Fort Myers Boat Tour & Fishing Charter
Private Trip
Cruise
Customizable fishing charter targeting Snook, Redfish, and SeatroutExplore accessible islands while spotting dolphins and manateesAll fishing equipment and rods provided for convenience
Day 5 Charters offers something pretty special here in Fort Myers – a boat tour that combines the best of both worlds. You'll cruise around some of the most beautiful waters in Southwest Florida, spot dolphins and manatees in their natural habitat, and try your hand at catching some of the region's top fish species. This isn't your typical crowded tour boat experience. With just 2 guests max, you get a personalized adventure that moves at your pace. Whether you want to focus more on sightseeing or serious fishing, your captain will tailor the day exactly how you want it.
Your day starts with a warm welcome from an experienced local captain who knows these waters like the back of their hand. Fort Myers sits in one of Florida's most diverse marine ecosystems, where the Caloosahatchee River meets the Gulf of Mexico. This unique setup creates perfect conditions for both wildlife viewing and fishing. You'll navigate through protected mangrove islands, each one offering different opportunities depending on the tide and time of day. The boat is equipped with everything you need – quality rods, reels, tackle, and all the gear required for a successful outing. Don't worry about bringing anything except sunscreen, snacks, and drinks. The real magic happens when you're drifting quietly through shallow flats watching for manatee shadows, or anchored up near a productive fishing hole while dolphins cruise by just yards away. Your captain will read the conditions and adjust the itinerary throughout the day to maximize both your sightseeing and fishing opportunities.
Fort Myers fishing requires a mix of techniques, and your captain will match the approach to what's working best that day. Light tackle fishing dominates here – we're talking about precision casting with live bait like shrimp, pinfish, or cut bait near structure. You might find yourself sight-fishing in crystal clear shallows, watching a redfish cruise toward your perfectly placed shrimp. Other times, you'll be working deeper channels with jigs or soft plastics, feeling for that telltale thump of a spotted seatrout picking up your lure. The mangrove shorelines offer some of the most exciting fishing – drifting parallel to the roots while casting toward pockets and overhangs where snook love to ambush prey. Permit fishing takes a different approach entirely. These spooky fish require stealth and patience, often spotted tailing in shallow water before you make a careful presentation with a crab or shrimp. Between fishing spots, you'll collect shells on remote beaches that most tourists never see. Conch shells and murexes are common finds, and your captain knows which islands produce the best specimens.
Snook are the crown jewel of Fort Myers fishing and what many anglers consider the ultimate inshore game fish. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, bridge pilings – anywhere they can hide and surprise their next meal. They're incredibly acrobatic fighters, known for their gill-rattling jumps and powerful runs toward cover. Peak snook season runs from late spring through early fall, when water temperatures hit their sweet spot. What makes them special is their attitude – they'll slam a lure with authority, then immediately try to wrap your line around the nearest obstacle. Landing a quality snook requires skill, luck, and often a bit of negotiation with the fish.
Spotted Seatrout, or "specs" as locals call them, are probably the most consistent fish you'll encounter in these waters. They school up over grass flats and sandy holes, making them perfect targets for both beginners and experienced anglers. Spring and fall produce the largest specimens, with fish pushing 4-5 pounds not uncommon during peak times. What guests love about seatrout is their willingness to bite – they're aggressive feeders that will hit both live bait and artificial lures. Plus, they're excellent table fare if you decide to keep a few within regulations. The key is finding the right depth and staying mobile until you locate an active school.
Redfish are the bulldogs of the flats, and Fort Myers has some phenomenal red fishing year-round. These copper-colored bruisers are built for power, not speed, and they'll use every ounce of their strength trying to reach deep water once hooked. What makes redfish special here is the variety of ways to target them – sight-fishing over shallow grass, blind casting around oyster bars, or working deeper channels during cooler months. They're also one of the most reliable species, with good numbers present throughout the year. Many guests get hooked on the visual aspect of redfish hunting, literally watching the fish cruise and eat their bait in clear, shallow water.
Permit represent the ultimate challenge in Fort Myers waters. These disc-shaped fish are notoriously spooky and selective, often called the "ghost of the flats" for good reason. They're most active during warmer months when they move into shallow water to feed on crabs and small fish. What makes permit so special isn't just their difficulty – it's their fighting ability. Once hooked, they make blistering runs that can empty a reel in seconds. Most permit are spotted tailing or cruising in water so shallow their backs are nearly exposed. Landing one is considered a major accomplishment among serious anglers, and many guests book return trips specifically hoping for another shot at these challenging fish.
This Fort Myers boat tour delivers exactly what Southwest Florida is famous for – world-class fishing combined with some of the best wildlife viewing on the Gulf Coast. Day 5 Charters has put together something really special here, offering the intimate experience you can only get with a 2-person maximum. Your captain's local knowledge means you'll hit the most productive spots while avoiding the crowds that plague other tour operators. Whether you're a serious angler looking to target specific species or a family wanting to see dolphins and collect shells, this trip adapts to what you want most.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the ultimate challenge fish - tall, silver, and incredibly spooky with those golf-ball eyes that see everything. They average around 20-30 inches but can hit 40+ and 50+ pounds. You'll spot them on shallow flats, often in just 2-3 feet of water, or around offshore structure and wrecks. Spring through summer is peak season, especially April to October when they're spawning. What makes them special is their reputation as one of the hardest fish to fool - many consider them tougher than tarpon or bonefish. They fight like freight trains too. Live blue crabs are the gold standard bait, but here's the secret: present it perfectly still about 10 feet ahead of a cruising fish and pray they notice it.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are absolute favorites on our flats - bronze-colored bruisers with that distinctive black eyespot near the tail. Most run 20-30 inches, though we see plenty of "bull" reds pushing 40+ inches and serious weight. They cruise super shallow water, sometimes with backs exposed, around oyster bars and grass flats. Year-round fishing here, but spring and fall are prime time when they're most active. Guests love how aggressive they are and the way they peel drag once hooked. Plus they're excellent on the table with sweet, firm meat. My go-to trick is looking for "tailing" fish - when you see that tail sticking up while they're feeding head-down, cast just ahead and get ready for a fight.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout, or "specks" as we call them, are some of the most reliable fish in our area. They average 14-24 inches and love grass flats in 2-8 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk. Spring through fall gives you the best action, but they bite year-round in our warmer waters. What guests love about trout is their willingness to hit topwater lures - nothing beats that surface explosion at first light. They're also fantastic eating with delicate, flaky meat. The key to consistent trout fishing is working soft plastics or live shrimp over the grass beds slowly. When you find one, stick around - they usually school up and you'll likely catch several more in the same spot.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized targets here in Fort Myers waters. These sleek predators typically run 1-3 feet long, with that signature black lateral line and golden coloring. You'll find them tucked around mangroves, docks, and structure in shallow water - they love ambush spots where they can burst out at prey. Best fishing happens during warmer months from spring through fall, especially around new and full moons when they spawn. What makes them special is that explosive strike and bulldogging fight once hooked. They're also great table fare with firm, white meat. Here's a local tip: work your lure slow around cover, then pause it right at the edge - that's when they usually nail it.
Fort Myers Beach, FL