Naples and Marco Island fishing report for the week of September 24, 2026. This is a great time of year to fish the southwest coast. The water is just beginning to cool from summer highs, the bait is thick in the passes, and the Saturday full moon is producing the strong tides that get the redfish moving in the backcountry.
What’s Hitting
This week, the redfish are the story. Schools of slot fish and a few over-slot reds are pushing onto the oyster bars and mangrove points in the Ten Thousand Islands on the high tides. Snook are feeding at the passes and starting to move toward the backcountry creeks, and speckled trout are on the grass flats in Rookery Bay and around Marco. Mangrove snapper are thick around the docks and bridges, and a few juvenile tarpon are rolling in the backcountry.
Where to Find Them
For redfish, work the oyster bars and mangrove points in the Ten Thousand Islands, from Goodland south toward Everglades City, on the high incoming tide. Snook are at Gordon Pass, Wiggins Pass, Caxambas Pass, and Big Marco Pass on the outgoing tide. Trout are on the grass flats in 3 to 5 feet in Rookery Bay and inside Marco Island. For mangrove snapper, fish the docks and bridges along the Naples Bay and the Marco River.
Tides & Conditions
The full moon on Saturday means big tides, and the high water is pushing redfish deep into the mangroves. The best bite has been on the last half of the incoming and the first of the outgoing. Water temps are in the mid-80s and slowly falling. Afternoon thunderstorms are still possible, so plan to be off the water early.
Tackle & Tactics
For redfish, cut pinfish or ladyfish on a circle hook, fished on the edge of the oyster bars, is hard to beat. A gold spoon or a soft plastic on a light jig head also works well. For snook at the passes, a live pilchard free-lined on the outgoing tide or a swimbait bounced along the bottom is the go-to. For trout, a popping cork with a live shrimp over the grass flats is a classic setup.
Local Intel This Week
The Bayview Park ramp in Naples, the Caxambas Park ramp on Marco Island, and the Goodland ramp provide good access to the passes and the Ten Thousand Islands. Shore anglers can fish the Naples Pier and the Marco Island jetty. Fish are concentrating on the oyster bars and mangrove points on the high tides and at the passes on the outgoing. Much of the Ten Thousand Islands lies within a National Wildlife Refuge and Everglades National Park, so check current FWC and federal regulations, slot sizes, and seasons before keeping fish.
This Week’s Tip
When fishing the backcountry for redfish on a high tide, look for small mangrove points with moving water. The reds will set up on the down-current side waiting for bait to wash past. Cast your bait up-current and let it drift naturally to the point.
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