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Port guide / Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida / Florida
Matlacha and Pine Island fishing guide
Matlacha is the fishing village on the road from Cape Coral to Pine Island, built right on Matlacha Pass, a mangrove backwater on the east side of Pine Island that runs up toward Bokeelia and Charlotte Harbor. The Fort Myers guide covers the Caloosahatchee and the Sanibel side of Pine Island Sound; this page is about the pass itself, the lighted county pier at Matlacha Park, and the bait shops and marinas along Pine Island Road and up at Bokeelia. Redfish, snook and trout are the everyday fish, big reds bunch up in the pass in fall, and tarpon pass through in spring.
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 Matlacha and Pine Island. Updates through the day.
- Loading the 7 day forecast.
NOAA tides, Matlacha Pass (Swing Br.), 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, Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound (opens in a new tab)
12 ft, the chart
Chart and depths
The official NOAA chart, centered on Matlacha and Pine Island. 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)
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 Matlacha and Pine Island. 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 |
| Sheepshead | Peak | Peak | Peak | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow |
| Spanish mackerel | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Slow | Good | Peak | Slow |
Redfish
Peak: March, April, May, October, November, December
Big reds bunch up and push water along the bars and flat edges in Matlacha Pass in fall, and schools pop up across Pine Island Sound.
Snook
Peak: March, April, October, November
Fall fish slide back into the mangroves of the pass and the sound, where they are often caught cast for cast with redfish.
Spotted seatrout
Peak: January, February, December
Small trout fill the grass in Matlacha Pass and Pine Island Sound; drift shrimp or jigs and expect a few bluefish and pompano mixed in.
Tarpon
Peak: April, May, June
The migration peaks April through June, and fish stay in the harbor and sound until the first chilly fall mornings.
Sheepshead
Peak: January, February, March
Fish oyster bars, seawalls and pilings, then nearshore rocks and markers when they gather to spawn in late winter and early spring.
Spanish mackerel
Peak: November
Some of the fall run swings into Charlotte Harbor around bait schools and outside the bars.
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
- Channel
Matlacha Pass
Redfish in the upper slot, small trout and small snook from the bridge up toward Bokeelia.
- Pier
Matlacha Park fishing pier
Large lighted county pier with fish cleaning stations; no cast netting from the pier.
- Bay
Pine Island Sound
Redfish along the bushes and schooling on open flats, snook under the mangroves, and grass flats full of small trout and baby gags.
- Flats
Burnt Store bar and Two Pines
Across the harbor from Bokeelia; good numbers of redfish along the bar and shorelines, often with mullet schools.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matlacha Park boat ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 4577 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL 33993 |
| Matlacha Park fishing pier (opens in a new tab) | Pier | Check | 4577 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL 33993 |
| D & D Matlacha Bait & Tackle ramp (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Check | 3922 Pine Island Rd. NW, Matlacha, FL 33993 |
| Lavender's Landing (Bokeelia Boat Ramp) (opens in a new tab) | Ramp | Paid | 7290 Barrancas Ave., Bokeelia, FL 33922 |
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
D & D Matlacha Bait & Tackle
Bait: live shrimp, live pinfish, live greenbacks, frozen bait
3922 Pine Island Rd. NW, Matlacha, FL 33993
Shrimp in regular, hand-pick and jumbo sizes; 24 hour boat ramp onto Matlacha Pass with three acres of trailer parking.
- Bait and tackleLive bait
Pine Island Bait & Tackle
Bait: live bait, frozen bait
3339 Stringfellow Rd., St. James City, FL 33956
Live and frozen bait and ice, with a big stock of rods and reels; at the south end of Pine Island.
- Bait and tackle
Bobber's Bait & Tackle
5511 NW Pine Island Rd., Bokeelia, FL 33922
Small family-owned shop at the four-way stop on Pine Island, open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day; opened after Hurricane Ian.
- Marina
Jug Creek Marina & Fish House
16498 Tortuga St., Bokeelia, FL 33922
Marina and commercial fish house at the north end of Pine Island with gas, bait, ice and charter boats.
Live bait comes and goes with the weather and the season. Call before you drive.
Charters and guides
| Charter | Fishing |
|---|---|
| The SWFL Experience (Capt. Joey Berg) (opens in a new tab) | Inshore and offshore |
| WildFly Charters (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
| Jug Creek Marina & Fish House charters (opens in a new tab) | Ask when you book |
| Gulfcoast Anglers (Capt. Mark Freeman) (opens in a new tab) | Fly |
70 ft, on the calendar
Tournaments and events
Annual events on this water. Dates move, so confirm with the organiser.
Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament (opens in a new tab)
usually November, headquartered at The Venue at Matlacha in 2026
2026: Captain's Meeting Nov. 13, tournament Nov. 14IslandFest Mullet Toss (Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce) (opens in a new tab)
usually March, in St. James City, with fishing seminars by D & D Bait & Tackle
2027: March 6World's Richest Tarpon Tournament (Boca Grande) (opens in a new tab)
usually mid to late May
2027: May 20 and 21
80 ft, asked and answered
Fishing Matlacha and Pine Island, asked and answered
Where can I fish from shore in Matlacha?
The large lighted county fishing pier at Matlacha Park on Pine Island Road has fish cleaning stations and sits right on Matlacha Pass. Cast netting is not allowed from the pier, and you need a saltwater license to fish from shore (no fee for Florida residents).
Where can I get live bait in Matlacha?
D & D Matlacha Bait & Tackle on Pine Island Road carries live shrimp in regular, hand-pick and jumbo sizes plus pinfish and greenbacks, and has a 24 hour ramp onto Matlacha Pass. Pine Island Bait & Tackle in St. James City also sells live and frozen bait.
Can I keep a snook in Matlacha Pass?
Matlacha and Pine Island are 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 and saltwater license.
When are the big redfish in Matlacha Pass?
October through December and March through May are peak months. In fall, big reds bunch up and push water along the bars and flat edges in Matlacha Pass, and schools pop up across Pine Island Sound.
Is there a fishing tournament in Matlacha?
The Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament is headquartered at The Venue at Matlacha in 2026, with the Captain's Meeting on Nov. 13 and the tournament on Nov. 14. The IslandFest Mullet Toss in St. James City, with fishing seminars by D & D Bait & Tackle, is set for March 6, 2027.
90 ft, the kit
What we would take to Matlacha and Pine Island
Sources for this guide (24), last checked 2026-10-27
- bocagrandechamber.com/worlds-richest-tarpon-tournament/ (opens in a new tab)
- coastalanglermag.com/calusa-blueway-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)
- fishinfranks.com/fishin_report.htm (opens in a new tab)
- leegov.com/parks/centers/matlacha (opens in a new tab)
- pineislandchamber.org/chamber-events/islandfest/ (opens in a new tab)
- pineislandchamber.org/member/bobbers-bait-tackle/ (opens in a new tab)
- pineislandchamber.org/member/d-d-matalcha-bait-tackle-inc/ (opens in a new tab)
- pineislandchamber.org/member/jug-creek-marina-fish-house/ (opens in a new tab)
- pineislandchamber.org/member/pine-island-bait-tackle/ (opens in a new tab)
- pineislandchamber.org/member/the-swfl-experience/ (opens in a new tab)
- pineislandchamber.org/member/wildfly-charters/ (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/gulfcoast-anglers/4574/ (opens in a new tab)
- pureflorida.com/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-forecast/fishing-forecast-october/ (opens in a new tab)
100 ft, the seabed
Gear up for Matlacha and Pine Island
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.