May 2026 — Naples / Marco Island: Tarpon in the 10,000 Islands, snook and redfish in the backcountry. May is a late spring month with water in the 74–80°F range — tarpon arriving on beaches; snook and redfish on the flats; nearshore action picks up. Here’s the full breakdown of what’s biting, where to fish, and the most productive tactics for this month.
What’s Biting — May 2026
Primary targets this month: Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Permit.
Tarpon
Peak tarpon season. Fish are stacked on the beaches off Naples and Marco, Gordon Pass, Capri Pass, Big Marco Pass, and the Ten Thousand Islands backcountry rivers (Faka Union, Pumpkin). At Boca Grande, the pre-dawn anchor bite with live crabs and threadfin herring during outgoing tide is legendary — also pass-jigging with 2–4 oz nylon jigs in 35–40 feet. Beach tarpon: live pass crabs, threadfin, and slow-trolled DOA Bait Busters along the beach in 10–25 feet. Use 60–80 lb leader and 6/0–8/0 circle hooks.
Snook
Snook season is closed for harvest in Florida — catch-and-release only this month. Target the mangrove shorelines of the Ten Thousand Islands, Marco River, Rookery Bay, Naples Bay docks, Gordon Pass jetties, and Doctor’s Pass for fun. Handle fish carefully and release quickly.
Redfish
Summer redfish are in the back bays of the Ten Thousand Islands, Rookery Bay, Coon Key, Goodland flats, and the shorelines south of Marco Island. Fish dawn and dusk hard — once the sun gets high and water hits 85°F+, bites slow significantly. Live pinfish, cut ladyfish, and topwater walking baits at first light are top producers. Tailing fish on grass flats around the new and full moons.
Permit
Permit on the Gulf flats off Marco and Naples in 6–15 feet of clear water, especially around grass edges and channel edges. Sight-fish them on the flats with live blue crabs or small crabs on a 1/0–2/0 circle hook with 20 lb fluorocarbon leader. They are extremely spooky — long casts, soft presentations, and patient stalking are critical.
Water Conditions & Patterns
Water temperatures are running 74–80°F. Tarpon arriving on beaches; snook and redfish on the flats; nearshore action picks up. Ten Thousand Islands fishing is heavily tide-driven — the backcountry rivers fish best on the first two hours of outgoing tide as bait flushes out. Beach tarpon are typically most active two hours either side of high tide.
Check the NOAA marine forecast and tide charts before launching. Wind direction matters more than wind speed for inshore fishing — east winds tend to push clean water in, while strong westerlies can muddy the bays.
Tactics & Tackle for This Month
- Early and late. The 5 AM to 9 AM window and 6 PM to dark are gold; midday water temps push fish deep or into shade.
- Live bait season. Cast-net pilchards, scaled sardines, and threadfins for snook, tarpon, and snapper. Chum with a few live ones to start a feed.
- Storm awareness. Afternoon thunderstorms develop fast — check radar before and during trips. Get off the water at the first thunder.
May Outlook
Tarpon season builds rapidly — by late May, fish are stacked on the major passes and beaches. Snook, redfish, and seatrout are in spring spawning patterns.
Regulations Reminder
Snook: 28–33″ slot (Atlantic), 28–33″ slot (Gulf), one fish per angler per day; seasonal closures apply (typically Dec 15–Jan 31 and Jun 1–Aug 31 on Gulf; Dec 15–Jan 31 and Jun 1–Aug 31 on Atlantic — verify current FWC dates). Snook stamp required. Redfish: 18–27″ slot, one per angler per day (verify current FWC zone-specific rules). Tarpon: Catch-and-release only — tarpon over 40″ must remain in the water. Tarpon tag required to possess a fish for state record. Permit: 11–22″ slot in most zones, one per day, special permit tag required for some waters; verify FWC current rules. Always verify the current FWC regulations at myfwc.com before your trip — sizes, bag limits, and season dates change.
Local Resources
Bait & Tackle: Mangrove Outfitters (Naples, 239-793-3370); Sunshine Ace Hardware (Bonita Springs); Walker’s Coon Key (Goodland, 239-642-2400).
Public Boat Ramps: Caxambas Pass (south Marco), Goodland (Coon Key Pass), Bayview Park (Naples Bay), Cocohatchee River (Vanderbilt), Port of the Islands (Faka Union).
Charter Fishing: $500–$800 inshore (Ten Thousand Islands, Naples Bay); $700–$1,200 beach tarpon; $1,000–$1,800 nearshore/offshore. Book ahead during cobia migration (March–April), red snapper opener (June), and the fall run (October–November).
More Naples / Marco Island Resources
Naples / Marco Island Fishing Guide · Naples / Marco Island Seasonal Calendar · All Naples / Marco Island reports →
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