Sanibel Island Vacation | Sanibel Island Vacation Fisherman’s Paradise

The unspoiled waters surrounding Sanibel and Captiva Islands provide excellent opportunities for fishermen of all skill levels. This region has some of the best back county fishing in the state with miles of mangrove shoreline countless oyster bars and acres of sea grass beds that attract an abundance of saltwater species. Among these species are redfish, snook, trout and Tarpon.

Just north of Sanibel Island is world-renowned Boca Grand Pass. During the months of April through July Tarpon participate in their annual spawning migration. Here you can see Ten Thousand Tarpon swimming through the pass waiting for that unsuspecting crab or mullet that will disappear down the silver kings throat. Sanibel professional fishing guides will stalk schools of Tarpon swimming up and down the beach throwing live pass crabs or anchor and fish dead hearing off the bottom. While fishing for Tarpon it is not uncommon to run across a big Hammerhead or Bull shark waiting for a hooked Tarpon for easy prey. In May of 2006 Bucky Dennis caught a World Record 14 ½ ft 1,280-pound hammerhead shark in Boca Grand Pass.

For light tackle and fly fisherman, you cant beat throwing to a tailing red in crystal clear water and watching it take your offering and darting away once it realizes it has been hooked. Florida Snook fishing can be found at the mouths of the creeks in the winter waiting for an offering or cruising on the oyster beds and beaches during the summer. Trout have made a tremendous come back since the red tide of 2003. You can find large “GATOR” trout at ambush points such as mangrove creek mouths or potholes all through out this region. It’s no wonder so many fishermen come to Sanibel and Captiva Islands to obtain a West Coast Grand Slam (1 snook, 1 redfish and 1 trout in 1 day).
If you don’t have a boat don’t worry you can visit JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge Here you can fish Tarpon Bay, Memorial Wildlife Drive or Hardworking Bayou by either wading or from a kayak. There are over 2,800 acres of Wilderness area that is a non-motorized zone. This allows the grass flats to remain undisturbed from prop scars and heavy boat traffic.Although there are no coral reefs Lee County has over 19 artificial reefs such as Pace’s Place, Belton Johnson, Blandas, or the ARC to name a few (Artificial Reefs). Here you can find some of the best grouper fishing in the state – black grouper (gag) and red grouper mixed in with other reef habitants such as tripletail, tarpon, cobia, spanish mackerel, king mackerel, barracuda, jack crevalle, amberjack, permit and numerous kinds of snapper.
Once you have experienced the heart throbbing feeling of stalking Tarpon down the beach or holding your breath in anticipation of the monster red about to take your bait you will never want to leave the area of Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

Written by , Sean Cooley