Some of the best fishing on the island is right from shore. Here's where to go, what bait to bring, and what's biting each month.
Stop by the shop and we'll point you to what's biting at each spot this week.
Fish are often just a few feet from shore
Our beaches are incredible, and most fish swim very close to the shoreline. Don't cast past them: walk the edge and cast parallel to the beach. In the late spring and summer our snook move onto the beaches to spawn and can be caught right from the sand.
Beaches on the map →Wildlife Drive is closed every Friday
Shore fishing along Wildlife Drive for snook, redfish, trout, juvenile tarpon around the culvert pipes and more, surrounded by mangroves and wading birds. Hours change with the seasons, so check before you go.
Refuge hours →The east end of the island at Lighthouse Beach Park, where the bay meets the Gulf. The pier is still closed for repairs after Hurricane Ian, but the beach and point around it are open and fish well. Call us for the latest on the pier.
Lighthouse Beach on the map →The pass between Sanibel and Captiva, with strong tides that pull bait and fish through. Fish from the beaches and rocks on either side of the bridge, and follow the posted signs.
Blind Pass on the map →The docks are private. Fish from the public beaches and cast toward the structure.
The bay-side shoreline from the Sanibel Pier all the way down to the Causeway, and the docks in between, hold snook, redfish and trout.
Causeway on the map →Juvenile tarpon are all over Sanibel's freshwater, landlocked areas, including the Sanibel River. Light tackle and small lures are a blast. Fresh water needs a different license than salt, so ask us which one you need. And watch for alligators.
The right bait makes the trip. Here's what's usually in our tanks. Call ahead and we'll tell you what's in today.
The two baits that catch almost everything around Sanibel: snook, redfish, trout and more.
The go-to bait for sheepshead around docks, rocks and pilings in the cool-water months.
Top baits for tarpon when they show up on the beaches and in the passes, and for permit around the wrecks and nearshore reefs.
Snook, redfish, trout, jacks, ladyfish and sharks bite all year. Here's what's extra good each month.
Our fishery is what makes the island special. A few simple habits keep it that way.
Wet your hands, support the belly, and get spawning beach snook back quickly. Snook have seasons and slot limits, so check FWC before you keep one.
Circle hooks hook fish in the corner of the mouth, which makes releases quick and safe. Ask us and we'll rig you up.
Don't cut the line. Reel the bird in gently, cover its head with a towel, and remove the hook and line. If it's hurt, call CROW, Sanibel's wildlife hospital.
Fishing line left on the beach or in the mangroves tangles birds and turtles. Pack out your line and any trash you find.
Every angler 16 and older needs a Florida saltwater fishing license to fish around Sanibel and Captiva.