Fishing Charters
FISHING CHARTERS
The charter fishing in Sanibel Island and Fort Myers is amazing, with thousands of acres of shallow water to fish. You could spend a lifetime exploring the mangrove shorelines, oyster bars, sand shoals and grass flats. Our estuaries are teaming with life. Very few places can boast such biodiversity, with so many different species of fish calling Southwest Florida home Tarpon, Redfish, Flounder, Trout, Snapper, Grouper, Shark, Bluefish, Sheephead, Mackerel and Snook just to name a few. The hardest part of fishing here is deciding what to fish for. Our native fishing guides offer generations of local fishing knowledge. Accommodating anglers of all skill levels. We won't just put you on the fish, our guides will explain strategy and technique. We strive to make your fishing charter one to remember.
Fishing Rates
(Rates Are For Up To 4 Passengers)
($50.00 For The 5th & 6th Passengers)
4 Hours = $500.00
5 Hours = $625.00
6 Hours = $750.00
7 Hours = $875.00
8 Hours = $1000.00
($50.00 For The 5th & 6th Passengers)
4 Hours = $500.00
5 Hours = $625.00
6 Hours = $750.00
7 Hours = $875.00
8 Hours = $1000.00
Artificial Lure Fishing Charters
4 passenger max
While live bait fishing is more productive, to the purest there is nothing like the satisfaction of fooling the fish in to taking your offering. We have so many aggressive species of fish that will readily strike a lure. Topwater plugs, scented soft plastics, jigs and jerk baits are local favorites. With so many new products on the market the possibilities are endless. Got a favorite lure feel free to bring it. No matter your skill level our guides will keep a bend in your rod, sharing techniques from skipping under docks and mangroves to deep water presentation.
Fishing Rates
(Rates Are For Up To 4 Passengers)
($50.00 For The 5th & 6th Passengers)
4 Hours = $500.00
5 Hours = $625.00
6 Hours = $750.00
7 Hours = $875.00
8 Hours = $1000.00
($50.00 For The 5th & 6th Passengers)
4 Hours = $500.00
5 Hours = $625.00
6 Hours = $750.00
7 Hours = $875.00
8 Hours = $1000.00
Sea Trout
Seatrout found inshore and nearshore around Sanibel Island and Fort Myers are usually around seagrass meadows, mangrove-fringed shorelines, deep holes and channels and above oyster bars. Free-line live shrimp or small pinfish or white bait near the bottom to entice trout out of grass-bed holes. Attaching a float will allow these baits to drift over the grass beds as you search for trout. Casting with soft-bodied jigs, top-water poppers and spoons can be effective. Sanibel trout are very delicate, so returning unwanted or illegal fish promptly to the water is necessary to maintain a healthy population. spotted seatrout are a good eating fish.
Redfish
Red drum, also called redfish or reds are one of Sanibel Island and Fort Myers most popular sport fish and the state’s most widespread estuarine fish. Red drum are named after the "drumming" sound the make during spawning and when taken out of the water. The sound is produced by muscles rubbing against the inflated air bladder. Red drum inhabit the nearshore and offshore waters of Sanibel Island, Fort Myers, Captiva Island and Cape Coral. Juvenile red drum inhabit rivers, bays, canals, tidal creeks, and passes in estuaries for up to four years, after which they usually move to nearshore or open ocean waters as adults. Red drum in Sanibel Island and Fort Myers can reach lengths of 45 inches and weigh up to 51 pounds. The oldest recorded red drum in Sanibel Island and Fort Myers was aged at 40 years. Floating a live shrimp under a popping cork is a good way to fish for red drum. They also chase crabs, mullet and pinfish. Casting soft-bodied jigs, spoons and even top-water plugs will catch the attention of these powerful estuarine musicians. Redfish make great table fare.
Snook
There are five different species of snook that inhabit Sanibel Island and Fort Myers waters: common snook, small-scale fat snook, large-scale fat snook, swordspine snook, and tarpon snook. The most abundant of the five species, the common snook, was once designated as a species of special concern in Sanibel. Among other causes, good management and conservation measures have led to removal of this designation. In the past they were known as "soapfish" when some sections of the "soapy" tasting skin were left on the fillets due to poor cleaning practices. Snook can tolerate a wide range of salinity and may be found in fresh water. However, they are extremely sensitive to temperature and a strong, fast moving cold front through an area containing snook may claim many lives due to the rapid drop in water temperature.
Pompano
Florida pompano are common in inshore and nearshore waters around Sanibel Island and Fort Myers. Especially along sandy beaches, along oyster banks, and over grassbeds. They are often in turbid water and may be found in water as deep as 130 feet. Florida pompano feed on mollusks and crustaceans, especially sand fleas. Local movements are influenced by the tide, and seasonal movements are influenced by temperature.
Flounder
Gulf flounder are found inshore on sandy or mud bottoms and are often found in tidal creeks. They may also be caught occassionally on nearshore rocky reefs. Gulf flounder lie on the bottom often partially covered by sand or mud waiting for a prey to come near and then strike suddenly. Gulf flounder hatch with a typical fish form but the right eye migrates over to the left side early in life. Bottom fishing with a jig and live or cut bait can be effective; remember these are ambush predators. They can also be taken with a gig in shallow waters, especially at night. Excellent table fare.
Spanish Mackerel
Spanish mackerel are prevalent throughout Florida waters: inshore, offshore and nearshore. They are frequently found over grass beds and reefs. These mackerel are absent from north Florida waters in winter.
Spanish mackerel are a schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when water temperature drops below 70 degrees F. They spawns offshore from spring through summer and feeds on small fish and squid.
Spanish mackerel are a schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when water temperature drops below 70 degrees F. They spawns offshore from spring through summer and feeds on small fish and squid.
Tarpon
Tarpon can reach sizes up to 8 feet and can weigh up to 280 pounds. The life span of a tarpon can be in excess of 50 years. The oldest tarpon in captivity lived to be 63 years old. Due to its majestic appearance of size and color, the tarpon is nicknamed "silver king." Tarpon are primarily found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries, but they are also found in open marine waters, around coral reefs, and in some freshwater lakes and rivers. Because of its strength, stamina, and fighting ability, the tarpon is one of Florida's premier game fish. Tarpon have a special ability to gulp air at the surface when they are in a habitat that doesn't provide enough oxygen. Tarpon can only be fished recreationally in Florida. The majority of recreational anglers practice catch and release since the fish is not considered to be of any food value. However, anglers can possess them for trophy purposes at the cost of $50.00 per tag, per fish. Without this tag, possession is illegal.
Grouper
Groupers typically having a stout body and a large mouth. They are not built for long-distance, fast swimming. They can be quite large, and lengths over a yard and weights up to 100 pounds are not uncommon, though obviously in such a large group, species vary considerably. They swallow prey rather than biting pieces off it. They do not have many teeth on the edges of their jaws, but they have heavy crushing tooth plates inside their mouth. They habitually eat fish, octopuses and crustaceans. Some species prefer to ambush their pray while other species are active predators.
