Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida

Fort Myers Beach fishing guide

Fort Myers Beach is Estero Island, a Gulf-front barrier island with Matanzas Pass and its working harbor at the north end and Big Carlos Pass, Lovers Key and Estero Bay at the south end. Unlike the Fort Myers guide, which looks north to Sanibel and Pine Island Sound, this is a harbor town that fishes the open Gulf: marinas on Matanzas Pass run half-day and night snapper trips and offshore charters, while the beaches and Estero Bay backwaters hold snook, reds, trout and pompano. The town's fishing pier at Lynn Hall Memorial Park was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022 and is still waiting on a federal permit to be rebuilt.

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 Fort Myers Beach. Updates through the day.

Loading the 7 day forecast.

NOAA tides, Matanzas Pass (fixed bridge), Estero Island, FL (opens in a new tab) NOAA station Fort Myers, Caloosahatchee River, 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 Fort Myers Beach. 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 Fort Myers Fishing Reports (opens in a new tab) Coastal Angler Naples Conservation column (Capt. Billy Norris, Pale Horse Fishing Charters) (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 Fort Myers Beach. This month is marked.

What is biting by month around Fort Myers Beach. 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	Good	Peak	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Good
Tarpon	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow
Redfish	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Peak	Good
Spotted seatrout	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
Pompano	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow
Mangrove snapper	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good	Good	Peak	Peak	Good	Slow	Slow
Spanish mackerel	Good	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Good
King mackerel	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Slow
Cobia	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow	Good	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Peak	Peak	Slow
Sheepshead	Peak	Peak	Peak	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Slow	Good

Snook
Peak: May, September, October
Work mangrove edges and dock lines in Estero Bay with live bait in the warm months, and deeper holes and creeks once winter sets in; harvest is open only in March, April, October and November.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Tarpon
Peak: April, May, June
The spring and early summer run peaks April through June, with fish showing up along the beaches and in the backwaters.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Redfish
Peak: September, October, November
Fall is prime, with schools on the bars and mangrove shorelines of the back bays; pinfish or cut bait both work.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spotted seatrout
A popping cork with shrimp over the grass flats is hard to beat, and the bite is best on moving tides.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Pompano
Peak: May, September
The passes hold pompano in late spring and again in early fall; small jigs and live bait both catch them.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Mangrove snapper
Peak: August, September
Nearshore reefs inside 20 miles fish well in late summer; the Matanzas Pass party boats run half-day and night snapper trips.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Spanish mackerel
Peak: October, November
Fall and winter fish chase bait schools off the beaches and over the nearshore reefs.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
King mackerel
Peak: October, November
Kingfish show up around nearshore bait schools and structure as the water cools in fall.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab)
Cobia
Peak: January, February, October, November
Look around nearshore structure, rays and floating debris in winter and fall.
Source 1 (opens in a new tab) Source 2 (opens in a new tab)
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, March
Shrimp pitched to docks, seawalls and pilings in winter, with the bite usually peaking in February on the passes and nearshore reefs.
Source 1 (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 schedule: Sept. 23 to Oct. 4, every day Oct. 9 to 22, 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. Also applies to charter boats without a federal permit, in state waters only.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Gag grouper, Gulf state waters
The 2026 recreational season ran Sept. 1 through Sept. 30 and closed at 12:01 a.m. Oct. 1, matching the NOAA season in adjacent federal waters.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)
Greater amberjack, Gulf state waters
The 2026 recreational season ran 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 it 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)
Spotted seatrout, Charlotte Harbor region
Open year-round under the regional seatrout rules FWC put in place in 2026.
FWC, 2026 Official page (opens in a new tab)

Rules change. Check before you go.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

Fort Myers Beach and Estero Bay are in FWC's Charlotte Harbor region for snook and spotted seatrout, which runs from near the Venice Municipal Airport south to near Vanderbilt Beach Road in Collier County.
A snook permit is required on top of a recreational saltwater license to keep a snook, and snook and seatrout must stay whole until landed ashore.
On for-hire trips the captain and crew may not keep a bag limit of snook or seatrout.
Anglers fishing for gag, greater amberjack, gray triggerfish or red snapper from a private boat must sign up each year as a State Reef Fish Angler.
Lee County beach parks on the island, including Lynn Hall Memorial Park and Bowditch Point Park, charge $2 an hour to park; the Lynn Hall lot was closed for restoration as of this check, with a park-and-ride trolley as the alternative.
The Fort Myers Beach Pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. As of spring 2026 Lee County had funding and an $11.7 million contract for a 1,000-foot replacement but was waiting on a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit, with about 12 months of construction expected after approval and completion targeted for 2027.

Size and bag limits Fishing licenses

Last checked 2026-10-27

40 ft, where to fish

Where to fish

Pier
Fort Myers Beach Pier site (Lynn Hall Memorial Park)
Closed since Hurricane Ian left only broken pilings; the 1,000-foot rebuild was waiting on a federal permit in spring 2026, so fish the beach on either side instead.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Beach
Fort Myers Beach Gulf beaches
The public beach accesses along Estero Island are open to surf fishing, though some may still be closed for hurricane repairs, so check beach conditions first.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Beach
Lovers Key State Park and Big Carlos Pass
Two miles of beach plus canals and lagoons at the south end of the island, with fishing allowed and a park boat ramp.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bay
Estero Bay
The mangrove backwater behind the island where local guides run light-tackle inshore trips for snook, reds and trout.
Source (opens in a new tab)
Reef
Nearshore reefs and wrecks
Inside 20 miles for mangrove snapper, goliath grouper, sharks and the odd permit, and in winter cobia, tripletail and Spanish mackerel.
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 Fort Myers Beach
Name	Type	Fee	Where
Lovers Key State Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	8700 Estero Blvd., Bonita Springs, FL 33931
Imperial River Boat Ramp (Lee County) (opens in a new tab)	Ramp	Paid	27551 S. Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs, FL 34134

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 (2)

MarinaLive bait
Moss Marina ship store
Bait: live bait, frozen bait
450 Harbor Ct., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Full-service marina on Matanzas Pass near Times Square with fuel, live and frozen bait and a ship store; open every day 8am to 5pm.
Call (239) 765-6677 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Source (opens in a new tab)
Bait and tackleLive bait
Master Bait & Tackle
Bait: live shrimp, live pinfish, freshwater shiners, nightcrawlers, red wigglers, live blue crabs, frozen shrimp, frozen squid, frozen bonita, frozen mullet, frozen ladyfish, frozen threadfins, frozen sardines, chum, sand fleas
4465 Bonita Beach Rd., Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Family-owned full-service shop in Bonita Springs since 1994, south of Lovers Key; spools line and repairs rod tips in store.
Call (239) 992-2553 Directions (opens Google Maps)
Website (opens in a new tab) 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 Fort Myers Beach
Charter	Fishing
Getaway Marina (Capt. Tony's Great Getaway snapper trips) (opens in a new tab)	Offshore
Pale Horse Fishing Charters (Capt. Billy Norris) (opens in a new tab)	Inshore and offshore
Pelican Bay Charters (Moss Marina) (opens in a new tab)	Ask when you book
Crime Scene Deep Sea Charters (Moss Marina) (opens in a new tab)	Offshore

70 ft, on the calendar

Tournaments and events

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

MidMay Mayhem Beach Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually mid May
Red Snapper Bash (Moss Marina) (opens in a new tab)
usually June
SWFAEP Annual Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually October
RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Tournament (Conservancy of Southwest Florida) (opens in a new tab)
usually October

80 ft, asked and answered

Fishing Fort Myers Beach, asked and answered

Is the Fort Myers Beach Pier open?

No. Hurricane Ian destroyed it in 2022. As of spring 2026 Lee County had an $11.7 million contract ready for a 1,000-foot replacement but was waiting on an Army Corps of Engineers permit, with about a year of construction after approval and completion targeted for 2027.

Where can I launch a boat near Fort Myers Beach?

Lovers Key State Park at the south end of the island has a boat ramp inside the paid state park, and Lee County's Imperial River Boat Ramp on South Tamiami Trail in Bonita Springs is a paid county ramp.

Where can I buy live bait on Fort Myers Beach?

Moss Marina on Matanzas Pass sells live and frozen bait at its ship store and is open every day 8am to 5pm. Master Bait & Tackle on Bonita Beach Road, south of Lovers Key, carries live shrimp and pinfish.

When can I keep a snook at Fort Myers Beach?

The island is in FWC's Charlotte Harbor snook region, closed Dec. 1 through February and May 1 through Sept. 30. Harvest is open in March, April, October and November with a snook permit.

What is biting off Fort Myers Beach in fall?

Redfish peak September through November on the back-bay bars and mangroves. Spanish mackerel, kingfish and cobia peak in October and November on the beaches and nearshore structure, and the nearshore reefs still hold mangrove snapper in October.

90 ft, the kit