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Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Englewood fishing guide
Englewood fishes Lemon Bay, a narrow bay along the Intracoastal Waterway that opens to the Gulf at Stump Pass, plus the flats of Placida, Gasparilla Sound and the Cape Haze bar just south. Where Boca Grande is built around a deep tarpon pass, Englewood is mostly small-water fishing: docks and mangroves for snook, reds and snapper, grass flats for trout, and the beaches near Stump Pass. Kings and Spanish mackerel run the Gulf beaches in fall, and bottom fish sit on hard bottom and wrecks offshore.
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 Englewood. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Englewood, Lemon Bay, 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 Bonita Beach to Englewood FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Englewood. Depths, channels, reefs and markers, live from NOAA.
The NOAA chart loads when you scroll here.
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 Fort Myers Fishing Reports (opens in a new tab) Fishin' Frank's place-by-place fishing report (opens in a new tab) Captain Experiences Englewood 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.
20 ft, what is biting
What is biting, month by month
When each fish is at its best around Englewood. This month is marked.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redfish | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak |
| Snook | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Spotted seatrout | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak |
| Tarpon | Slow | Slow | Slow | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Slow |
| King mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Slow |
| Mangrove snapper | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Pompano | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Slow | Slow |
| Sheepshead | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow |
| Grouper (gag and red) | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Slow |
Redfish
Peak: March, April, May, October, November, December
Work Lemon Bay docks and mangroves, and the bushes, oyster bars and mullet schools in Gasparilla Sound, Bull Bay and Turtle Bay.
Snook
Peak: March, April, October, November
Spring fish spawn in the passes and along the beaches, then move back to docks, mangroves and canals in the fall; dawn and dusk are best.
Spotted seatrout
Peak: January, February, December
Shallow grass in Lemon Bay and Gasparilla Sound in warm months, deeper grass and holes after cold fronts.
Tarpon
Peak: April, May, June
The spring run peaks April to June, and post-spawn fish hang around Gasparilla Pass and the harbor into fall.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: November
The fall run works the beaches, passes and the ICW; look for diving birds and busting bait.
King mackerel
Peak: November
Smaller kings show from a mile or two off the beach out to 30 miles, and big ones come on live blue runners or threadfins over wrecks and ledges.
Mangrove snapper
Small ones around Lemon Bay docks and the Chadwick Park pier, bigger fish on Gulf wrecks and reefs in 30 to 70 feet in October.
Pompano
Fish sandy beaches, oyster bars and grass edges such as the Cape Haze bar.
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, March
Around oyster bars, seawalls and docks, moving to nearshore rocks, reefs and markers to spawn in late winter and early spring.
Grouper (gag and red)
Bottom fish on Gulf hard bottom, reefs and wrecks, but gag harvest in 2026 was only open in September.
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), fall
Remaining open days: 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. Earlier fall days ran Sept. 23 to Oct. 4 and Oct. 9 to 25.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
Recreational season was open Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1. FWC says this matches the season NOAA set for adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Recreational season was open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13 and 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, Charlotte Harbor region
Harvest is closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Sept. 30, so harvest is open in March, April, October and November. Keeping one also requires a snook permit.
FWC, current (standing rule) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red drum, Charlotte Harbor region
Open year-round. Bag, slot and vessel limits are set by region, check FWC.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Charlotte Harbor region
Open year-round under the new regional rules FWC adopted in 2026.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Catch and release only statewide. Fish over 40 inches must stay in the water unless you hold a tarpon tag for a record attempt.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
40 ft, where to fish
Where to fish
- Bay
Lemon Bay docks and mangroves
Docks and mangroves hold mangrove snapper, small black drum, redfish and snook, with trout on the grassy areas.
- Pass
Stump Pass and Stump Pass Beach
Lemon Bay's Gulf outlet; the beach side has given up whiting, small snook, baby black drum and overslot redfish, best early and late.
- Pier
Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park pier
Mangrove snapper and some snook around the pilings this fall.
- Flats
Cape Haze Bar
Pompano, trout, ladyfish and bluefish on the bar, with redfish and snook along the shoreline at the edge of the trough.
- Flats
Gasparilla Sound, Bull Bay and Turtle Bay
Redfish under the mangroves and with mullet schools, snook under the bushes and trout on the deeper grass around Three Sisters.
- Flats
The West Wall and McCall flats
Redfish on the south half and snook along the treeline in the deeper spots.
- Bridge
Placida trestle and Gasparilla Pass
Small mangrove snapper and grunts on the trestle, with tarpon and snook hanging in the pass.
50 ft, launch and piers
Ramps and piers
Public launches and fishing piers. Fees and hours change, so check the link before you tow.
| Name | Type | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ainger Creek Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 2011 Placida Rd., Englewood, FL |
| Placida Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 6499 Gasparilla Rd., Placida, FL 33946 |
| Indian Mound Park (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Free | 299 Winston Ave., Englewood, FL |
| Eldred's Marina ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 6301 Boca Grande Causeway, Placida, FL 33946 |
| Centennial Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | 14021 Gasparilla Road, Placida, FL 33946 |
| Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park fishing pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park, Englewood, FL |
| Coral Creek Fishing Pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | CR 775 and Fishery Rd., Placida, FL |
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 (3)
Showing all 3 shops
- MarinaLive bait
Eldred's Marina
Call to ask what bait is in today.
6301 Boca Grande Causeway, Placida, FL 33946
On the Boca Grande Causeway before the toll; boat ramp and bait shop with a daily selection of live bait, cash only with an ATM on site.
- Marina
Stump Pass Marina
260 Maryland Ave., Englewood, FL 34224
Full-service Lemon Bay marina with a fuel dock and ship store, minutes from Stump Pass Beach State Park.
- Marina
Gasparilla Marina
Large deep-water marina in Placida with fuel, bait, a ship store and fishing charters.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| Capt. Van Hubbard (opens in a new tab) | Inshore |
| Gulfcoast Anglers (Capt. Mark Freeman) (opens in a new tab) | Fly |
| Outcast Charter Company (Capt. Chris Newberry) (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
World's Richest Tarpon Tournament (Boca Grande) (opens in a new tab)
usually mid to late May
2027: May 20 and 21Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament (Boca Grande) (opens in a new tab)
usually early May, at the start of tarpon season
2026: May 8
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Englewood, asked and answered
Can I keep a snook in Englewood right now?
Englewood is in FWC's Charlotte Harbor snook region, where harvest is closed Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Sept. 30. That leaves March, April, October and November open, and you need a snook permit along with your saltwater license.
Where can I fish from a pier near Englewood?
The Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park pier gives up mangrove snapper and some snook around the pilings this fall. Centennial Fishing Pier is on Gasparilla Road in Placida, and the Coral Creek pier is at CR 775 and Fishery Road in Placida.
Where can I launch a boat near Englewood?
Ainger Creek Park on Placida Road and Placida Park on Gasparilla Road are Charlotte County ramps, Indian Mound Park on Winston Avenue is on Lemon Bay, and Eldred's Marina on the Boca Grande Causeway has a ramp with live bait.
When is the best redfish fishing around Englewood?
October through December and March through May are the peak months. Look along Lemon Bay docks and mangroves, and in Gasparilla Sound, Bull Bay and Turtle Bay where reds push along the bushes and travel with mullet schools.
When can I keep red snapper out of Englewood this fall?
The private recreational Gulf season reopens Oct. 30 to Nov. 1, then runs on set weekends and holidays through Jan. 4, 2027. Check FWC for the State Reef Fish Angler sign-up required for certain reef fish from a private boat.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Englewood
Sources for this guide (21), last checked 2026-10-27
- bocagrandechamber.com/ladies-day-tarpon-tournament/ (opens in a new tab)
- bocagrandechamber.com/worlds-richest-tarpon-tournament/ (opens in a new tab)
- gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/charlotte_harbor/pages/boat_ramps.html (opens in a new tab)
- gis.myfwc.com/boating_guides/charlotte_harbor/pages/sport_fish.html (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/red-drum/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/snook/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/spotted-seatrout/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/tarpon/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gag-grouper-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/gray-triggerfish-0226/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/greater-amberjack-0826/ (opens in a new tab)
- myfwc.com/news/all-news/recreational-red-snapper-0926/ (opens in a new tab)
- stumppassmarina.com/ (opens in a new tab)
- charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/community-services/facilities-status.stml (opens in a new tab)
- fishinfranks.com/fishin_report.htm (opens in a new tab)
- pureflorida.com/blog/post/lets-go-fishing-bait-tackle-marinas-from-punta-gorda-to-englewoo (opens in a new tab)
- pureflorida.com/blog/post/lets-go-fishing-top-species-to-catch-in-charlotte-harbor/ (opens in a new tab)
- pureflorida.com/listings/captain-van-hubbard/356/ (opens in a new tab)
- pureflorida.com/listings/gulfcoast-anglers/4574/ (opens in a new tab)
- pureflorida.com/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-forecast/fishing-forecast-october/ (opens in a new tab)
- pureflorida.com/things-to-do/fishing/florida-friendly-fishing-guides/ (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Englewood
UPF 50+ fishing shirts, hats and gloves for the Gulf Coast. Free shipping over $100. Ships from Texas, usually within 1 to 2 business days.