Rotonda West Fishing Reports (May 2026)

Dan Muench
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today the guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32-inch Snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this last week and the...

See Full Report & Photos >

Dan Muench Fort Myers, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today the guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32-inch Snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this last week and the speckled sea trout bite is still hot as usual. No live bait needed for the Speckled SeaTrout, as they will hit soft plastics and hard Subsurface Baits as long as you work them correctly.

Scroll for more Close

Dan Muench
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Hey David, the fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today my guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32 inch snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this...

See Full Report & Photos >

Dan Muench Fort Myers, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Hey David, the fishing has been pretty steady even though we have water temperatures in the high 80s. Today my guest, a non-fisherman, brought in a 32 inch snook off the flats today! What a great find this time of year. I have also seen plenty of red fish this last week and the speckled sea trout bite is still hot as usual. No live bait needed for the Speckled SeaTrout, as they will hit soft plastics and hard Subsurface Bates as long as you work them correctly.

Scroll for more Close

Jon Fetter
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The inshore bite has been as hot as the temps here in SW Florida. The seatrout bite is crazy good around the grass flats in 3-5 feet of water. Shrimp under a popping cork is the ticket. There have been some quality redfish hanging around the mangrove edges and oyster...

See Full Report & Photos >

Jon Fetter Fort Myers, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The inshore bite has been as hot as the temps here in SW Florida. The seatrout bite is crazy good around the grass flats in 3-5 feet of water. Shrimp under a popping cork is the ticket. There have been some quality redfish hanging around the mangrove edges and oyster bars on higher water. Free lined pinfish or pins under a float will work best. Just remember to get out early to beat the heat as the bite has been over around 11 am.

Scroll for more Close

Victor Medico
Cape Coral, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The redfish bite in the back bays of Southwest Florida is starting to pick up and will only get better through the end of October. Plenty of breeder snook can be found in the passes and along the beaches. Bait has been plentiful on the grass flats which is a...

See Full Report & Photos >

Victor Medico Cape Coral, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The redfish bite in the back bays of Southwest Florida is starting to pick up and will only get better through the end of October. Plenty of breeder snook can be found in the passes and along the beaches. Bait has been plentiful on the grass flats which is a good place to work artificial lures for trout. Tarpon can still be found but time is running out on the 2022 season.

Scroll for more Close

Scott Tesinsky
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Inshore fishing in sarasota continues to remain very good. We are bringing home limits of mangrove snapper that are finishing out their spawn, the snapper will continue to bite for the next few weeks as we transition into our fall pattern. Snook are starting to make their way back into...

See Full Report & Photos >

Scott Tesinsky Sarasota, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Inshore fishing in sarasota continues to remain very good. We are bringing home limits of mangrove snapper that are finishing out their spawn, the snapper will continue to bite for the next few weeks as we transition into our fall pattern. Snook are starting to make their way back into the bay and are transitioning getting ready to head back into the creeks and rivers. We are catching decent size snook at the higher stages of the tide around mangroves. Shots at juvenile Tarpon are being had early in the morning as they roll on the surface. Spotted sea trout are starting to make good showings on the edges of deeper grass flats, some smaller schools of Spanish mackerel and bluefish are also around the deeper grass flats. We are catching plenty of live white bait in the morning and that has proven to be key for a successful trip.

Scroll for more Close

Dylan Hood
Cape Coral, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been great. Snook, snapper, and grouper are biting on pilchards and pinfish. Weather conditions are good and sunny!

See Full Report & Photos >

Dylan Hood Cape Coral, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

Fishing has been great. Snook, snapper, and grouper are biting on pilchards and pinfish. Weather conditions are good and sunny!

Scroll for more Close

Dustin Lambert
Sarasota, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

It's been awesome! Lots of red snapper, groupers and tunas.

See Full Report & Photos >

Dustin Lambert Sarasota, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

It's been awesome! Lots of red snapper, groupers and tunas.

Scroll for more Close

Jon Fetter
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing has been really good both inshore and nearshore. The shallow water bite has been good for spotted seatrout and ladyfish. Plenty of keeper seatrout. Mostly caught in shrimp under a popping cork. The nearshore shark fishing has been crazy good with both size and variety! Cut bait and...

See Full Report & Photos >

Jon Fetter Fort Myers, Florida Reported: 3 years ago

The fishing has been really good both inshore and nearshore. The shallow water bite has been good for spotted seatrout and ladyfish. Plenty of keeper seatrout. Mostly caught in shrimp under a popping cork. The nearshore shark fishing has been crazy good with both size and variety! Cut bait and chumming is the key to getting them to feed.

Scroll for more Close