Naples / Marco Island Fishing Report — February 2026
Peak sheepshead month in Southwest Florida.
Inshore & Nearshore Fishing
Sheepshead excellent on all hard structure throughout Naples Bay and the Marco Island canal system. Seatrout on grass flats. Backcountry snook in creek systems.
Offshore Fishing
Nearshore grouper and sea bass.
Top Techniques This Month
Sheepshead: Fiddler crabs on a 1/0 hook, 10 lb fluorocarbon leader, patience required.
Fishing Outlook
Good to excellent for sheepshead.
Regulations
Sheepshead: 12″ minimum. Verify current regulations at state fishing regulations.
Plan Your Trip
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Sheepshead Peak Season
February in Naples and Marco Island means sheepshead. The peak of the convict fish run is now, and every bridge piling, oyster bar, and dock in the system is loaded with pre-spawn fish stacked tight to structure. The Marco Island Causeway, the bridges of Naples Bay, the Capri Pass jetties, and the deep dock pilings of the back canals are all producing. Fiddler crabs on a 1/0 jighead is the gold standard rig. Live shrimp also produces but smaller fish hit them faster. Set the hook on any pressure — sheepshead suck the bait in rather than biting it, so timing is everything. Trophy fish over 5 lbs are common this month.
Snook in Winter Pattern
Snook are in winter mode — schooled tight in the deepest warmest water available. The back canals of Naples, the Cocohatchee River, the deeper bayou pockets behind Marco, and the warm-water effluent areas hold concentrations. Live shrimp on a slip-cork or small pilchards fished slow is the productive approach. The bite is slow on cold-front days; fish the warming trends. Most of February’s snook catch is catch-and-release territory — handle gently.
Trout in Creeks, Redfish Staging
Spotted trout are in their winter pattern — deep holes in creek mouths, warmer pockets of back bays. The deeper grass flats of the 10,000 Islands and Rookery Bay are holding fish. Slow-rolled soft plastics on a 1/4 oz jighead near the bottom is the textbook approach. Gator trout over 22 inches show in February more than any other month. Redfish are schooled in the back lakes and along oyster bars in the warmest pockets. Sight-casting on calm afternoons is the technique.
Local Hotspots
Marco Island Causeway pilings — sheepshead through the month. Big Marco River back canals for snook concentrations. Capri Pass at slack tide for trophy convicts. Rookery Bay back lakes at low tide for tailing reds on calm sunny afternoons. The 10,000 Islands deeper channels for warming-tide trout. Cocohatchee River for snook in the deeper pockets.
Conditions, Ramps, Regs
Water temps 60–65°F. Florida saltwater license required. Sheepshead 12-inch min, 8-fish bag, no closed season. Snook stamp for harvest, slot 28–32 inches, 1-fish bag — consider catch-and-release in cold water. Trout slot 15–19 inches, 5-fish bag. Top ramps: Caxambas Park ramp (Marco), Naples City Dock ramp (downtown), Cocohatchee Park ramp (north). Tight lines.
Boat Ramps and Winter Strategy
Caxambas Park boat ramp on Marco Island is the fastest launch for the 10,000 Islands and the south Naples backwaters. Goodland Boat Park is a close second for 10K access. Naples City Dock ramp gets you to Naples Bay and the inside passes. Cocohatchee Park ramp on the north end for the Cocohatchee River and Wiggins Pass area. Shore anglers can fish the Marco Island Causeway, Capri Pass jetties, and the Naples Pier for sheepshead. February cold fronts cycle every 5-7 days; fish the post-front warming days. Bundled dawn fishing is when the sheepshead boil. Tight lines.