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Summer heat brings hot inshore and offshore action across SWFL waters
Sanibel Island - Lee, FL
The summer bite is on fire in Fort Myers, with anglers seeing great action both inshore and offshore. Inshore, the mangrove shorelines and grass flats are teeming with Redfish, Snook, and Sea Trout. Early mornings and late evenings are prime time, especially when fishing live bait around structure. Snook are pushing along the beaches and passes, staging for their summer patterns, and responding well to whitebait and topwater lures.
Tarpon remain a top target this month, particularly around the Sanibel Causeway and Boca Grande Pass. Dawn patrol is paying off big for those chasing the Silver King, with rolling fish and explosive strikes on crabs and live threadfins. Meanwhile, the grass flats around Pine Island Sound are producing steady numbers of Trout and the occasional Cobia cruising through.
Offshore, the Gulf continues to deliver. Snapper and Grouper are stacked on the reefs, with Red Grouper coming in strong in 80–120 feet of water. King Mackerel and Barracuda are making fast runs through the bait pods, giving offshore anglers fast-paced action. Keep an eye on weather windows for the longer runs—calmer days are offering excellent opportunities to fish wrecks and ledges.