Saint James City Fishing Reports (May 2026)

Tim D.
Naples, Florida
Reported 4 months ago

Winter is in full swing here in Southwest Florida, and last week we saw some of the coldest mornings of the season with temperatures dropping into the low 40s. When these strong cold fronts move through, our gulf water temperatures drop quickly, and that triggers a noticeable shift in fish...

See Full Report & Photos >

Tim D. Naples, Florida Reported 4 months ago

Winter is in full swing here in Southwest Florida, and last week we saw some of the coldest mornings of the season with temperatures dropping into the low 40s. When these strong cold fronts move through, our gulf water temperatures drop quickly, and that triggers a noticeable shift in fish behavior. As conditions cool, many inshore species begin sliding out of the shallows and heading for deeper, more stable water where temperatures fluctuate less. This is a very predictable winter pattern and one we rely on heavily while running Naples fishing charters and Marco Island fishing charters.

Anytime a cold front pushes through, my game plan is simple: head deeper and deeper into the backcountry, especially during low water. These fish stack up in deeper holes, troughs, and along protected shorelines where they can conserve energy and stay comfortable. Right now, we’re finding solid numbers of snook, sea trout, pompano, jack crevalle, mangrove snapper, and redfish tucked in tight to the deeper shorelines throughout the backcountry. This style of Naples inshore fishing is extremely productive during winter and a staple of our Naples & Marco island fishing charters.

The timing couldn’t be better with a full moon approaching. Full moon phases bring extreme tidal swings, giving us very low lows and very high highs. These big tides help position fish even tighter to structure and depth changes, making them easier to target if you’re in the right areas. Early morning fishing around these tides has been especially productive, and it’s a great time

Scroll for more Close

Tim R.
Naples, Florida
Reported 4 months ago

Recent pics from this week

See Full Report & Photos >

Tim R. Naples, Florida Reported 4 months ago

Recent pics from this week

Scroll for more Close

Lou S.
Rotonda West, Florida
Reported 4 months ago

Fishing has been great from the inshore to the offshore. The calm winds and bite right he before the cold front has been on fire.

See Full Report & Photos >

Lou S. Rotonda West, Florida Reported 4 months ago

Fishing has been great from the inshore to the offshore. The calm winds and bite right he before the cold front has been on fire.

Scroll for more Close

Al H.
Cape Coral, Florida
Reported 4 months ago

• Sheepshead: This is the star of the show right now. As the water cools, "convicts" are moving onto dock pilings, bridge footings (especially the Matlacha Bridge), and oyster bars. Use small pieces of fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs on a #1 or 1/0 circle hook. • Redfish: Look for...

See Full Report & Photos >

Al H. Cape Coral, Florida Reported 4 months ago

• Sheepshead: This is the star of the show right now. As the water cools, "convicts" are moving onto dock pilings, bridge footings (especially the Matlacha Bridge), and oyster bars. Use small pieces of fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs on a #1 or 1/0 circle hook.
• Redfish: Look for "tailers" on the shallow flats during the low afternoon tides. With negative tides predicted around midday, focus on the edges of deep-water creeks and mangrove shorelines.
• Trout: Seatrout are scattered across the 3- to 5-foot grassy flats. Drifting with a popping cork and live shrimp or slow-working a soft plastic paddle tail is the most consistent way to find them.
• Snook: Most snook have retreated into the warmer backcountry canals and up the Caloosahatchee River. They are a bit lethargic due to the temp drop, so slow down your presentation.

Scroll for more Close

Tim D.
Naples, Florida
Reported 5 months ago

The fishing this week around Naples and Marco Island has been nothing short of fantastic, with action firing on all cylinders. Anglers booking Naples fishing charters or Marco Island fishing charters are finding steady opportunities throughout the middle islands and deep in the backcountry. As water temperatures cool, the conditions...

See Full Report & Photos >

Tim D. Naples, Florida Reported 5 months ago

The fishing this week around Naples and Marco Island has been nothing short of fantastic, with action firing on all cylinders. Anglers booking Naples fishing charters or Marco Island fishing charters are finding steady opportunities throughout the middle islands and deep in the backcountry. As water temperatures cool, the conditions have been ideal for a classic winter pattern, and the fish are responding in a big way.

We’re still catching plenty of snook along the middle islands, and the snook fishing Naples and snook fishing Marco Island anglers are experiencing consistent hookups. Every year when the water temps begin to fall, those snook push farther into the backcountry, and this week is no exception. On the low incoming tides, the fish have been staging along shorelines with deep undercuts, which are producing excellent numbers. For those seeking snook fishing on artificials, fly, or live bait, expect the action to remain strong as long as the warmer weather holds.

A decent redfish bite is also underway, with reds mixed in alongside the snook. The bait fishing has been outstanding as well—live pilchards are thick on the nearshore wrecks just a mile or so off the beaches, and I am loading up with only a few throws of the cast net. With live wells full, we’re set up perfectly for action-packed days on the water. Combined with aggressive schools of jacks and plentiful mangrove snapper, anglers on Naples fishing guides trips and guided fishing trips out of Marco Island are staying busy from start to finish.

Scroll for more Close

Tim R.
Naples, Florida
Reported 5 months ago

The Naples Fishing Report for December is full of fish, fun, and mild weather! We’ve been bouncing around from Naples to Marco Island and the 10,000 Islands the past several weeks, and the fishing has been outstanding. December fishing down here in Southwest Florida is always one of those special...

See Full Report & Photos >

Tim R. Naples, Florida Reported 5 months ago

The Naples Fishing Report for December is full of fish, fun, and mild weather! We’ve been bouncing around from Naples to Marco Island and the 10,000 Islands the past several weeks, and the fishing has been outstanding. December fishing down here in Southwest Florida is always one of those special windows of time, where the skies are easter egg blue, the waters calm, and the temperatures balmy! If you want a tripletail, they are showing up all over the trap buoys. The back country is loaded with all kinds of fun things to catch, from trophies, to dinner, or loads of fish plain ol family and kid catching fun! The water has cooled down into the low 70’s and that always seems to jumpstart the fish into a frisky mood as they try to eat the waves of bait that are still present. They also start to pick up an interest in eating shrimp. The fish that seem to really start biting during this time of year are the seatrout. They love shrimp, jigs tipped with shrimp, and will eat pilchards. The weeks before the cold snap last week seemed to produce at least one nice redfish, every trip along with countless smaller snook, fun-sized tarpon, snapper and jack crevalle. That trend of nice redfish has continued. Since those couple of cold days behind the front, the fishing in Naples started producing a load of black drum, trout, nice redfish, jewfish, snapper, sheepshead and jack crevalle. We started mixing in shrimp, and jigs for bait, along with pilchards. If you want to catch something to eat, watch the kids or family have fun, or hunt a trophy it's a great time to make it happen

Scroll for more Close

Dalton R.
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Reported 5 months ago

The sheepshead bite has been on fire along with snook and trout! During these extreme winter lows the docks and grass flats have been producing

See Full Report & Photos >

Dalton R. Fort Myers Beach, Florida Reported 5 months ago

The sheepshead bite has been on fire along with snook and trout! During these extreme winter lows the docks and grass flats have been producing

Scroll for more Close

Perry B.
Naples, Florida
Reported 5 months ago

November wrapped up on a high note, capped off by a busy holiday week and some incredible catches for our clients. As we transition toward winter and the water continues to cool, our offshore fishery shifts into an entirely different gear. This time of year, you truly never know what...

See Full Report & Photos >

Perry B. Naples, Florida Reported 5 months ago

November wrapped up on a high note, capped off by a busy holiday week and some incredible catches for our clients. As we transition toward winter and the water continues to cool, our offshore fishery shifts into an entirely different gear. This time of year, you truly never know what you might run into offshore—and that unpredictability is part of the fun. Just this week, we ran across a school of massive Blackfin Tuna surprisingly close to land. Encounters like these are exactly the kind of bonus opportunities winter can bring. Along with the occasional surprises, all of our reliable staples have been showing nicely too. Cobia schools have been consistent from the nearshore wrecks out to the offshore structures, and they’ll remain one of our primary targets throughout the winter season. With the cooler temperatures, big Amberjacks are also pushing in closer. These fish provide an absolute blast on rod and reel—we'll chum them up and throw artificials or flies right at them on the surface. Winter also brings some of the best bottom fishing of the entire year, and it’s prime time for serious meat runs. Grouper and Snapper will continue to be major players offshore through the coming months. On the inshore side, we’re right on the edge of switching fully into our winter pattern, transitioning from live pilchards to shrimp and jigs once the backcountry water temps reach that key threshold. Live bait is still producing well with Snook, Redfish, and plenty of Jack Crevalles. As things cool a bit more, shrimp fishing will light up with Trout, Sheepshead, Pompano, Redfish,

Scroll for more Close