Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida

Everglades City fishing guide

Everglades City and Chokoloskee are the gateway to the Ten Thousand Islands, a maze of mangrove islands, oyster bars, feeder creeks and rivers like the Barron, Turner, Lopez and Chatham that runs south into Everglades National Park. Guides split their days between the outside islands and grass flats on the Gulf side and the backcountry rivers, chasing snook, redfish, trout and tarpon, with sheepshead and black drum in winter and snapper and goliath grouper in the deep rock holes. Wind rules everything here, and strong southwest wind can make the outside unfishable.

Conditions now
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.

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.

NOAA tides, Everglades City, Barron River, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Fort Myers, FL (opens in a new tab) NWS marine forecast, Coastal waters from Chokoloskee to Bonita Beach FL out 20 NM (opens in a new tab)

20 ft, what is biting

What is biting, month by month

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

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

Snook
Peak: March, April, October, November
Snook move in from offshore in March and push into the backcountry rivers in winter, where locals plug the shorelines about two hours into the incoming tide.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Redfish
Peak: October, November
Reds show up strong in October on the outside islands and shorelines, then slide into the backcountry for winter, while summer can be thin.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout
Peak: January, February, March, December
Popping corks with a DOA shrimp or live shrimp on the flats around the islands, with big trout on the flats in March.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: June, July, August
Fish are around all summer and often show up on trout flats or while snook fishing, and some of the biggest pass through the islands in November.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Permit
Peak: May, June
Strong inshore in May and June, then mostly gone from the inside by late July.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mangrove snapper
Peak: July, August
Fish the deep rock holes in summer, and they mix in with sheepshead in winter.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, December
Shrimp inshore after the first cold fronts.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Black drum
Peak: January, February, December
Big schools move in when the water gets cold, a good fish for newer anglers.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Goliath grouper
Peak: June, July, August
They stack up in the deep rock holes in summer and will grab a snapper on the way up, so check FWC rules before thinking about keeping one.
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), summer
Summer season ran May 22 (Memorial Day weekend) through July 31. Private-vessel anglers must hold the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red snapper, Gulf state and federal waters (private recreational), fall
Open Sept. 1 to Oct. 4, then every day Oct. 9 to 22 (eight days added in September), Oct. 23 to 25, 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.
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, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf federal waters
Opened 12:01 a.m. Sept. 1 and closed 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1.
NOAA Fisheries, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
Recreational season open Sept. 1 through Oct. 13, closing 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. Closed June 1 to July 31.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Snook, Southwest region
Harvest is closed Dec. 1 through the end of February and May 1 through Sept. 30. In 2026 harvest closed May 1 and reopened Oct. 1. Keeping one also requires a snook permit.
FWC, 2026 (standing rule) Official page (opens in a new tab)
Red drum, Southwest region
Open year-round. Bag and slot vary by region, check FWC.
FWC, current Official page (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout, Southwest zone
Open year-round with no seasonal closure.
FWC, current 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)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

A snook permit is required on top of a saltwater license to keep a snook.
Anglers 16 and older fishing for certain reef fish from a private vessel need the free State Reef Fish Angler designation.
Tarpon is catch and release only, and fish over 40 inches must stay in the water.
Florida offers a free resident shoreline-only saltwater license, which is not valid from a boat.
Everglades City and Chokoloskee are in FWC's Southwest region for snook, red drum and spotted seatrout, which runs from near Vanderbilt Beach Road through the Keys and includes all Everglades National Park waters.
Inside Everglades National Park, licensed anglers may possess no more than 20 fish at a 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.
The park's Gulf Coast marina and boat ramp are closed to fishing from sunrise to sunset.
Fish or gear legal outside but not in park waters may only pass through certain passes, including Chokoloskee Pass, on the most direct route to or from Everglades City or Chokoloskee.
A park entrance pass is required for anglers fishing in Everglades National Park.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-26

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Flats
Ten Thousand Islands outside islands
Grass flats off the barrier islands for trout, redfish and snook, best when the wind lays down.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Marsh
Backcountry rivers (Barron, Turner, Lopez, Chatham and others)
Mangrove rivers and creeks where snook and redfish move for the winter.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Pass
Chokoloskee Pass
One of the designated routes in and out of park waters from Chokoloskee and Everglades City.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
Deep rock holes
Summer spots for mangrove snapper and goliath grouper, sometimes several goliaths in one hole.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Channel
Port of the Islands Park
Public park and fishing area about 45 minutes by boat through a no-wake canal to open water.
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 Everglades City
Name	Type	Fee	Where
Everglades Bait Tackle and Marina ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Check	200 Collier Ave, Everglades City, FL 34139
The Fishing Hole boat ramp (Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee) (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	316 Smallwood Dr, Chokoloskee, FL
Port of the Islands Marina (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	Port of the Islands, Naples, FL
Goodland Boating Park (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	740 Palm Point Drive, Marco Island, FL 34140
Goodland Boating Park fishing pier (opens in a new tab)	Pier	Check	740 Palm Point Drive, Marco Island, FL 34140

60 ft, bait, tackle and charters

Bait, tackle and charters

Local shops and guides. We are not paid to list anyone here.

Bait and tackle

Bait and tackle shops around Everglades City
Shop	Where	Phone
Everglades Bait Tackle and Marina (opens in a new tab)	200 Collier Ave, Everglades City, FL 34139	239-695-0202
Parkway Motel & Marina (opens in a new tab)	1180 Chokoloskee Dr, Chokoloskee, FL	239-695-3261

Charters and guides

Fishing charters and guides around Everglades City
Charter	Fishing
Chokoloskee Charters (Capt. Charles Wright) (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
Everglades City Fishing Charters (opens in a new tab)	Ask when you book
Captain Rapps (opens in a new tab)	Ask when you book
Hope Fishing Adventures (opens in a new tab)	Inshore
No Free Lunch Charters (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)
late October
2026: October 23 to 25, fishing Oct. 24 and 25, with a Chokoloskee launch at Outdoor Resorts of Chokoloskee
Nate Edwards Annual Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
late October in 2026 (5th annual, two days in Everglades City)

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Everglades City, asked and answered

When is the best redfish fishing around Everglades City?

Reds typically show up strong in October and stay good through November, then move into the backcountry rivers for the winter. Summer can be slow for reds.

Do I need anything besides a Florida license to fish the Ten Thousand Islands?

Inside Everglades National Park you need a Florida saltwater license plus a park entrance pass, and the park has its own possession limits of 20 fish total and 10 of any one species. Lobster and queen conch are off limits, and you cannot dig bait.

Can I keep a snook here?

Everglades City is in FWC's Southwest snook region, closed Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Sept. 30. In 2026 harvest reopened Oct. 1, and you need a snook permit.

What bites in winter in the Ten Thousand Islands?

Trout on the flats around the islands, sheepshead and black drum after the cold fronts, and snook and reds in the backcountry rivers. Strong southwest wind can make the outside islands unfishable.

When are permit around Everglades City?

Local reports had permit strong inshore in May and June, then mostly gone from the inside by late July.

90 ft, the kit