Private 10 Hour Fishing Trip In Fort Myers
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Fullday 10hour charter targets Southwest Florida's top game fishAccess Gulf waters, San Carlos Bay, and Caloosahatchee River fishing groundsAccommodates up to 6 anglers with live bait and fly gear options
When you want to fish Fort Myers the right way, you go big or go home. This 10-hour charter with Ya Gotta Want It Fishing Charters puts you and up to five buddies on some of Southwest Florida's most productive waters for a full day of serious angling. We're talking about hitting multiple spots across the Gulf of Mexico, San Carlos Bay, and the Caloosahatchee River system – basically covering every honey hole that's firing off that day. This isn't your average half-day trip where you're just getting warmed up when it's time to head back. Ten hours gives you the freedom to chase the bite wherever it takes you, whether that's working the mangrove shorelines for snook at first light or running offshore to battle tarpon when the conditions line up just right.
Your day starts early because that's when the fish are most active, and with ten hours ahead of us, we're going to make every minute count. The beauty of this extended trip is flexibility – if the redfish are schooling up in the shallows, we'll pole the flats until your arms are sore. If the tarpon are rolling in the passes, we'll set up there and wait for that life-changing hookup. The boat comes rigged with everything you need: top-shelf tackle, fresh live bait, and a variety of lures that have proven themselves in these waters. You can bring your own gear if you've got favorites, but our setups are dialed in for Southwest Florida fishing. The captain knows these waters like his own backyard and adjusts the game plan based on tides, weather, and what's been biting. Some days we'll hit six different spots, other days we'll camp on one productive area and work it hard. That's fishing – you adapt and overcome.
Fort Myers inshore fishing is all about reading the water and matching your approach to what the fish want. We'll be throwing everything from topwater plugs at dawn to live shrimp under popping corks when the bite gets finicky. Sight fishing is huge here – when you can see that 30-inch redfish cruising the grass flats, it becomes a chess match between you and the fish. We'll also work structure like docks, oyster bars, and mangrove points where ambush predators like to hang out. The beauty of live bait fishing in these waters is that you never know what's going to grab your offering. That pinfish intended for a snook might get hammered by a tarpon, and suddenly your whole day changes. Artificial lures shine here too, especially soft plastics worked slow through the grass or spoons flashed over deeper potholes. The key is staying versatile and letting the fish tell you what they want.
Snook are the crown jewel of Southwest Florida fishing, and Fort Myers has some of the best snook fishing in the state. These ambush predators love structure – think dock pilings, mangrove overhangs, and bridge spans where they can dart out and crush baitfish. Snook are incredibly seasonal, with the best action typically from spring through fall when they're most active in the shallows. What makes them so special is their explosive strike and acrobatic fight. A big snook will jump, run, and do everything possible to throw your hook. They're also one of the best eating fish in these waters, with firm white meat that's perfect on the grill.
Tarpon fishing around Fort Myers is legendary, and for good reason. These silver kings can range from juvenile fish in the 20-30 pound class up to true giants pushing 100+ pounds. Peak tarpon season runs from April through July, when massive schools move through the area during their annual migration. What sets tarpon apart is their incredible jumping ability – when you hook one, it's going to put on a show that you'll remember forever. They're pure muscle and attitude, capable of stripping line off your reel faster than you thought possible. Most anglers practice catch and release with tarpon since they're not great table fare, but landing one is a bucket list experience.
Redfish are the backbone of inshore fishing here, and they're active year-round in the Fort Myers area. These copper-colored bruisers love shallow water and are often found tailing in grass flats or cruising mangrove shorelines. What makes reds so popular is their willingness to eat almost anything and their bulldogging fight that tests your tackle. You'll find them from slot-sized fish around 18-27 inches up to oversized bulls that can push 40+ inches. Fall is prime time when big schools of reds gather in deeper water, but you can catch them any month of the year if you know where to look.
Sea trout are abundant in Fort Myers waters and provide consistent action when other species are being finicky. These spotted beauties prefer grass flats and sandy potholes, especially areas with good tidal flow. Spring and fall offer the best trout fishing, with fish ranging from keeper-sized 15-inchers up to trophy gator trout over 20 inches. They're excellent table fare and relatively easy to catch, making them perfect for building confidence when the bite is slow. Trout respond well to live shrimp, soft plastics, and topwater lures worked over their preferred habitat.
Sheepshead are the convict-striped specialists of structure fishing around Fort Myers. These fish have human-like teeth designed for crushing crustaceans, and they're notorious bait thieves with incredibly light bites. You'll find them around docks, bridges, and oyster bars, especially during their spawning run in late winter and early spring. What makes sheepshead challenging is their ability to steal bait without moving your rod tip, but once you dial in the technique, they're a blast to catch. They're also some of the best eating fish in the area, with firm white fillets that are perfect for any recipe.
This beast of a fishing machine is built to dominate Southwest Florida waters. The 2020 HydraSports 50-footer packs serious punch with quad Mercury 400s that'll push you across the flats at 70 mph, getting you to prime fishing spots faster than the competition. Whether you're working the grass beds for snook, sight-casting to tailing reds, or heading offshore for tarpon, this center console handles it all with room to spare. The spacious deck gives your crew of 6 plenty of elbow room for casting, fighting fish, and moving around gear. Built for hardcore anglers who want maximum time with lines in the water, not stuck traveling. From shallow backcountry creeks to open Gulf waters, this rig cuts through chop like butter and gets you home safely with your cooler packed.
Sciaenops OcellatusRedfish are the ultimate sight-fishing target with their bronze backs and distinctive black spots near the tail. Around Fort Myers, most slot fish run 18-27 inches, but we regularly see oversized bulls pushing 35+ inches in deeper water. They love super shallow flats - sometimes so shallow their backs show above water - plus oyster bars, mangrove edges, and grass flats in 1-4 feet. Fall and spring offer peak action, though they bite year-round. What makes redfish special is their aggressive nature and powerful runs - they'll crush topwater plugs with explosive strikes that'll get anyone's adrenaline pumping. They're also excellent eating within the slot limit. Here's my secret: look for "nervous water" or slight surface disturbances over shallow flats - that's usually reds pushing bait. Cast ahead of cruising fish and let them find your bait naturally.
Salmo TruttaSpeckled trout are the bread-and-butter fish of our grass flats, perfect for anglers wanting consistent action. These spotted beauties typically run 12-18 inches with occasional 20+ inch "gator trout" that really get your heart pumping. They love shallow grass flats in 2-6 feet of water, especially around potholes and drop-offs where they can ambush shrimp and small baitfish. Dawn and dusk fishing produces best, particularly during spring and fall when they're most active. What guests love is their willingness to hit both live bait and artificials, plus their excellent eating quality - sweet, flaky white meat that's hard to beat. They school up in winter in deeper water. My favorite technique is working a soft plastic shrimp under a popping cork over grass beds. Keep it slow and steady - trout have soft mouths, so don't horse them to the boat.
Archosargus ProbatocephalusSheepshead are the "convict fish" of Southwest Florida with their distinctive black and white stripes, but don't let their looks fool you - they're fantastic table fare. Most run 2-5 pounds and 14-18 inches, though 8+ pounders lurk around our deeper structures. Look for them around any hard structure: bridge pilings, docks, rock piles, and offshore wrecks where they feed on barnacles and crabs. Winter through early spring is prime time when they school up before spawning. What makes them challenging and fun is their notorious bait-stealing ability - they'll nibble your shrimp clean off the hook if you're not ready. Their white, flaky meat rivals grouper for eating quality. Here's the key: use small hooks with fresh shrimp, keep your bait tight to the structure, and set the hook hard the instant you feel them mouthing it.
Centropomus UndecimalisSnook are one of Southwest Florida's most sought-after game fish, and for good reason. These sleek, golden-bodied fighters typically run 18-28 inches around Fort Myers, though trophy fish over 30 inches show up regularly. You'll find them holding tight to structure - mangrove shorelines, dock pilings, and creek mouths where they ambush baitfish. They love shallow water from 2-8 feet deep, especially during moving tides. Spring through fall offers the best action, with cooler months still producing around deeper holes. What makes snook special is their explosive strike and strong runs toward cover. They're also excellent table fare when kept within slot limits. My go-to tip: cast your bait right into the structure where you think you'll get hung up - that's exactly where the big snook are waiting.
Megalops AtlanticusThe "Silver King" is what dreams are made of - massive fish that can reach 6 feet and 150+ pounds around Fort Myers waters. These prehistoric giants are famous for their aerial acrobatics when hooked, often jumping completely out of the water multiple times. You'll find them rolling in deeper channels of San Carlos Bay, around bridges, and near Gulf passes in 15-40 feet of water. May through September is prime time when they migrate through our area following baitfish schools. What guests love most is the sheer power and spectacle - there's nothing like watching a 100-pound tarpon cartwheel through the air. We practice catch and release since they're not great eating due to their bony flesh. Pro tip: when they jump, bow to the fish by pointing your rod tip toward them - it prevents the line from snapping on a tight drag.
Fort Myers