All About Chokoloskee Bay, FL

Chokoloskee Bay is a 10-mile long and 3-mile wide bay situated between Florida’s southwest coast near Everglades City and the Ten Thousand Islands, a network of mangrove covered islands, most of which are sheltered by the Everglades National Park. It is located on the state’s southernmost Gulf Coast and is separated from the Gulf of Mexico by the the northern end of the islands. It is within the Collier County of Florida.

Chokoloskee Island, which is considered as the last great frontier in the Everglades, can be found at the heart of the bay. It was settled by Native Americans two thousands years ago with modern settlement beginning in the year 1874. The bay’s surrounding unspoiled area and calm saltwaters make it a popular destination for anglers and water sports enthusiasts. It is an excellent spot to paddle canoes or kayaks, fish, camp, and go birdwatching.

All About Fishing in Chokoloskee Bay, FL

The waters of Chokoloskee Bay offer a variety of saltwater fish like grouper, redfish, snook, tarpon, speckled sea trout, pompano, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, tripletail, permit, shark and flounder. Many other eating and sport fish such as largemouth bass, black drum, cobia, mackerel, kingfish, crevalle jack, ladyfish, stingray, and silver trout can be also caught in the area. Due to the surrounding mangrove and beach areas at the bay, anglers can easily target schools of fish where their feed of small fish, shrimp, crustaceans and mollusks are abundant. 

Anglers fishing at the bay mostly would have better results all-around if they do some light tackle fishing and baitcasting. Jigging, spinning, and fly fishing are also commonly done there. The bay is a popular destination for recreational boat fishing but anglers can still have the opportunity to experience some productive fishing near-shore if they target shallow flats, grass beds and nearby structures where fish also tend to gather. There are also docks available for onshore fishing. Boat, kayak or canoe rentals as well as fishing charter services are widely available around the bay. Boat tours are also available and very popular as they guide visitors around the nearby Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades National Park. Anglers are advised to check the local fishing regulations as well as daily catch and possession limits for certain fish. 

Fishing Seasonality

The recreational fishing season for grouper starts in June and lasts until December. They are best targeted inshore as that’s where the best action is and it’s where their food is bountiful. Redfish can be spotted mostly offshore and are most abundant when they spawn from August to November. Speckled trout are also a popular target near-shore as they are mostly found in shallow flats all-year round. Most fish found in Chokoloskee Bay prefer warm waters, these include species like pompano which can be fished from March to October and snook which has two closed seasons every year. Sheepshead can be caught in the cooler months from December to April. Mangrove snappers can be targeted when the forecast is windy and they can be targeted throughout the year. During the spring, summer and fall, anglers can easily find tripletail floating around weed lines and lobster or crab buoys. Tarpon also likes warm summer waters and they are plentiful from March to July. Anglers can target flounder all-year round including in the winter when they gather offshore or are in near-shore structures.

Fishing Seasonality

The recreational fishing season for grouper starts in June and lasts until December. They are best targeted inshore as that’s where the best action is and it’s where their food is bountiful. Redfish can be spotted mostly offshore and are most abundant when they spawn from August to November. Speckled trout are also a popular target near-shore as they are mostly found in shallow flats all-year round. Most fish found in Chokoloskee Bay prefer warm waters, these include species like pompano which can be fished from March to October and snook which has two closed seasons every year. Sheepshead can be caught in the cooler months from December to April. Mangrove snappers can be targeted when the forecast is windy and they can be targeted throughout the year. During the spring, summer and fall, anglers can easily find tripletail floating around weed lines and lobster or crab buoys. Tarpon also likes warm summer waters and they are plentiful from March to July. Anglers can target flounder all-year round including in the winter when they gather offshore or are in near-shore structures.

All About Fishing in Chokoloskee Bay, FL

The waters of Chokoloskee Bay offer a variety of saltwater fish like grouper, redfish, snook, tarpon, speckled sea trout, pompano, sheepshead, mangrove snapper, tripletail, permit, shark and flounder. Many other eating and sport fish such as largemouth bass, black drum, cobia, mackerel, kingfish, crevalle jack, ladyfish, stingray, and silver trout can be also caught in the area. Due to the surrounding mangrove and beach areas at the bay, anglers can easily target schools of fish where their feed of small fish, shrimp, crustaceans and mollusks are abundant. 

Anglers fishing at the bay mostly would have better results all-around if they do some light tackle fishing and baitcasting. Jigging, spinning, and fly fishing are also commonly done there. The bay is a popular destination for recreational boat fishing but anglers can still have the opportunity to experience some productive fishing near-shore if they target shallow flats, grass beds and nearby structures where fish also tend to gather. There are also docks available for onshore fishing. Boat, kayak or canoe rentals as well as fishing charter services are widely available around the bay. Boat tours are also available and very popular as they guide visitors around the nearby Ten Thousand Islands and Everglades National Park. Anglers are advised to check the local fishing regulations as well as daily catch and possession limits for certain fish.