Best Times & Seasons to Fish Cape Coral, FL (A Complete Guide)

Cape Coral is one of the best fishing locations in Florida due to its abundant coastline and rich fish populations. Knowing the best times to come fish these rich waterways will make a huge difference.

The best time to fish near Cape Coral is between May and September for cobia, permit, sharks, tarpon, sea trout, and largemouth bass. Winter and early spring is great for redfish and grouper in Cape Coral waters.

Fish Species	Best Times to Fish in Cape Coral, Florida
Grouper	November through March is the best season to fish.
Snapper	October through March is the hottest snapper fishing time.
Cobia	April through October is the best time to catch cobia in Cape Coral.
Sharks	May through August is the best shark fishing window of the year.
Tarpon	Year-round availability. March through July is the best timeframe.
Redfish	Year-round availability. August through December is the best timeframe.
Sea Trout	May through July is the best time.
Largemouth Bass	Spring & Fall is the best time to catch largemouth bass in the Cape Coral-area

Located on the southern gulf coast of Florida, Cape Coral is a beautiful area with great fishing. There are plenty of unique fishing experiences available in the area, including deep sea fishing, inshore fishing around islands, canal fishing, and plenty of other options.

Best Time to Fish Cape Coral

The best time of year to fish Cape Coral depends on what species of fish you will be targeting. Most fish are in season year-round but have high and low seasons.

The time of year with the most species in their peak season is in the summer, around April through September.

During this time, you can expect to find tarpon, jack crevalle, grouper, mackerel, and a few other species as well.

If you’re looking to catch the most fish possible, this time is for you. If you’re looking to target big, offshore fish, usually the early summer or late spring is the best option.

More fish will be migrating to the area as the water warms up. As for inshore fishing, mid-summer is a good option as there are quite a few fish moving into the shallower spots in the area.

Recommended Fishing Charters in Cape Coral

These Cape Coral-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.

Recommended Fishing Charters	Type of Fishing Offered
Thrill Of It All – Cape Coral	Flats, Backcountry, Nearshore & Inshore
Salty Native Charters	Flats, Backcountry, Nearshore & Inshore
Captain Paul’s Yacht Charters	Nearshore, River & Inshore
Spangler Adventures – Cape Coral	Inshore & Flats
Captain Mike’s Back Bay Charters	Flats, River & Inshore
Fish Getter Charters	River, Backcountry, Flats & Inshore
Changes in Latitude Charters	Backcountry, Flats & Inshore
Mike’s Outdoor Adventures	Inshore

Species of Cape Coral (Best Times & Seasons)

King Mackerel

Mackerel, also known as kingfish, are usually at their peak from late fall through April. They can be found at other times as well, but are usually much more scattered and tend to move out to deeper water.

As for the time of day, mackerel are generally more active in the morning. Before the sun gets too strong, mackerel will move to areas that are slightly shallower and easier to find.

Mackerel like to eat shiny, oily baitfish. Cigar minnows and mullet are some of the most popular options, but almost any baitfish will work.

You can either jig or troll for mackerel, trolling is the more popular option for open water fishing and jigging works well on reefs and wrecks.

Mackerel are offshore fish, generally sticking to reefs and wrecks. You can also find them in open water, but they may be harder to track down. Occasionally, they will move to inshore waters, but offshore fishing is where you will find the bulk of them.

Jack Crevalle

The peak season for jack crevalle runs from April through November. They will migrate from the southern parts of the Gulf of Mexico into the Cape Coral area, following warmer water. They will stay in the area until the water starts to cool down again.

Jack crevalle are known for feeding on lots of baitfish. The bulk of their diet is made up of mullet, herring, and sardines. Jacks have large mouths, so don’t worry too much about having too big of a bait. A bigger bait will generally attract bigger fish, but bigger jacks will also bite on smaller baits.

With their size, some are surprised by how shallow jacks can be found. Jack crevalle are an inshore fish and can sometimes be found in just a couple of feet of water.

Jacks are mainly found in sandy flats areas, but can sometimes be found around docks and grassy areas as well.

Tarpon

Tarpon are easily one of the most sought out game fish in Florida. They put up a great fight, can grow up to 200 pounds, and put on a show while you’re reeling one in.

Their season is short, running from April through July. They can be caught in the offseason, but are rare during this time. 

Tarpon mainly like to feed on different kinds of baitfish, the most popular choices being pinfish and mullet. They also like to feed on shrimp and crabs, but live baitfish seems to be the best option.

The best way to rig your baitfish is by having a small weight attached and to hook the baitfish through both its tail and back. Fly fishing is also a popular way to catch tarpon, mainly by using large baitfish imitation streamers.

Tarpon are inshore fish, mainly sticking to shallow, sandy flats. They can be found almost next to the shore, or in more open water, usually near a reef or dropoff.

Snook

Snook are a very common fish, found throughout the inshore and brackish waters of Florida. Their peak season runs from March through October, but they are still in the area and easily accessible through their down season as well.

The most popular bait for snook are shrimp and pinfish. Snook have large mouths, so don’t worry too much about having an oversized bait.

The most common way to rig these baits is by having an appropriately sized weight for the body of water you are fishing a foot or two above your hook. This allows for your bait to move freely in the lower parts of the water column. 

Snook are inshore fish, rarely moving out into deeper water. They can normally be found in areas where there is cover. This includes docks, weedlines, and drop-offs. They will sometimes be in open water, but usually only move into deep, open water when they start to scatter.

Sea Trout

Sea trout (speckled trout) are a very common fish in Florida, found in almost any inshore area. Their fishing is good year-round but hit their peak from April through June.

As for the time of day, you should try to target them in the morning, they will be out from their cover and much more active in the morning.

Trout like to feed on both artificial and natural bait, but artificial bait seems to be easier to use. This is because of how hard it is to have enough weight attached to a live bait rig without spooking the fish. The most popular baits include poppers, spoons, and a jig with either a live or plastic shrimp.

As an inshore fish, trout can be easy to find at times. They usually stick to areas with plenty of structure and don’t move into very deep water. You can also find them around weed lines.

I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic if you want to create your combo.

Best Time of Day to Fish Cape Coral

The best time of day to fish Cape Coral is in the morning. This is because the sun won’t be nearly as hot as it would be in the afternoon. When the sun starts to heat up, most fish under cover, or scatter to deeper water.

Fishing in the evening is the second-best option, fish will start to move out of their cover as the water cools down and start roaming the area for food. This activity will sometimes go all night long and into the next morning, usually depending on the tide.

Tidal Impacts on Cape Coral Fishing

Tides can have a huge impact on how many fish you catch on your trip. Fish usually don’t like feeding during low tide as there is less oxygen in the water, making them sluggish.

Low tide also sends fish further away from shore, making surf fishing much harder. The best tide to fish around is high tide.

This is because of the oxygen levels in the water and the extra current added. The oxygen will give the fish more energy, and the current will bring in more food from deeper water.

The times surrounding high tide can also be good, but if you can manage to make it on the water during high tide, you will have better results.

Affect of Rain & Tropical Storms on Fishing in Cape Coral

Tropical storms can have a huge impact on your fishing trip. It’s smart to avoid them, but sometimes it can be hard to predict exactly when they will hit the area. The tropical storm season in Florida is in the fall, adding some risk to booking a trip during this time.

There are chances of tropical storms happening outside of this season, but this is the most common time for them to happen. Fish will scatter as soon as they feel the pressure in the air from the storm, usually going to deeper water.

Tropical storms will send tons of rain and strong winds into the area, even if it doesn’t directly hit the area you are in. This makes checking the weather a very important thing to do, no matter what time you take your trip.

Night Fishing in Cape Coral

Night fishing offers a unique fishing experience, while not limiting you on how many fish you can catch. Night fishing is a popular option in Cape Coral as there are a few well-lit piers that are open all night long and plenty of artificial light coming from the city.

Artificial light is so important because it gives the fish enough light to feed throughout the night. Fishing in bay areas, or channels, that are surrounded by artificial light are good spots to start with for night fishing.

Surf fishing is also a popular way to night fish. Bigger fish will move closer to shore as the night goes on, and they will be feeding.

As for bait, any live or fresh bait should do the trick, but oily and smelly baitfish seem to have the best results. This is especially true in spots with low amounts of light.

The species you can catch at night largely stay the same, but some bigger fish from deeper water may move in closer to shore.

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or a complete breakdown of the best times and seasons to fish Naples, please check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times and seasons to fish in Boca Grande, please check out this article.

Shore & Surf Fishing in Cape Coral

This area has plenty of options for fishing from the shore, including a few different beaches and piers. Some of the most popular spots in the area include Sanibel, the Caloosahatchee River, and other parks and beaches in the area. The most common species that can be caught from shore include snook, trout, and jack crevalle.

As for how to catch the fish, a good rig for any species is to have a baitfish a foot or two under a weight. This will let your baitfish swim freely and cover more water, attracting more fish.

You should aim for deeper spots, usually on the far side of a drop-off, or for areas with structure, like docks.

Fishing from shore can sometimes outproduce fishing from a boat, but you will need to put in some work to find a spot that has the species that you’re targeting. You will also want to pay attention to tides, as they impact shore fishing much more than fishing from a boat.

Best Fishing Spots in Cape Coral

Surf/Shore Fishing

Jaycee Park

Jaycee Park is located on the Caloosahatchee River and is one of the most popular parks on the river to fish from. The park has plenty of shorelines available for fishing and offers the staple inshore species, including snook and trout.

The park is next to some marinas, which lead into canals that go further inland. Some of the docks are fishable, but most are privately owned and not available for fishing.

Four Mile Cove Fishing Pier

Located just north of Jaycee Park, this pier is located on a large point sticking out into the Caloosahatchee River. The park is also right below a bridge, attracting fish with it’s cover from the sun.

Some of the popular species here are snook and trout, with the occasional catfish as well. There are a few small streams and an inlet just north of the park that offer great fishing as well.

Inshore

Caloosahatchee River

The Caloosahatchee River starts up by the Okeechobee Waterway and runs until it hits Sanibel Island. In the parts of the river that are further inland, you can find largemouth bass and crappie.

As you get closer to Cape Coral and the ocean, you’ll start to see snook, tarpon, trout, and even some shark near the mouth of the river.

The mouth of the river offers a wide variety of fish and plenty of areas to fish. You can choose to fish around the small islands, peninsulas, or even go north to fish the flats of the Matlacha Pass.

San Carlos Bay

San Carlos Bay is located south of Cape Coral, on the south side of the south part of Cape Coral. This bay offers some great fishing, both inshore and offshore. There are flats areas, reefs, and deepwater areas, making it a great spot to catch any species you want.

The most popular species in this area are tarpon, snapper, grouper, and jack crevalle, but there are plenty more for you to catch here.

Offshore

Offshore fishing is one of the most popular ways to fish in Cape Coral. Offshore fishing offers the biggest fish in the area and you can catch a wider variety of species. Some of the species you can find offshore include marlin, sailfish, and dorado.

If you are planning on going offshore, your charter will take care of the bait, tackle, and finding spots, giving you a relaxing day on the water.

Best Seasons to Book a Charter

The best time to book a charter also depends on what species of fish you are targeting, but that isn’t all you need to consider.

You should think of how busy the charters in the area will be during the time that you are planning on going. Florida is almost always busy with tourism, with an uptick during the summer and in the winter.

This doesn’t mean that you should avoid these times, but if you are planning on going during these times, make sure to book well in advance. Another thing to think of is the weather.

The tropical storm season in Florida is in the fall. If the species you are targeting are only available in the fall, don’t get discouraged, tropical storms aren’t a constant threat during this time and most storms are spotted well before they ever make it to the area.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish in Punta Gorda, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Englewood, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Bookelia, check out this article.