The passes around Sanibel and Captiva are loaded this week. Tarpon have stacked in the passes and along the beaches, and snook line the beach troughs in the heart of the summer program.
What’s Hitting
Tarpon are the main event, rolling in Captiva and Redfish passes and marching the beaches at first light. Snook have filled the beach troughs and pass edges. Mangrove snapper are thick on the passes and around the causeway, and redfish are working the backcountry bars.
Where to Find Them
Fish the pass mouths at Captiva and Redfish passes and the beachfront off Sanibel for tarpon on the moving tide. Snook line the beach troughs and hold on the pass edges. The backcountry bars in Pine Island Sound give up reds and snook on the low.
Tides & Conditions
Water temps are in the mid-80s. Early morning and late evening are the prime windows before the daily afternoon storms. A strong moving tide through the passes is key for the tarpon and snook. Calm mornings open the beach sight-fishing. The pass crabs that ride out on the strong outgoing tides are the prime tarpon forage right now, with the best flushes on the days around the full and new moons. Pilchards and threadfins are thick over the grass and around the causeway, so net a well of fresh bait early before the passes get busy with boat traffic.
Tackle & Tactics
Tarpon eat a live pass crab or a threadfin on a 6/0 circle with 50–60 lb leader. Snook take a live scaled sardine or a white swimbait in the troughs. Snapper hit shrimp and cut bait on a knocker rig; backcountry reds eat a gold spoon or a cut bait on the bars.
Local Intel This Week
The Punta Rassa ramp at the Sanibel Causeway and the Bay Oaks ramp on Fort Myers Beach are the main public accesses. Tarpon are concentrating in Captiva and Redfish passes and along the Sanibel beaches, snook on the pass edges and beach troughs. Always check current FWC/state and federal regulations and open seasons before keeping any fish — bag and size limits change through the summer.
This Week’s Tip
When the tarpon are rolling on a hard outgoing in the passes, fish a crab right in the middle of the flushing water rather than off to the side. The tide funnels crabs and bait through the guts of the pass, and that’s exactly where the fish set up to feed.