Fort Myers FL, Fishing Charter with Captain Dan
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Solo 6hour inshore fishing charter with Captain DanArtificial lures and live bait provided throughout tripSuitable for both experienced anglers and beginners
Looking for a solo fishing adventure that puts you right in the heart of Southwest Florida's best inshore action? This 6-hour charter with Captain Dan gives you the whole boat to yourself, targeting the legendary "Big Three" of Florida's backcountry waters. We're talking prime Sanibel fishing territory where snook, sea trout, and redfish patrol the grass flats, mangrove shorelines, and oyster bars that make this area a world-class fishery. You'll get both artificial lures and live bait when it's running, plus the undivided attention of a guide who knows these waters like the back of his hand.
Captain Dan's been working these Sanibel waters for years, and he's got the kind of local knowledge that only comes from spending countless mornings watching the tide charts and afternoon studying where the fish move. This isn't some cookie-cutter trip – it's a personalized fishing experience built around what's biting and where they're holding. You'll launch early to beat the crowds and hit the prime feeding windows when these inshore species are most active. The boat's rigged with quality tackle, and Dan keeps a good selection of artificials from soft plastics to topwater plugs, depending on conditions. When live bait's available – think pilchards, pinfish, or shrimp – that opens up even more opportunities, especially for those bigger snook lurking under the mangroves. Whether you're comfortable with a spinning reel or want to learn some new techniques, Dan adjusts his approach to match your skill level while keeping you in the fish.
Inshore fishing around Sanibel means adapting to what the water's telling you. Some days you're sight-fishing to tailing redfish on shallow flats using weedless spoons or soft plastic jerk baits. Other times, you're working live shrimp under popping corks near oyster bars where the trout stack up. Captain Dan's got the gear dialed in – medium-action spinning rods spooled with 15-20lb braid, plus a selection of leaders from fluorocarbon for clear water to wire when the toothy critters are around. The artificial presentations vary with conditions: Z-Man paddletails and DOA shrimp for covering water, topwater plugs like Spook Jr's for dawn and dusk action, and suspending twitch baits when the fish are finicky. Live bait fishing opens up different strategies – free-lining pilchards along mangrove edges, bumping shrimp along grass bed edges, or using pinfish to target those big snook that won't commit to artificials. Dan's boat is set up to handle it all, with a good livewell system and the shallow draft needed to access those backcountry honey holes where the big fish hide.
Snook are the crown jewel of Southwest Florida inshore fishing, and Sanibel's got some of the most consistent snook fishing you'll find anywhere. These ambush predators love structure – think mangrove overhangs, dock pilings, and oyster bar drop-offs where they can pin baitfish against cover. Peak snook action typically runs from late spring through early fall, with the bigger breeding females showing up around the passes during summer months. What makes snook so special isn't just their size – fish over 30 inches are common here – but their explosive strikes and gill-rattling jumps. They've got that bucket mouth that can inhale a bait, but they're also notorious for throwing hooks if you don't keep steady pressure. The slot limit protects the breeding stock, so you're looking at keeping fish between 28-33 inches, though plenty of anglers release them all for the next guy.
Sea trout might not have the snook's reputation, but they're pound-for-pound some of the most fun fish swimming in these grass beds. Spotted seatrout are year-round residents that school up over sandy potholes and grass bed edges, especially during cooler months when they stack in deeper holes. The keeper trout here run 15-20 inches on average, with gator trout over 24 inches mixing in during prime times. What's great about trout fishing is the variety – you can catch them on everything from popping corks with live shrimp to soft plastics worked along the bottom. They're also excellent table fare, with firm white meat that's perfect for the grill. Winter months often produce the best numbers, while spring and fall bring the biggest fish as they fatten up before and after spawning.
Redfish are the bulldogs of the flats, and Sanibel's shallow water ecosystem is absolutely perfect for these copper-colored fighters. Reds are built for this environment – they can push into water so shallow their backs are out, rooting around oyster bars and grass beds for crabs and shrimp. The sight-fishing opportunities here are phenomenal, especially during higher tides when you can spot their tails or backs as they feed. School reds in the 18-27 inch range are common, with the occasional bull red over 27 inches (which have to go back to protect the breeders). What makes redfish so popular isn't just their willingness to eat artificials, but their never-quit attitude once hooked. They'll make long runs and use their broad sides to fight you all the way to the boat. Prime redfish action peaks during fall and winter months, though you can find them year-round if you know where to look.
This solo charter experience with Captain Dan puts you in the driver's seat for exploring some of Florida's most productive inshore waters. Six hours gives you time to hit multiple spots, try different techniques, and really dial in what's working without having to accommodate other anglers' preferences. Whether you're after that first snook, looking to improve your sight-fishing skills, or just want to spend a day
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the bread and butter of our shallow water fishing around Sanibel. These copper-colored bruisers with their signature black spots near the tail typically run 20-35 inches and put up one heck of a fight. You'll find them cruising oyster bars, mangrove shorelines, and grass flats in just 1-4 feet of water - sometimes so shallow their backs are showing. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and spring offer the most consistent action when they're feeding heavily. Guests love watching these fish crash topwater lures and make powerful runs toward structure. They're also great eating when kept within slot limits. Local tip: look for nervous water or tailing fish on the flats during low light periods - cast ahead of their path and let them find your bait.
Salmo TruttaSpotted sea trout, or "specks" as we call them locally, are fantastic light-tackle fish that average 14-18 inches around Sanibel's grass flats. Look for them in 2-6 feet of water over seagrass beds, especially during cooler months when they school up in deeper pockets. Fall through spring offers the most consistent action, with winter being prime time for bigger fish. Guests love their subtle but steady fight and their reputation as one of the best eating fish in these waters - mild, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They're perfect for beginners too since they're usually willing to bite. Pro tip: fish live shrimp under a popping cork over the grass flats during an incoming tide - the sound draws them in from a distance.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most popular targets around Sanibel's mangroves and docks. These golden-colored fish with their distinctive black lateral line typically run 18-30 inches, though we occasionally hook into 40+ inch trophy females. They love structure - think docks, mangrove shorelines, and creek mouths in 2-10 feet of water. May through September is prime time when they're spawning and feeding aggressively. Snook fight hard with powerful runs and gill-rattling jumps that keep guests coming back. They're also excellent table fare with flaky white meat. Here's a local secret: work your lure slowly along the mangrove edges during moving tides, especially around dawn and dusk when they're actively hunting.
Fort Myers