The Fort Myers and Sanibel fishery has settled into its late-spring peak this week. The Boca Grande tarpon run is at its annual maximum, snook have moved to the beach pattern from Sanibel down through Bonita, and the offshore mahi bite has been productive within reasonable runs. Light winds most of the week kept conditions cooperative.
Boca Grande Pass — Tarpon Peak
The Boca Grande Pass tarpon fishery is at its yearly headline. Schools of 80-180 lb fish are stacked in the pass in 30-90 feet of water. The recreational and charter fleet is in full force — 50+ boats working the pass on peak tide days.
The dominant technique remains live-bait drifting. Boats use trolling motors to hold position at productive depth contours, presenting live crabs or scaled sardines on circle hooks. Strikes are committed; the hook-set is the circle-hook lift.
Local etiquette is paramount in the crowded pass — don’t anchor on top of drifting boats, don’t crowd hookups, listen to VHF channel 16. The local charter fleet has been fishing this water for decades and visiting boats should defer.
Inshore — Snook on the Beach, Reds on the Flats
Snook have completed their move to the beach pattern. From Sanibel and Captiva through Fort Myers Beach and down to Bonita and Lover’s Key, fish are working the trough at dawn and dusk. White, bone, or natural-colored swimming plugs and DOA Bait Busters are producing. The night dock-light bite continues through the Pine Island Sound and the Caloosahatchee system.
Redfish are working the oyster bars and mangrove shorelines through Pine Island Sound and the Matlacha area. Cut bait, live shrimp, or weedless gold spoons on the lower tides are producing slot fish.
Seatrout have settled into the deeper grass flats in 4-6 feet of water around the Bokeelia and St. James City areas. Live shrimp under a popping cork is producing limits when fish are located.
Beach Tarpon (Outside Boca Grande)
The Sanibel and Captiva beaches are also holding migrating tarpon in 15-25 feet of water. Sight casting from flats skiffs at first light produces the more visual catches. Calm conditions are mandatory.
Offshore — Mahi, Kingfish
The mahi bite is in mid-window. Boats running 15-25 miles to weed lines and color breaks are finding scattered schools. Trolled ballyhoo on light fluoro is the standard. Schoolies dominate but a few gaffers in the 20-30 lb class have come in.
Kingfish are reliable on the artificial reefs and natural bottom in 40-70 feet of water. Slow-trolled blue runners are producing daily action.
Red snapper, gag, and red grouper all open June 1 in federal Gulf waters (verify NOAA). The offshore fleet is preparing for the heavy snapper-grouper season.
What’s Ahead
The new moon is June 5 — expect strong tarpon push and active inshore bite cycles. Federal snapper-grouper season opens June 1. Water temperatures climbing into the upper 80s.
For this weekend: Boca Grande tarpon on the morning tide stages, beach snook at dawn and dusk, mahi runs in calm windows.
Tight lines.