Full Day Cape Coral Fishing with Captain Todd
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full-day guided fishing with experienced Captain Todd CollierTarget snapper, redfish, and trout in Cape Coral watersAll gear, bait, and licenses included for groups
Picture this: you're standing on the deck of a top-rated Pathfinder 2500 Hybrid at sunrise, coffee in hand, watching the Southwest Florida waters come alive as Captain Todd fires up the engines. This isn't just another fishing trip – it's your ticket to experiencing some of the best inshore and nearshore action Cape Coral has to offer. Whether you've never held a rod or you're looking to add new species to your logbook, this 8-hour adventure puts you in prime position to tangle with Snapper, Redfish, Sea Trout, Permit, and Sheepshead in waters that consistently produce quality fish.
Captain Todd knows these waters like the back of his hand, and he's built his reputation on putting anglers onto fish while keeping things relaxed and educational. Departing from Monroe Canal Marina, you'll spend your day working both inshore flats and nearshore structure, adapting to conditions and following the bite. The beauty of a full 8-hour trip is the flexibility – if the Redfish are tailing on the flats at dawn, that's where you'll start. If the Snapper are stacked up on offshore structure by midday, that's your next move. Todd's approach centers on live and natural bait presentations, which consistently outperform artificials when targeting multiple species. You'll learn proper bait selection, how to read water conditions, and picking up techniques that'll serve you well on future fishing adventures. The Pathfinder 2500 Hybrid provides a stable, comfortable platform with plenty of room for up to 4 anglers, making it perfect for families or small groups who want space to fish without feeling cramped.
All your tackle, bait, and licenses are covered, so you can focus purely on fishing. Captain Todd runs a well-maintained arsenal of medium to heavy spinning and conventional setups, matched perfectly to Southwest Florida's diverse fishery. You'll primarily be working with live shrimp, pinfish, and pilchards – the bread and butter baits that these species can't resist. Depending on conditions and target species, you might find yourself bottom fishing around structure for Snapper and Sheepshead, sight fishing shallow flats for Redfish and Sea Trout, or working the edges where deeper water meets grass beds for Permit. The captain adjusts techniques throughout the day based on tides, weather, and fish behavior. One hour you might be free-lining live bait in the current, the next you could be working jigs around mangrove edges. This variety keeps things interesting and maximizes your chances of connecting with different species as conditions change throughout your 8-hour window.
Grey Snapper are the workhorses of Southwest Florida fishing, and Cape Coral's nearshore structure holds plenty of quality fish. These scrappy fighters average 12-18 inches but don't let their size fool you – they'll test your drag and try every trick to reach cover. Peak action typically runs from spring through early fall, when they're most active around ledges, wrecks, and hard bottom. What makes Snapper so popular with anglers is their willingness to bite and their excellent table fare, making them a customer favorite on mixed-bag trips.
Sheepshead might be the craftiest fish you'll target on this trip. These black-and-white striped convict fish are notorious bait stealers, requiring patience and finesse to hook consistently. They love structure – docks, pilings, bridges, and rocky areas where they can pick off crabs and barnacles. Most Cape Coral Sheepshead run 2-4 pounds, but their strong, stubborn fight and challenging nature make them a rewarding catch. Winter months often produce the best Sheepshead action, when they school up around structure.
Sea Trout, or Speckled Trout as locals call them, are quintessential inshore gamefish that thrive in Cape Coral's grass flats and shallow bays. These beautiful spotted fish are ambush predators, often found around potholes, channel edges, and anywhere baitfish concentrate. They're particularly active during dawn and dusk periods, making them perfect targets for full-day trips. Sea Trout average 14-20 inches in these waters and provide excellent light-tackle action with their aggressive strikes and acrobatic fights.
Redfish represent the crown jewel of Southwest Florida inshore fishing. These copper-colored bulldogs patrol shallow flats, mangrove shorelines, and oyster bars, often in schools that create heart-pounding sight fishing opportunities. Cape Coral Redfish typically range from 18-32 inches, with the slot-size fish (18-27 inches) providing world-class sport on appropriate tackle. Their powerful runs and dogged determination make every hookup memorable, whether you're targeting them around structure or stalking them on shallow flats.
Permit are the holy grail for many inshore anglers – a species that combines beauty, intelligence, and fighting ability like few others. These disc-shaped silver ghosts cruise Cape Coral's flats and nearshore waters, often in small schools or as singles. They're notorious for their wariness and selective feeding, making each Permit encounter special. Most local Permit run 8-20 pounds, and their combination of speed, power, and stamina creates fights that anglers remember for years. Spring and summer months typically offer the best Permit opportunities in Southwest Florida waters.
Captain Todd's full-day trips consistently deliver the kind of varied action that keeps anglers coming back season after season. The combination of his local knowledge, quality equipment, and 8-hour timeframe gives you the best possible shot at experiencing Southwest Florida's renowned fishery. Whether you're a family looking to create lasting memories, a group of friends seeking adventure, or an angler wanting to explore new waters with an experienced guide, this trip delivers value that's tough
Get ready to fish Cape Coral's productive waters aboard this 2024 Pathfinder 25' – a serious fishing machine built for both weekend warriors and dedicated anglers. This sleek motorboat cuts through Southwest Florida's inshore waters with ease, giving you access to prime fishing spots where Snapper, Redfish, Sea Trout, and Sheepshead call home. The wireless trolling motor keeps things quiet when you're sneaking up on spooky fish, while the fish finder helps locate schools and structure below. Stay comfortable all day with the onboard icebox keeping your drinks cold and catch fresh. The GPS and radar systems ensure safe navigation, even when afternoon storms roll in. With VHF radio for marine communication and a multimedia system for downtime between bites, this 4-person capacity boat has everything you need for a successful day on the water. Captain Todd knows these waters like the back of his hand, and this Pathfinder gives him the perfect platform to put you on fish from sunrise to sunset.
Lutjanus GriseusAlso called Mangrove Snapper, these copper-red fish with dark eye stripes are smart and tasty targets. Most run 1-2 pounds around 12 inches, but you'll occasionally hook into a 4-pounder in deeper water. They love structure - docks, mangroves, reefs, anywhere they can ambush prey. Best fishing happens around dawn and dusk when they're actively hunting. What makes them special is that white, flaky meat that's hard to beat on the dinner table. These guys are picky though - they'll study your bait before committing. My go-to trick is using a light fluorocarbon leader and letting live shrimp sit still on the bottom near structure. Too much movement spooks them, so patience pays off with these crafty fish.
Trachinotus FalcatusPermit are the holy grail of flats fishing - tall, silver, and incredibly challenging to catch. These deep-bodied fish average 10-20 pounds with outstanding eyesight that can spot you from way off. They cruise shallow grass flats and hang around deeper structures like wrecks and reefs. Spring through fall offers the best shots, especially during their spawning season. What makes them special is the difficulty - many anglers fish years before landing one. They're also excellent table fare with firm, sweet meat. The trick is live blue crabs on light tackle, but they're extremely spooky. My advice: stay as far back as possible, use long leaders, and present the crab naturally. These fish will examine your bait for minutes before deciding. One wrong move and they're gone, which is why landing a permit is such a trophy.
Sciaenops OcellatusRed Drum with their copper backs and signature black spots near the tail are Florida classics. Most inshore fish run 18-27 inches, but slot-sized reds around 20-24 inches are perfect eating. They cruise super shallow flats, sometimes with backs exposed, hunting crabs and baitfish. Year-round fishing is good, but fall brings the best action when they school up. What guests love is watching them cruise the shallows and that hard initial run when hooked. The meat is firm and mild, great on the grill. These fish aren't too picky about baits - live shrimp, cut bait, or artificials all work. Here's my tip: look for "nervous water" or slight wakes in shallow areas. Cast ahead of cruising fish and let your bait sit still. They spook easily in skinny water, so stay back and be quiet.
Salmo TruttaSpotted Sea Trout are some of the prettiest fish we catch, with silver sides covered in dark spots. Most range 14-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, perfect for the dinner table with their tender white meat. They love grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially around dawn and dusk when they're feeding actively. Fall through spring offers the best action when water temps cool down. What makes them fun is they hit artificials hard and put up a solid fight for their size. The soft mouth means you need to play them carefully. My local tip: work a soft plastic shrimp or jig slowly over grass beds early morning. These fish are spooky in shallow water, so keep noise down and make long casts. Once you find a school, you can usually pick up several before they move on.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusThose black and white "convict" stripes make Sheepshead easy to spot, but their human-like teeth make them tough to hook. They run 1-4 pounds typically, though 8-pounders show up around deeper structures. Find them hugging any hard structure - docks, bridges, rock piles where they can scrape off barnacles and crabs. Winter and early spring are prime time when they school up for spawning. Guests love the challenge since these guys are notorious bait thieves with incredible eyesight. The payoff is sweet, mild white meat that's worth the effort. Here's the key: use small hooks with fresh shrimp or fiddler crabs, get right against the structure, and set the hook hard the moment you feel weight. They'll steal your bait all day if you hesitate.
Cape Coral