Anybody have any experience in this area? I will be down visiting some friends and will have a couple of hours out of each day to fish and was wondering if there were any spots from shore? Only going to be down for a two days so not dragging the boat down. Will be there over Memorial Day weekend. Thanks in advance!
I have fished the Charlotte Harbor/Pine Island Sound/Boca Grande/Cayo Costa areas a good bit over the last several years. Mostly by boat and mostly for tarpon (which would be about prime when you are there) but have also had good fishing from the beach for snook/ladyfish/spanish. Usually in the Manasota Key/Casey Key area which is well north of the Fort Meyer area. Stayed just south of Ft. Meyers last year in Bonita Beach and went out with a Capt. Phil Pica for a half day. We intended to target permit on the fly over the nearshore reefs but the wind made us stay a bit closer. Still managed some nice grouper and spanish macs. He might be a good person to ask, but I would assume any relativley isolated area of beach (even some of the many state parks) would have good snook fishing in the surf that time of year. Not sure if it is open season (I think not) and you will need a license (www.myfwc.com)
Hope this helps,
Mark
Pathfinder 2000V Yamaha 150 4 stroke
Spots from shore include:
- pay the toll to get on Sanibel causeway and fish from the islands/beach.
- Matlacha Pass Bridge, the self-proclaimed “Fishingist Bridge” in the country. Can buy bait right there. Many different species to target. A lady caught a 5’ Sawfish when I was there once. We were targeting jacks but lots of options. Just Google it or PM for more info.
- Bokelia Fishing Pier on Pine Island. Cost a few bucks but good trout, ladyfish and anything else swimming through Charlotte Harbor.
- Lots of guide options in San Carlos bay, Pine Island Sound, Charlotte harbor, or quick run into Gulf.
I love that area!
Ditto what stickman said. We were there last November.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
Love the area.Get your 10 day permit.Buy bait and fish under any bridge.
Stonoman
I’ve been making a week long excursion pulling a boat down there every year that time of year for the past ten years or so and it just so happens that we’ll be arriving the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend this year. We stay on Pine Island which is a decent drive north of you. The shore fishing spots already mentioned are good options, with Sanibel probably being the closest. The only other I will add is that you can catch a ferry from Pine Island to Cayo Costa, which is a fairly uninhabited barrier island, if you want to fish the beach there. I can personally attest that you can catch snook on the beach there that time of year. We’ve also caught trout, mangrove snapper, and jacks on the beach.
I’m not sure if it would be possible to meet up and take you out in the boat considering the distance between us and the fact that we won’t get there until Saturday afternoon, but if you’re interested, we could try to work something out. I would insist that we meet before hand and make sure we’re on the same page. I’m a single male as is my buddy coming with me, and we’re there to fish and enjoy some wheat sodas.
16’ tincan/18’parker w/ smoke blowin Johnsons
Nephew is Capt John Bunch.Lives on St James and Guides.Great fishing at Napps pass for anything.
Stonoman
If you’re staying more on the CC side, particularly toward Burnt Store than the Matlacha bridge and Bokeelia pier are close. Ten years ago I got a “place” on the southern tip of Pine Island in Sandpiper Point- just haven’t figured out how to move there. Snook at my dock and seawall but I think they’re still closed after last year’s freeze.
http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/regulations/
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
Thanks everyone for the suggestions I really appreciate it. Thanks Bellyup for the invite, I would take you up on it but it is me, the wife, and another couple we are going to visit. Thanks again for all the advise and I will post how we do!