Calendar
A year on the water in Fort Myers.
What's biting, where, and why — a month-by-month playbook tuned to Southwest Florida's seasons and patterns.
January
Sheepshead
SheepsheadTroutPompano
Cold fronts push fish into deep canals and the river.
February
Trout
TroutSheepsheadCobia
Cobia start showing on nearshore wrecks.
March
Snook
SnookSpanish MackerelTripletail
Spring warm-up; bait pods return.
April
Tarpon
TarponSnookPermit
First tarpon hit the beaches and passes.
May
Tarpon
TarponSnookSnapper
Peak tarpon migration through Boca Grande.
June
Tarpon
TarponMangrove SnapperGrouper
Offshore bottom bite hits stride.
July
Snook
SnookMangrove SnapperPermit
Snook spawning aggregations at the passes.
August
Snook
SnookSnapperGoliath Grouper
Hot, calm mornings — fish early.
September
Redfish
RedfishSnookTrout
Inshore slam season kicks off.
October
Redfish
RedfishSnookKingfish
Fall mullet run; topwater explodes.
November
Redfish
RedfishTroutKingfish
Best month for tailing reds on flats.
December
Sheepshead
SheepsheadTroutPompano
Winter patterns settle in.