Sanibel & Captiva Fishing Charters
Sanibel & Captiva fishing update: late winter
‘Tis the season for trout, redfish, snook and mackerel, according to Captain Joe Sr., the founder of Sanibel & Captiva Fishing Charters now run by his son, Joey Jr.
These winter fish will be around until the season ends in March, when the waters get warmer.
Winter fish can be found in Pine Island Sound, the body of water that separates the islands of Sanibel & Captiva from the mainland. Within Pine Island Sound, there’s a region called the Back Bay, also known as ”The Flats,” where fishing can be phenomenal.
Low tide in the Flats is so shallow that boats cannot go through. But when it’s high-tide, fish and boats are able to enter, although it never gets any deeper than 3 1/2 to 4 feet. The exact times of high and low tide change daily. This time of year, the best fishing tide is during the night, but there’s good fishing during the day, too.
In March, when the water temperature rises above 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the most popular fish is tarpon. Tarpon can get up to 250 pounds and make for fantastic vacation fishing photos. Early spring also brings sharks, snook and redfish, which are smaller fish but just as impressive to catch.
By the end of July, the tarpon bid farewell to Sanibel & Captiva’s waters. However, late July though the first cold front in November can be some of the best times to fish, since the waters aren’t crowded.
Vacationers like to catch the big sharks and tarpon (to get that impressive photo), even though the most popular year-round fish is snook.
Captain Joe’s charters draw both locals and visitors from all over the country and world. Their boats can hold up to four people, and the excursions are child-friendly.
“If a kid can hold a rod,” claims Captain Joe Sr., “they can catch a fish.”
Contact Sanibel & Captiva Fishing Charters:
- If you're looking for a fishing guide with a life's worth of know-how and experience, look no farther than Captain Joey Burnsed, who's been on a boat since he was three years old.
- Phone: (239) 472-8658
- Online: sanibelcaptivafishing.net
Past Features:
Sea to plate: How to prepare your Florida seafood
By Chelle Koster Walton So you’ve caught yourself a fish – hook, line and sinker. Now what? The good news is, your charter captain will clean your catch. You can even find restaurants on Sanibel and Captiva that will cook it for you. But truthfully, it’s so easy to prepare fish, why not try it yourself? Your method of preparation…
Fall season brings fantastic bonita fishing
This time of the year brings remarkable fishing off of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. As the weather cools, Bonita fish have been the champion catches of the day. This is also the best time of the year for shark fishing, as seen on the boats of Sanibel & Captiva Fishing Charters. “Bonita are everywhere right now and the fishing has…
Sanibel & Captiva Fishing Charters: On the water with the best
If you’re looking for a fishing guide with a life’s worth of know-how and experience, look no farther than Captain Joey Burnsed, who’s been on a boat since he was three years old. “I used to play with fish like they were Tonka Trucks. The boat was my daycare,” recalls Captain Joey, second generation owner of Sanibel & Captiva Fishing…