Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Matlacha, FL (Full Guide)
Matlacha offers some of the best fishing in Florida which is often very overlooked by anglers and tourists alike. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish these rich waters can really help your success rates.
The best time to fish Matlacha, Florida is from April through June for barracuda, cobia, grouper, jack crevalle, king mackerel, ladyfish, redfish, snapper, snook, speckled trout, tarpon, and tripletail.
Matlacha is a fishing destination that has something for everyone regardless of your level of experience. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish in the region helps anglers achieve better results during their trips.
Best Time to Fish in Matlacha
Matlacha is a destination where anglers can enjoy fishing throughout the year. However, a peak fishing season in the region starts in the late spring and ends in the early summer.
The best time of the year to fish Matlacha largely depends on the fish species that you are targeting. Both seasonal and year-round species can be caught in the local waters. It’s necessary to study the bite times of your favorite fish species. Book a charter when your targeted species are the most active in the region.
Keep in mind that the peak tourism season in Matlacha is between February and April. The prices of hotels go up in the area and the demand for fishing increases at this time of the year. So, don’t visit the region during these months if you would like to avoid fishing in crowds.
Matlacha Species Breakdown: Best Times & Seasons
Amberjack
Amberjack is the most active in the area during colder months. The best times of the year to target amberjack in Matlacha are between January and April and between October and December.
Amberjack feeds actively in the early morning and in the evening. Amberjack can be found in the waters near Bokeelia.
Black Drum
Fishing for black drum is best between January and March and between October and December. It’s possible to catch black drum in the waters near Cape Coral.
Cobia
The cobia fishing season in Matlacha starts in February and ends in November. The best months to target cobia in the area are April, September – October.
Cobia is active when the sun is at its highest point. That’s why anglers often catch cobia in the middle of the day. Bokeelia is one of the best places to target cobia in the region.
Mangrove Snapper
Mangrove snapper is active in Matlacha throughout the year. However, the peak season to catch mangrove snapper in the region is between April and November.
Mangrove snapper feeds actively either in the early morning or in the late afternoon. Mangrove snapper is one of the top targeted species in St. James City.
Redfish
The season to catch redfish in Matlacha starts in March and ends in December. However, the best times of the year to target redfish are between April and May and between September and November. Morning is the best time of day to target redfish. Redfish bites well near Cape Coral.
Snook
It’s possible to catch snook in Matlacha year-round. Snook fishing season in the region starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall.
The Matlacha snook fishing season is high between April and October. Captiva is the right place to fish for snook in the region.
Sheepshead
The best times of the year to catch sheepshead in Matlacha are between January and March and between November and December. It’s recommended to catch sheepshead during the morning hours. It makes sense to catch sheepshead in the waters near Bokeelia.
Tarpon
Tarpon fishing is good in Matlacha between the early spring and the early fall. The best season to fish tarpon in the region is between April and July. The early morning is the best time of day to tarpon in the area. Oftentimes, anglers catch tarpon near Cape Coral.
Blacktip Shark
Blacktip shark fishing in Matlacha is productive between the early spring and the late fall. The peak season to catch blacktip sharks in the area is between the late spring and the late summer.
The chances to catch blacktip sharks are high at dawn and at dusk. It’s possible to catch blacktip sharks in the waters near Fort Myers.
Jack Crevalle
Jack crevalle fishing in Matlacha is good throughout the year. The best season to catch jack crevalle in the area is between April and November.
It’s possible to catch jack crevalle during morning and afternoon hours. Oftentimes, anglers catch jack crevalle in the waters near St. James City.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Matlacha
These Matlacha-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional 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 | Location |
| Capt. Michael Kayrouz Charters | Matlacha, FL |
| Ahab Charters Inc. | Matlacha, FL |
| Gulf of Mexico Reef Fishing | Matlacha, FL |
| Maxed Out Charters | Matlacha, FL |
| Coast2Coast Charters | Matlacha, FL |
| Fishology Fishing Charters | Matlacha, FL |
| Captain Mike’s Back Bay Charters | Cape Coral, FL |
| Set On Everything Charters | Bokeelia, FL |
| Bent Rod Charters | St. James City, FL |
| Spangler Adventures – Captiva | Captiva, FL |
| Fin Crazy Charters | Englewood, FL |
| Capt. Bill Walker’s Fishing Charters | Fort Myers, FL |
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 Seasons to Book a Matlacha Charter
Matlacha is well-known for its sub-tropical climate. The weather is warm in the region year-round. However, fishing is different in the area each month.
Spring
It’s getting warmer and fish get closer to shore in the early spring. Fishing is excellent on backcountry flats and in the mangroves during the spring months. More fish get active in the late spring.
Fishing in Matlacha is very productive in May. Spring is the time of the year when anglers can target such species as black drum, cobia, jack crevalle, ladyfish, grouper, snook, permit, tripletail, snapper, tarpon as well as trout.
Summer
Water temperatures rise and fishing is getting better in Matlacha in the early summer. It makes sense to search for fish in shady areas during the hot summer months. A lot of anglers choose to fish around the Matlacha Bridge and on flats.
Plenty of fish concentrate usually in these areas. In summer, anglers can target such species as grouper, cobia, ladyfish, jack crevalle, tarpon, tripletail, tarpon, snapper, snook, and others.
Fall
Water cools down, but the weather is still good in the fall. Fall fishing is good in the area. Many anglers prefer to fish on flats during the fall months. In the late fall, fishing is good in nearshore waters. Anglers prefer to use such techniques as light tackle, bottom fishing, and trolling in the fall.
Great fishing opportunities are created for fly anglers during the fall months. Among the species that anglers can target in the fall are amberjack, barracuda, black drum, cobia, grouper, king mackerel, redfish, and snook.
Winter
It’s possible to fish Matlacha during the winter months. In winter, the waters are calm and that’s why anglers find it comfortable to fish in the region.
In winter, anglers should go fishing in inshore waters. When fishing in Matlacha in winter, anglers can target groupers, redfish, sheepshead, tripletail as well as trout.
Best Time of Day to Fish in Matlacha
The best time of day to fish Matlacha depends a lot on the species that you are targeting, the season of the year, weather conditions, and your preferences.
The vast majority of fish species bite well either in the morning or in the evening during warm months. If the weather is hot, the water cools down during the morning and evening hours. That’s why the activity of fish increases.
However, it would be better to fish Matlacha in the afternoon during the colder months. The water heats up in the afternoon and that’s why fish get active. So, anglers can catch it easily.
You should always check the weather forecast for Matlacha before going fishing. Strong winds and heavy rains create difficulties for anglers and make fishing in the area dangerous. So, don’t book a fishing charter if bad weather is expected. A trip will be canceled or rescheduled.
Let’s say that you are the kind of person who doesn’t like to wake up early in the morning. No problem. In this case, you should go fishing in the afternoon or in the evening.
Matlacha Fishing & Tidal Impacts
Tide times depend a lot on bite times. It’s recommended to study Matlacha tide charts prior to booking a fishing trip. By doing so, you’ll manage to find out when tides are rising and when tides are falling in the area.
Oxygen-rich waters are brought to the area during the rising tides. As a result, the activity of fish increases, and fish begin to search for food actively. When tides are falling, it’s much easier to reach the deeper areas and catch fish.
The charts show when tides are high and when tides are low in the region. Also, you need to know how your favorite species react to tides. This information will help you decide when it’s the best time to go fishing in the area.
Storms & Matlacha Fishing
Storms have an impact on fishing. It’s fair to say that storms are a big problem for anglers. Fishing during storms should be avoided for safety reasons. It’s also important to note that fish go to move waters and don’t bite during storms. So, always check weather forecasts for Matlacha before booking a trip.
It would be better to avoid visiting the region during the rainy season. June is the wettest month in Matlacha. That means that storms, as well as rainstorms, can be expected this month. On the other hand, there is almost no rain in the region in November.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Matlacha?
The weather is getting colder and many fish species get inactive in Matlacha during the winter months. Nevertheless, it’s still possible to enjoy fishing in the region in winter. Winter is a great time of the year to target such species of fish as amberjack, black drum, black grouper, gag grouper, red grouper, king mackerel, ladyfish, and sheepshead.
Night Fishing in MatlachaNight fishing is incredibly popular in Matlacha. Summer is the best time of the year to go fishing in the region during nighttime. Fishing at night is a great way to avoid heat. Anglers choose to fish around the bridges and on the flats at night.
Snook is the main target for anglers, who prefer to fish in the area during night hours. Among the other fish species that it’s possible to catch in the area at night are black drum, flounder, snook, redfish, tarpon, and trout.
Top 5 Fishing Spots in Matlacha
1. Cape Coral
Cape Coral is the place where anglers can target both freshwater and saltwater species. The Gulf of Mexico has a lot to offer to anglers.
The fishing destination is also known for its canals. The canals provide anglers with great fishing opportunities. On top of that, anglers can go fishing on the Caloosahatchee River.
Fishing in Cape Coral is the most productive between April and June. The main targets in the region include cobia, jack crevalle, redfish, grouper, snapper, tarpon, spotted seatrout, tripletail, and other species.
2. Captiva
Captiva is the perfect place for those anglers, who would like to experience inshore fishing. Fishing in the area is very diverse. Anglers can fish on shallow flats, in mangroves, in marinas, and in narrow places. It’s also possible to go further to experience offshore fishing in the local waters.
The best of the year to fish Captiva is between April and August. Among fish species that anglers can target in the area are cobia, jack crevalle, grouper, redfish, snapper, snook, tarpon as well as spotted seatrout.
3. Fort Myers
Fort Myers provides easy access to many great fishing spots. You can experience fishing in the Caloosahatchee River, Charlotte Harbor, Matlacha Pass, and Estero Bay. Such places provide anglers with fantastic fishing opportunities. Fishing is good in shallow waters, near reefs, and wrecks.
A peak fishing season in Fort Myers begins in April and ends in July. Fort Myers is a good place to target such species as cobia, jack crevalle, snook, redfish, tarpon, snapper, spotted seatrout, and permit.
4. Bokeelia
Bokeelia is another good place to go fishing near Matlacha. Here, it’s possible to fish on flats and in inshore and nearshore waters. When fishing in the area, anglers can use such techniques as spinning, light tackle, and heavy tackle.
Fishing in Bokeelia is the most productive between the late spring and the early summer. The top targeted fish species in the area include cobia, jack crevalle, gag grouper, goliath grouper, redfish, mangrove snapper, snook, tarpon as well as spotted seatrout.
5. Sanibel
Sanibel is a famous fishing location that allows anglers to experience world-class inshore fishing. The destination is suitable both for beginners and avid anglers. There are many grassy flats, mangroves, and oyster bars in Sanibel and its surrounding areas.
Such places attract plenty of fish. Fishing in Sanibel is best between the early spring and the late summer. It’s possible to catch cobia, jack crevalle, ladyfish, king mackerel, snook, redfish, tarpon, grouper, snapper, spotted seatrout, and other species in the local waters.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
It’s not necessary to book a charter in order to enjoy fishing in Matlacha and in its surrounding areas. A lot of anglers give a preference to surf fishing in the region. There are many places where anglers can fish from shore.
For example, it’s possible to do surf fishing in Matlacha Community Park. Shore anglers prefer to fish on beaches as well. However, surf fishing is possible only when there are no swimmers on beaches. That means that surf anglers can do fishing on beaches either in the early morning or in the late evening.
Shore anglers can also fish from piers. Among the best fishing piers near Matlacha are Bokeelia Fishing Pier, Cape Coral Yacht Club Park Fishing Pier, Four Mile Cove Fishing Pier, Centennial Fishing Pier, North Shore Park Fishing Pier, and others.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Captiva, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Bookelia, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Placida, check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Homestead, check out this helpful guide.
