Welcome to November, arguably the best transition month for fishing along the Southwest Florida coastline. The waters, currently holding in the upper 70s to low 80s in the Gulf, are continuing their steady fall cool-down. This temperature drop is triggering a massive feeding frenzy as species like Snook and Redfish gorge themselves for the winter, while migrating species like King Mackerel and Cobia begin moving closer to shore.
The forecast is clear: If you can fish ahead of an approaching cold front, the bite will be absolutely explosive.
The Inshore Hot Zone: Pine Island Sound & Charlotte Harbor
The action in the massive Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor system is nothing short of phenomenal right now, with all three major inshore game fish cooperating.
Snook: Backcountry Brawlers
Snook have fully retreated from their summer spawning grounds and are concentrated deep in the backcountry creeks and along mangrove shorelines, especially on the east side of Pine Island Sound near Captiva and Sanibel.
- Tactics: Target high, incoming tides when the water pushes bait deep under the mangrove roots. Use large, lively baits like “turbo” greenbacks or small pinfish. For artificials, twitching shrimp imitations or shallow-running plugs near creek mouths at the start of an outgoing tide are key.
- Notes: These fish are hungry—many are long, skinny females looking to regain mass after spawning. Catch-and-release is the rule for these linesiders!
Redfish: Schooling Up Strong
The Redfish bite remains fantastic. Schools of fish—many in the upper-slot to over-slot range—are actively tailing and feeding across the open flats and nearshore oyster bars in Matlacha Pass and throughout Charlotte Harbor.
- Tactics: Look for them around oyster bars and sand potholes on the low tide, and use fresh cut ladyfish or mullet under the deepest parts of the mangrove bushes on the afternoon high tide. Soft plastics like the DOA Shrimp or weighted spoons fished along grass edges are also producing great results.
- Trout: Speckled Trout are moving onto the shallower grass flats (2-4 feet of water), particularly those around Burnt Store Marina. A popping cork with a live shrimp or a Gulp! Shrimp is the most effective way to prospect for these fish.
Nearshore & Offshore: Naples to Marco Island
The Gulf of Mexico is providing excellent variety, with a mix of bottom fish and migrating pelagics accessible within the first 20 miles of the coast.
Grouper and Snapper
Bottom fishing has improved significantly as cooler water allows fish to stage in shallower depths.
- Gag Grouper: Gag Grouper are moving into ledges and rocky bottoms in less than 60 feet of water. Trolling large lipped plugs or drifting live pinfish over known hard bottom structures is your best bet for a dinner-plate sized Gag.
- Mangrove & Lane Snapper: These are abundant, especially on evening or night trips starting in the 75 to 120 foot depth range. Chumming heavily will bring these fish right up the water column. Use small pieces of cut squid or live shrimp on light leader.
- Cobia: The Cobia migration is beginning. Keep an eye out for sharks and manta rays near the nearshore reefs and wrecks—Cobia love to shadow them. Pitching a live eel, jig, or bucktail to a visible Cobia is the trick.
Coastal Targets: Tarpon & Permit
Surprisingly, the Silver King is still around! Large schools of Tarpon are chasing migrating baitfish just off the beaches from Naples to Fort Myers Beach. If you see birds diving, expect Tarpon to be close behind. Use live mullet or large pilchards. Additionally, the Permit bite remains steady around wrecks and reefs, especially for anglers deploying live crabs.
Recommended Conditions & Gear
| Area | Target Species | Top Bait / Lure | Ideal Tide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine Island Sound | Snook | Large Live Pilchards (Greenbacks) | High, Incoming |
| Matlacha Pass | Redfish | Fresh Cut Mullet or Ladyfish | Outgoing, Around Oysters |
| Naples Nearshore | Cobia, Snapper | Live Pinfish, Squid, Bucktail Jigs | Early Morning or Late Evening |
| Offshore Reefs | Gag Grouper | Trolled Lipped Plugs / Live Pinfish | Slack Tide (for bottom fishing) |
Pro Tip: Pay close attention to the wind direction. Northern breezes usually precede a cold front, leading to an aggressive bite. South and west winds tend to keep the fish less active.
The fall run is in full swing. Get out there and enjoy what is truly the best fishing of the year!
Disclaimer: Always check current FWC regulations for size and bag limits before heading out.
