Fishing in Fort Myers isn’t just a pastime—it’s a way of life. As a full-time fishing guide on these waters, I get to chase a wide variety of species throughout the year, from tarpon and snook to redfish and snapper. One of the best parts of fishing Southwest Florida is that no matter when you visit, there’s always something biting. Here’s a breakdown of what we’re targeting each season on our charters and where we’re finding the action.
Winter Fishing (December – February)
What We’re Catching:
- Cobia – I love targeting Cobia during the winter months. They fight hard and stack up around wrecks and reefs
- Sheepshead – These striped bait thieves love structure. We catch them stacked up around docks, pilings, and nearshore reefs.
- Spotted Seatrout – Look for them in the potholes and deeper grass flats when the temps dip.
- Black Drum – Big ones show up around oyster bars and bridge structure.
- Redfish – Still catchable in the backcountry, especially on warmer days or good sun.
Winter fishing requires a little more patience and finesse, but it can be lights-out when you hit the right conditions. I focus on slower presentations and natural baits when the water cools down.
Spring Fishing (March – May)
What We’re Catching:
- Tarpon – The migration starts in spring, and we start seeing the big schools showing up near the river mouth and coastal passes.
- Snook – As the water warms, snook get more aggressive and start moving out of their winter haunts.
- Cobia – I often find them cruising around nearshore wrecks and rays.
- King Mackerel – Show up in good numbers around the nearshore reefs and bait pods.
Spring kicks off our peak season. I love this time of year—bait is everywhere, and the fish are hungry. It’s the perfect time to chase a variety of species inshore and nearshore.
Summer Fishing (June – August)
What We’re Catching:
- Tarpon – This is prime time. We target them off the beaches at sunrise—those early morning bites are what memories are made of.
- Snook – They’re thick around the passes, beaches, and mangroves, especially at first light or around moving water.
- Redfish – Redfish near Fort Myers stay active around mangroves, oyster bars, and grass flats offering consistent action despite the summer heat.
- Permit – One of the coolest species to hook up with on nearshore wrecks.
- Mangrove Snapper – Great table fare, and summer is one of the best times to load up on them inshore and nearshore.
With the summer heat, I typically run trips early in the morning or near sunset to beat the heat and hit the best bite windows. Matching the tide is key this time of year.
Fall Fishing (September – November)
What We’re Catching:
- Tarpon – This is becoming my favorite species to target between September & November!
- Redfish – This is redfish season. They school up big time, and sight fishing for them on the flats is a blast.
- Snook – Still active and putting on the feed bag before winter sets in.
- Tripletail – One of my favorite fall targets. We find them floating near crab trap buoys and structure offshore.
- King Mackerel – Make a strong return to the nearshore waters.
Fall is one of the most underrated seasons down here. The weather is stable, the crowds thin out, and the fishing is flat-out excellent.
Let’s Get You On The Water
Whether you’re coming down in the dead of winter or during peak tarpon season, there’s always something to chase here in Fort Myers. I tailor every trip to the time of year and what’s biting best, so you’ll get a dialed-in experience on the water. If you’re ready to book a trip or just want to talk fishing, feel free to reach out—I’d love to show you what these waters have to offer.
Fish With Capt. Jack Swedberg
Jackpot Fishing & Ecotours offers back bay trips for shallow water species, nearshore fishing for permit, snapper, sharks, & more, tarpon fishing charters, and night fishing charters for whatever’s biting!
Our charters start out of Sanibel/Fort Myers Beach area with convenient waterfront pickups also available. Captain Jack has poured 15 years of passion into these waters and loves putting his clients on fish!
Call/text Captain Jack Swedberg for daily availability.
