Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida

Chokoloskee fishing guide

Chokoloskee is a 137-acre island on the south side of Chokoloskee Bay, just across the bridge from Everglades City, and it is the jumping-off point for the southern half of the Ten Thousand Islands. Everglades City sits up on the Barron River with the Turner and the northern rivers and islands closest at hand; from Chokoloskee the short run is south through Chokoloskee Pass to the Lopez, Chatham, Houston and Lostman's rivers and the 99-mile Wilderness Waterway to Flamingo. Locals fish the river mouths, oyster bars and deep pass holes for snook, redfish, trout and tarpon, add sheepshead, black drum and cobia when it cools off, and run to nearshore structure for permit, snapper and goliath. Almost everything south of the island is Everglades National Park water, so park limits and a park pass apply, and the marine forecast zone is East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee, not the Everglades City to Bonita zone.

Conditions now
Chart and depths
Fishing reports
What is biting
Seasons and rules
Where to fish
Ramps and piers
Bait and charters
Events
Questions

10 ft, conditions now

Conditions now

Live from NOAA and the National Weather Service. Times show in your own time zone.

Today’s bite

A forecast built from live data and the calendar below. Not a catch report.

Working out today from the tides, water and calendar.

Tides

Loading the next highs and lows from NOAA.

On the water now

Water: Checking
Wind: Checking

Marine forecast

Loading the National Weather Service forecast.

7 day forecast

National Weather Service, for Chokoloskee. Updates through the day.

Loading the 7 day forecast.

NOAA tides, Chokoloskee, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Fort Myers, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS 7 day forecast (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)

12 ft, the chart

Chart and depths

The official NOAA chart, centered on Chokoloskee. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.

The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.

NOAA electronic navigational chart: soundings, depth contours, channels, markers and hazards. Zoom in to see more soundings. Not for navigation. Open NOAA ENC Online

15 ft, fishing reports

Fishing reports

What people are catching, on what, and where. Every report links to whoever wrote it. We do not write these ourselves.

Latest reports

From local captains, shops and outdoor writers. Newest first, last 14 days.

Checking the latest reports.

Report sources: Coastal Angler Naples Fishing Forecasts (opens in a new tab) Visit Everglades City Fishing Report (Capt. Mike Merritt) (opens in a new tab) Captain Experiences Chokoloskee Bay guide reports (opens in a new tab)

Straight from the dock

Reports sent to us by shops and captains on this guide. We check each one before it posts.

Checking for reports.

Run a shop or charter here? Send a report

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

When each fish is at its best around Chokoloskee. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Chokoloskee. Peak, good and slow months for each species.
Species	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Snook	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good
Spotted seatrout	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak
Tarpon	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow	Slow
Mangrove snapper	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Slow
Sheepshead	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak
Black drum	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak
Cobia	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak
Permit	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow
Goliath grouper	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow

Snook
Peak: April, May, June, October, November
Snook hole up in the backcountry rivers and creeks during cold fronts and spread back out to the river mouths and islands as the water warms, with big females inshore in summer.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Redfish
Peak: September, October, November
The big fall schools that used to show in late August now tend to arrive in September or October, and summer can be thin; work oyster bars and mangrove points on the moving tide.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout
Peak: January, February, March, December
Trout sit on the grass flats off the outside islands, and live shrimp has been the steady bait through the winter fronts.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: May, June, July, August
Small resident tarpon live in the rivers, and big fish move into the passes as the water warms and roam the trout flats all summer.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mangrove snapper
Peak: June, July, August
Fish the deep rock holes in summer and expect a goliath to grab some of them on the way up.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, December
Sheepshead pile into the rock holes and onto the oyster bars after the cold fronts, and live shrimp on an incoming tide is the local play.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Black drum
Peak: January, February, December
The biggest black drum move into the deep island passes in the cooler months.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia
Peak: January, February, December
Cobia slide into the passes in the cool months and also hang on nearshore structure within sight of land.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Permit
Peak: May, June
Permit were strong inshore in May and June in 2026 and mostly gone from the inside by July; the rest of the year look on nearshore structure.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Goliath grouper
Peak: June, July, August
Goliaths stack up in the deep passes and rock holes in the warm months and are catch and release only without an FWC harvest permit.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)

30 ft, seasons and rules

Seasons and rules

Open and close dates we could confirm from official sources, plus where to check limits before you keep a fish.

Red snapper, Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational)
Remaining 2026 dates: Oct. 30 to Nov. 1; Nov. 7 to 8, 14 to 15 and 21 to 22; Nov. 26 to 29; Dec. 5 to 6, 12 to 13 and 19 to 20; Dec. 25 to 27; and Jan. 1 to 4, 2027. For-hire boats without a federal permit are limited to Gulf state waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state and federal waters (excluding Monroe County state waters)
Open Sept. 1 to 30, 2026; closed from Oct. 1 for the rest of the year.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Black, red and other shallow-water grouper, Gulf
Open year-round in Gulf state waters; in Gulf federal waters, red, black, scamp, yellowfin and yellowmouth grouper are closed Feb. 1 to March 31 seaward of the 20-fathom break.
FWC, current FWC rule (annual) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13, 2026; closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 14, matching adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gray triggerfish, Gulf state and federal waters
Open March 1 to May 31 and Aug. 1 to Dec. 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Snook, Southwest region (includes all Everglades National Park waters)
Closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Sept. 30; open the rest of the year. A snook permit is required to keep one.
FWC, current FWC rule (annual) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Hogfish, Gulf state waters
Open year-round in Gulf state waters and in Gulf federal waters north of Cape Sable.
FWC, current FWC rule Official page (opens in a new tab)
Goliath grouper
Harvest prohibited without a permit from the FWC Goliath Harvest Program.
FWC, current FWC rule Official page (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Catch and release only, year-round. Fish over 40 inches must stay in the water unless you hold a tarpon tag for a record attempt.
FWC, current FWC rule Official page (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Everglades National Park

A Florida saltwater license is required in park waters, and a snook permit is required on top of the license to keep a snook.
Inside Everglades National Park you may possess no more than 20 fish per person at any time and no more than 10 of any one species, with no limit on non-native species.
Taking or possessing lobster and queen conch is prohibited in the park, and digging for bait is not allowed.
Park waters limit shrimp to 5 gallons heads on per person or vessel, whichever is less, and fish may not be filleted in the park except at designated cleaning stations or for cooking on board or at campsites.
Fishing is prohibited at the park's Gulf Coast (Everglades City) marina and boat ramp from sunrise to sunset.
Fish or gear that is legal outside but not in park waters may only be carried through Indian Key, Sand Fly, Rabbit Key and Chokoloskee passes and across Chokoloskee Bay, on the most direct route to or from Everglades City, Chokoloskee Island or Fakahatchee Bay.
Anglers 16 and older fishing for certain reef fish from a private vessel need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation, renewed every year.
Collier County waters are under Gulf rules for grouper, hogfish and other reef fish, not the Atlantic rules that cover Monroe County.
Visit Everglades City notes that a park pass is required to fish in the park.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-27

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Pass
Chokoloskee Pass
The main run from Chokoloskee into park waters, and like the other island passes it scours holes that can top 20 feet and hold drum, cobia and goliath.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Chokoloskee Bay
The bay between the island and Everglades City is the designated transit route in and out of the park, lined with oyster bars and mangrove islands.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Marsh
South rivers: Lopez, Chatham, Houston and Lostman's
Tannic backcountry rivers fed by bays and creeks, with oyster-bar river mouths that hold snook, redfish and resident tarpon.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Channel
Wilderness Waterway
The marked 99-mile park boating trail from the Chokoloskee area to Flamingo, running through the backcountry bays and rivers.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Flats
Outside barrier island flats
Grass flats off the isolated outer beaches where locals sight fish snook, redfish, trout and pompano.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
Deep rock holes
Summer snapper and goliath spots, sometimes six or eight goliaths out of one hole.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
Nearshore structure
Natural and artificial bottom within sight of land that holds cobia, snook, goliath, mackerel, kingfish, snapper and permit.
Source (opens in a new tab)

50 ft, launch and piers

Ramps and piers

Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.

Public boat ramps and fishing piers around Chokoloskee
Name	Type	Fee	Where
The Fishing Hole boat ramp (Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee) (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	316 Smallwood Dr, Chokoloskee, FL
Chokoloskee Island Park and Marina ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	Chokoloskee, FL
Everglades Bait Tackle and Marina ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	200 Collier Ave, Everglades City, FL 34139

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Where to get live and fresh bait, tackle and a guide. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle (4)

Showing all 4 shops

Bait and tackleLive bait
Everglades Bait Tackle and Marina
Bait: live bait
200 Collier Ave, Everglades City, FL 34139
Across the causeway in Everglades City; live bait, tackle and marine supplies, with a boat ramp, trailer parking and overnight floating dockage.
Call (239) 695-0202 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Source (opens in a new tab)
Marina
Chokoloskee Island Park and Marina
Marina store sells ice, bait and tackle, with a boat ramp on the property and guides who pick up from the marina; open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Marina
Parkway Motel & Marina
Bait: frozen shrimp
1180 Chokoloskee Dr, Chokoloskee, FL
Chokoloskee marina selling ice, frozen shrimp, tackle, snacks and marine grade fuel, with boat lifts and overnight slips.
Call (239) 695-3261 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Website (opens in a new tab) Source (opens in a new tab)
Bait and tackle
Everglades Fishing Company
Everglades City outfitter shop run by a charter captain, selling bait and tackle, fuel and groceries and renting boats and kayaks.
Source (opens in a new tab)

Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Chokoloskee
Charter	Fishing
Chokoloskee Charters (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Captain Rapps' Charters and Guides (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Everglades Fishing Company (Capt. Jimmy Wheeler) (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Capt. Mike Merritt (opens in a new tab)	Inshore

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.

RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament (Conservancy of Southwest Florida) (opens in a new tab)
usually late October
2026: October 23 to 25, fishing Oct. 24 and 25, with a Chokoloskee launch site at Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee, 100 Smallwood Drive
Nate Edwards Annual Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
late October (5th annual in 2026)
2026: listed on the Visit Everglades City calendar starting October 23

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Chokoloskee, asked and answered

What is different about fishing out of Chokoloskee instead of Everglades City?

Chokoloskee sits on the south side of Chokoloskee Bay, so it is the shorter run through Chokoloskee Pass to the southern rivers like the Lopez, Chatham, Houston and Lostman's and the Wilderness Waterway. Most of that water is Everglades National Park, so park limits apply, and the NWS forecast zone is East Cape Sable to Chokoloskee (GMZ657).

Do I need anything besides a Florida license to fish south of Chokoloskee?

You need a Florida saltwater license, a snook permit if you want to keep a snook, and the park says to follow its own rules: no more than 20 fish in possession and 10 of any one species, no lobster or queen conch, and no digging bait. Visit Everglades City notes a park pass is also required.

Can I keep a snook at Chokoloskee right now?

Chokoloskee is in FWC's Southwest snook region, which reopened Oct. 1 and closes again Dec. 1 through the end of February. You need a snook permit with your license.

What bites around Chokoloskee in winter?

Sheepshead and black drum move into the rock holes, passes and oyster bars after the cold fronts, trout work the flats, and snook pull back into the backcountry rivers. Live shrimp has been the steady bait through the fronts, fished on an incoming tide for sheepshead.

Where can I get live tides for Chokoloskee?

NOAA tide prediction station 8724919 is at Chokoloskee itself. It does not report water temperature or wind, so the closest NOAA station with those readings is Fort Myers, 8725520.

Where do I launch at Chokoloskee?

The Fishing Hole ramp at Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee on Smallwood Drive charges for launching and overnight parking, and Chokoloskee Island Park and Marina has a ramp on its property. Everglades Bait Tackle and Marina in Everglades City also has a ramp with trailer parking.

90 ft, the kit