Full Day Fort Myers Beach Fishing Adventure
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Full day charter targets redfish, seatrout, and sharksFamilyfriendly trip includes gear, licenses, and drink serviceExplores Fort Myers Beach inshore and backcountry waters
When you book a full day charter with Shallow Action Fishing Charters, you're signing up for the real deal – a genuine Fort Myers Beach fishing experience that takes you to the hottest spots around our waters. This isn't some cookie-cutter tourist trip. We're talking about a full eight hours on the water, giving you serious time to work the flats, hit the nearshore structure, and maybe even venture into the backcountry where the big fish hang out. Captain and crew know these waters like the back of their hand, and they'll put you on fish whether you're a weekend warrior or someone who just picked up a rod for the first time.
Your day starts early – that's when the fish are most active and before the afternoon wind picks up. The boat's loaded with top-shelf gear, so you don't need to worry about bringing anything except your enthusiasm and maybe some snacks if you get hungry. We're talking Penn and Shimano reels, St. Croix rods, and tackle that can handle everything from schoolie reds to bull sharks that'll test your drag system. The captain provides your fishing license, so that's one less thing to think about. With only four anglers max, you get personalized attention and plenty of room to fight fish without bumping elbows. Kids are welcome – just make sure to mention if you need smaller life vests when you book.
Fort Myers Beach gives you access to multiple fishing environments, and a full day means you can hit them all. Early morning might find you working the grass flats with live shrimp under popping corks, sight-casting to tailing redfish, or throwing topwater plugs at snook ambush points around the mangroves. As the sun climbs, the action often moves to deeper structure – channel edges, oyster bars, and nearshore reefs where the bigger predators patrol. The captain reads the conditions and adjusts tactics accordingly. High tide? Time to get shallow and sight fish. Wind blowing? Let's drift some live bait over the deeper holes. The boat's equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor for silent approaches and a fish finder that'll mark bait schools and structure. Live wells keep your bait frisky, and when you hook up, there's plenty of deck space to battle even the biggest fish safely.
Snook are the crown jewel of Southwest Florida inshore fishing, and Fort Myers Beach has some real slobs. These ambush predators love structure – docks, mangrove overhangs, and bridge pilings where they wait for baitfish to get swept by in the current. They're most active during the warmer months from May through October, though you can catch them year-round if you know where to look. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight – they'll jump, dive for cover, and test every knot in your rig. Plus, they're excellent table fare when they're in season, with firm white meat that's hard to beat.
Tarpon fishing around Fort Myers Beach is legendary, especially during the spring and summer months when the big schools migrate through our waters. These silver kings can range from juvenile fish in the 20-40 pound range all the way up to monsters pushing 150 pounds. They're called the silver king for good reason – when a tarpon explodes on your bait and starts cart-wheeling across the surface, it's a sight you'll never forget. Most tarpon are catch-and-release, but the fight alone is worth the price of admission. They prefer live bait like crabs, mullet, or sardines, and the deeper channels and passes are prime real estate.
Redfish are the bread and butter of inshore fishing here, and they're active year-round in the shallow grass flats and oyster bars around Fort Myers Beach. These copper-colored bruisers typically run 18-27 inches in the slot limit, though you'll occasionally hook into an oversized bull red that'll peel line like nobody's business. Reds are sight-fishing gold – you can often spot them tailing in shallow water or cruising the flats with their backs out of the water. They eat everything from live shrimp to cut bait to artificial lures, making them perfect for anglers of all skill levels.
Crevalle Jacks might not win any beauty contests, but they'll give you an arm-burning fight that rivals fish twice their size. These yellow-sided bulldogs patrol the nearshore waters and deeper flats, often traveling in schools that create feeding frenzies when they find bait. Jacks are opportunistic feeders that'll crush live bait, jigs, or topwater plugs with reckless abandon. They're available year-round, though the bigger fish seem to show up during the cooler months. While they're not great table fare, the pure fight-to-weight ratio makes them a favorite among sport fishermen.
Lemon Sharks are the gentle giants of the flats, and Fort Myers Beach's shallow waters provide perfect habitat for these impressive predators. Most lemons you'll encounter range from 3-6 feet, though larger specimens cruise these waters too. They're surprisingly docile and curious, often approaching the boat after being released. Lemon sharks prefer live or cut bait fished on the bottom near grass flats and sand holes. The fight is more bulldogging than spectacular, but there's something special about successfully landing a shark on light tackle. They're always released unharmed, making for great photos and even better stories.
A full day on the water with Shallow Action Fishing Charters gives you the time and flexibility to really experience what Fort Myers Beach fishing is all about. Whether you're after that photo-worthy tarpon, a cooler full of snook and reds, or just want to spend quality time on the water with family, this trip delivers. The captain
Your fishing adventure starts aboard a nimble 22-foot Bay boat designed to handle Fort Myers Beach's diverse inshore waters. This well-rigged vessel comfortably holds up to 4 anglers and comes loaded with everything serious fishermen need for a productive day chasing jack, shark, redfish, and more. The boat features a reliable fish finder to locate your targets, GPS navigation to hit the best spots, and a wireless trolling motor that lets you move quietly through shallow backcountry areas without spooking fish. An onboard icebox keeps your catch fresh and drinks cold during the long hours on the water. Whether you're working the mangrove shorelines for redfish or heading to deeper channels for bull sharks, this setup gives you the mobility and equipment to make the most of Fort Myers Beach's incredible fishing opportunities.
Caranx HipposCrevalle Jack are the bulldogs of our local waters and provide some of the most aggressive action you'll find. These brassy-green fighters typically range 12-24 inches and 3-5 pounds, but the big ones can hit 40+ pounds. They roam both shallow flats and deeper nearshore waters, often schooling around structure or chasing baitfish. Spring through fall offers the best opportunities when they're most active. While not prized for eating, jacks are pure adrenaline - they fight dirty with powerful runs and never give up. Guests love them for rod-bending action and kids especially enjoy the consistent strikes. Look for diving birds working baitfish - that's where you'll find feeding jacks underneath. Here's the secret: cast past the school and retrieve your lure fast and erratically. These fish are aggressive and love the chase, so don't be subtle about it.
Negaprion BrevirostrisLemon sharks are exciting targets that give anglers a real taste of shark fishing without going offshore. These yellow-bronze sharks typically run 4-8 feet around our area, with some pushing 200+ pounds. They prefer shallow, sandy flats and mangrove creeks in 3-15 feet of water, especially areas with good current flow. Summer months are prime when they're most active in our warmer inshore waters. While not kept for eating, lemon sharks provide an amazing fight with long, powerful runs that test your tackle and endurance. They're also relatively docile, making them perfect for catch-and-release shark experiences. Many guests love the thrill of hooking something this powerful in shallow water. My go-to approach is using fresh-cut bait like mackerel or bonito on a strong circle hook, fished on the bottom near structure during moving tides when they're actively hunting.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are our bread-and-butter inshore species and perfect for families. These copper-colored beauties with their signature black spots near the tail average 18-28 inches and 3-8 pounds around Fort Myers Beach. They love super shallow water - we're talking 1-4 feet on grass flats, around oyster bars, and mangrove shorelines. Year-round fishing is solid, but fall and winter months are peak when they school up. Redfish fight hard with strong runs and are also excellent eating with mild, sweet meat. They're not spooky like some species, making them great for kids and beginners. The key to success is staying quiet and making long casts to avoid spooking them in shallow water. Watch for tailing fish - when you see their tails sticking up while they feed head-down, that's your shot.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of our most prized inshore catches around Fort Myers Beach. These sleek fish with their distinctive black lateral line typically run 1-3 feet long, though the big females can push 4 feet. You'll find them hugging mangrove shorelines, around docks, and in brackish creeks where fresh water meets salt. They're structure-oriented fish that love cover. Spring through fall gives you the best action when water temps are warm - they're very temperature sensitive. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and hard-fighting nature, plus they make outstanding table fare with sweet, white meat. Here's a local tip: cast your live shrimp or pinfish right up against the mangroves and let it drift naturally with the current. Snook ambush from cover, so get your bait as close as possible to where they're hiding.
Megalops AtlanticusTarpon are the silver kings of our waters - true bucket list fish that can reach 6-8 feet and over 100 pounds, though most we catch run 80-150 pounds. These prehistoric giants frequent our shallow flats, deeper channels, and around bridges in 10-60 feet of water. Late spring through early fall is prime time when they migrate through our area. What draws anglers to tarpon isn't the eating - they're bony and not great table fare - it's the fight. When hooked, they'll leap 10 feet out of the water in spectacular aerial displays that'll get your heart pounding. Their runs are long and powerful, often taking 30+ minutes to land. Pro tip from years of guiding: when they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip toward them. This keeps tension off the line during their acrobatics and prevents them from throwing the hook.
Fort Myers Beach