Saint James City Fishing Reports (May 2026)

Tim R.
Naples, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

Big snook, redfish, sharks, and tarpon highlight the current fishing report. As we get into middle April, the fishing has been heating up weekly and becoming outstanding. With the water finally back firmly in the 70s and close to 80 degrees, the bait is plentiful. Lots of quality mangrove snapper,...

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Tim R. Naples, Florida Reported 1 month ago

Big snook, redfish, sharks, and tarpon highlight the current fishing report. As we get into middle April, the fishing has been heating up weekly and becoming outstanding. With the water finally back firmly in the 70s and close to 80 degrees, the bait is plentiful. Lots of quality mangrove snapper, big jack crevalle, and sheepshead are also bring smiles, and pulling drags!

With plentiful bait comes big snook. We are hooking at least one really big fish on every trip, and on most trips we are hammering the mid size, and smaller snook. to put it into perspective, in terms of freshwater fishing back home for many folks, its like catching a dozen 2 – 3 pound bass or walleye, that fight twice as hard, with the opportunity to catch a huge one.

The big redfish have also been gobbling up bait bending rods, and ripping drags right along with the snook. We haven’t been doing anything specific for the redfish, they are just on the move with the warming water and the oncoming burst of life the water brings every spring and early summer. This time of year, the big reds seem to be in the same spots as the big snook, which adds to the intrigue when you see a huge boil and hear that drag start squealing.

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Jesse C.
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

Been windy, some days better than others but plenty of action

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Jesse C. Fort Myers Beach, Florida Reported 1 month ago

Been windy, some days better than others but plenty of action

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Brandon D.
Bartow, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

The fishing has been phenomenal lately, getting into our spring trends with higher tides and strong bite inshore. Snook, redfish, trout and tarpon have been the big targets along with Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, mangrove snapper and others. White bait is prevalent throughout the sound and that's what these predatory...

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Brandon D. Bartow, Florida Reported 1 month ago

The fishing has been phenomenal lately, getting into our spring trends with higher tides and strong bite inshore. Snook, redfish, trout and tarpon have been the big targets along with Spanish Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, mangrove snapper and others. White bait is prevalent throughout the sound and that's what these predatory fish love to eat. Plenty of fun fights everyday fishing bar lines, grass flats and mangrove islands.

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James W.
Port Charlotte, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

We've been under small craft advisory on and off for the last two weeks.

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James W. Port Charlotte, Florida Reported 1 month ago

We've been under small craft advisory on and off for the last two weeks.

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Randy F.
Saint James City, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

Red Grouper bite has been spotty but good slabs when we find em.. Blankets for the ride out on those chilly Fla. mornings..

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Randy F. Saint James City, Florida Reported 1 month ago

Red Grouper bite has been spotty but good slabs when we find em..
Blankets for the ride out on those chilly Fla. mornings..

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Terry H.
Port Charlotte, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

8 miles off shore : trout were located in Alligator Creek.

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Terry H. Port Charlotte, Florida Reported 1 month ago

8 miles off shore : trout were located in Alligator Creek.

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Drew U.
Fort Myers, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

The fishing has been great the best few weeks with the warming water. Pilchards and thread fans are the Bait of choice.

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Drew U. Fort Myers, Florida Reported 1 month ago

The fishing has been great the best few weeks with the warming water. Pilchards and thread fans are the Bait of choice.

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James W.
Port Charlotte, Florida
Reported 1 month ago

Starting to chase tarpon now The harbor is still at 72°. The fish are fighting hard. They are big this year and a lot of them.

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James W. Port Charlotte, Florida Reported 1 month ago

Starting to chase tarpon now
The harbor is still at 72°. The fish are fighting hard. They are big this year and a lot of them.

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