Marco Island Weather Forecast
Fishing reports straight from our guides in Marco Island
Tim Rushing
Naples, Florida
Reported: 4 hours ago
In the backcountry, we have been bouncing jigs and drifting shrimp on the bottom of the deep holes surrounded by shallow flats, and getting rewarded with all kinds of fish, big and small. Redfish, black drum, sheepshead, big seatrout, big mangrove snapper, jewfish (golaith grouper) and jack crevalle have been the predominant characters in the show, and they have kept bends in the rods, smiles on faces, and yummy delights on dinner plates!
The only species we have not been tangling with, have been snook and tarpon. And with another strong cold front heading down shortly, I don't expect to see those fish in the back waters, but one never knows!
In the meantime, we will keep on enjoying some outstanding fishing, fun, and fish dinners in the foreseeable future!
Jesse Calhoun
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Reported: 6 days ago
Steve Gould
with Trophy Time Charters and More
Marco Island, Florida
Reported: 3 weeks ago
Perry Bedell
with On a Mission Fishing Charters
Naples, Florida
Reported: 3 weeks ago
Offshore action has been excellent with a wide variety of species in the cooler water. We’ve been blessed with some of the best King Mackerel fishing we’ve seen in years. Chumming them up and throwing artificials has been an absolute blast. These fish are a riot on light tackle, and watching them sky out of the water on topwater plugs truly never gets old.
The deeper wrecks have been holding their usual winter residents as well, with plenty of Amberjacksto pull on and some Cobia mixed in. On top of that, the snapper bite has been outstanding for those looking to bring home dinner. Big Mangroves, Lane Snapper, and Yellowtails have been common on our offshore trips.
Nearshore, we’ve been treated to an unexpected bonus for January — giant free-swimming Permit. We’ve had shots at some true giants recently, fish we typically don’t see until summertime. This is just the beginning, as the Permit fishery is set to explode over the next month, and we’re anticipating an epic spring and summer with these fish.
There’s also been no shortage of jacks on the nearshore wrecks, providing plenty of hard-pulling action. The nearshore meat bite has been strong as well, with quality Sheepshead fired up in the cooler temps — some of the best table fare around.
Inshore, we’re in full winter mode with cooler water temps. I
Tim Rushing
Naples, Florida
Reported: 4 weeks ago
Jesse Calhoun
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Reported: 1 month ago
Perry Bedell
with On a Mission Fishing Charters
Naples, Florida
Reported: 1 month ago
We closed out 2025 strong and have started 2026 even stronger. The winter bite has been outstanding down here in Naples, and we’re looking forward to another couple of months of this phenomenal action before gearing up for spring.
The offshore bite between passing cold fronts has been epic. With Cobia, Amberjacks, Mangrove Snapper, Mutton Snapper, Kingfish, and plenty of other species in the mix, it’s safe to say our hands have been full. This is hands-down the best time of year for putting quality fish in the box offshore. On our six-hour and full-day trips, you can expect a great mix of delicious table fare along with hard-fighting sportfish. Timing the cold fronts is the name of the game, and when the weather lines up, the action is lights out.
The inshore and nearshore bite has been solid as well. During warm-ups, we’ve had some fun sport action nearshore with plenty of Jacks, Barracudas, and Sharks to pull on. The big Sheepshead have also started to show up, giving our clients another excellent dinner option.
Inshore fishing during winter is more of a quantity-over-quality game, and it’s perfect for families and kids. Cold-water shrimp fishing produces steady action with Sheepshead, Trout, Mangrove Snapper, Jacks, and the occasional Snook or Redfish mixed in.
The temperatures may be cold, but the bite is hot down here in Naples.
Tim Daugherty
Naples, Florida
Reported: 1 month ago
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
Need a Place to Stay?
What's Biting in Marco Island
Recent Marco Island Reviews
Top Fishing Trips in Marco Island
Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Marco Island
Ten Thousand Islands Inshore
Inshore, Eco Tour, Shelling in Naples
Inshore Adventure Starts Here
Naples Nearshore Trip
Nearshore Fishing in Chokoloskee
Everglades City Nearshore
Nearshore Fishing in Marco Island
Marco Island Nearshore
Inshore, Nearshore, Flats in Naples
