Fish species you may catch
Fort Meyers Family Friendly fishing guide Captain Ray.
Fish in the Fort Myers waters
Fort Myers offers diverse fishing opportunities, with both inshore and offshore species to target. Inshore, you can catch snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, sheepshead, and mangrove snapper. Offshore, you might hook into grouper, snapper, cobia, tripletail, mackerel, and even sharks. Freshwater options include bass, crappie, bluegill, and catfish in the Caloosahatchee River and inland waters.
Inshore Fishing
- Snook: A popular game fish known for its fighting ability and tasty meat.
- Redfish: Another popular inshore species, often found in grassy areas and around structures.
- Spotted Seatrout: Abundant in grassy flats, oyster beds, and mangrove shorelines.
- Sheepshead: Often found around docks, piers, and rocky areas, known for their bait-stealing habits.
- Mangrove Snapper: Found near mangroves, docks, and other structure, a good choice for beginners.
Offshore Fishing
- Grouper: Various species like gag grouper and goliath grouper.
- Snapper: Including red snapper and mangrove snapper.
- Cobia: A tasty migratory fish, often found near manta rays.
- Tripletail: Found near floating debris and structure.
- Mackerel: Including Spanish and king mackerel.
- Sharks: Various species inhabit the waters around Fort Myers.
- Mahi-Mahi: Also known as dolphin fish, a prized catch for offshore anglers.
- Marlin: A large, powerful game fish found in deeper waters.
- Sailfish: Known for their impressive sail-like dorsal fin and fighting ability.
Freshwater Fishing
- Largemouth Bass: A popular freshwater game fish, found in the Caloosahatchee River and other inland waters.
- Crappie: Another freshwater favorite, often found near structures.
- Bluegill: A common panfish, found in various freshwater habitats.
- Catfish: A variety of catfish species inhabit the freshwater areas.
- Oscars: An introduced species, often found in the Caloosahatchee River.
- Shellcrackers: A type of sunfish, also found in freshwater areas.