periwinkle Way; at
Tarpon Bay Recreation; at Jensen's Marina; at Adventures in Paradise; and at
all the marinas. Rules and regulations on size and
bag limits plus open and closed seasons change. Most
bait stores distribute free lists published by the
Florida Marine Fisheries Commission. You do not need
a license if you are: under 16; over age 65 and a
Florida resident; a Florida resident fishing in salt
water from a dock, bridge, jetty, pier or other
structure connected to land; or fishing from a boat
covered by a Vessel Saltwater Fishing License. The
Tax Collector's office and bait shops list criteria
for residency.
GOOD FISHING SPOTS
- Tarpon Bay (Recreation Area of J. N. "Ding" Darling Wildlife Refuge)
- Sanibel Fishing Pier located bayside of the Sanibel Lighthouse
- Fishing from the Beach
- Fishing, snorkeling and scuba dive charters and instruction are available with local professional guides.
- Check out http://www.lee-county.com/naturalresources/artreef.htm for reef and wreck locations.
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