Marco Island
fishing charters
Top Fishing Charters in Marco Island
Memorable Marco Island Fishing Charters
Marco Island offers some of the best year-round game fishing in the world. Surrounded by bodies of water with the 10,000 Islands to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Marco Island is in southwest Florida just 10 miles south of Naples and 85 miles north of Key West.
Fishing in Marco Island
Here are three of the most popular places to dock your boat and fish from the beach in Marco Island.
South End
There are several beach access points on Marco Island if you are not staying in a hotel or condo on the water. The south end walkway is between the Apollo condos and Cape Marco.
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Mid Island
This access point can be found at Maple Avenue between the Madeira condo and the Royal Seafarer.
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North End
The north end walkway is the most convenient one to reach from the water because it can easily be found in the Tigertail Beach area.
Learn moreBest Places to Fish in Marco Island
Sail your Marco Island fishing charter to all of these top fishing spots to catch tarpon, mackerel, cobia, bass, snapper, redfish, and even some sharks.
Beach Fishing
There are all kinds of techniques you can use. One of the easiest and most productive techniques is casting a bucktail jig. Try a jig with a small piece of shrimp. Cast deep away from shore and retrieve the line slowly. Jigging off the bottom can produce pompano, sea trout, and sheepshead.
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Fly Fishing the Ten Thousand Islands
Sail your Marco Island fishing charter to the grass flats of the Ten Thousand Islands. Place your fly under the roots and try for snook or redfish. This is probably some of the most difficult fishing but it can be very rewarding.
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Fishing from the Boat
You can easily drop anchor and fish straight from your Marco Island fishing charter. The waters here are warm and shallow with so many different kinds of fish. Because of the depth, the waters can get a little choppy when the winds are strong from the west. But winds usually prevail from the east for calm conditions most of the year.
Learn moreHow to Fish in Marco Island, Florida
Fishing is best in the early mornings when the sun is low in the sky. When you charter a boat in Marco Island, here are some of the most important fishing options to consider.
Fishing Style
Your fishing style will affect the kind of bait and tackle that you need to get, as well as the other type of equipment you should bring with you out on the water. Fishing can be great fun for the family, but make sure you are well prepared. If the kids need to stretch their legs, simply drop anchor at a barrier island to find that one of a kind shell.
Fishing Areas
Choose the area that suits your style of fishing the best. Enjoy the hotels and condos of the Marco Island skyline in the distance as you fish along the calm waters and ride the gentle waves.
Special Regulations
Make sure to check if there are any special regulations for operating a fishing boat in Marco Island. One example of this might be a limit on where gasoline motors can be used in the area.
Types of Fish in Marco Island
If you have decided on a Marco Island fishing trip, there are so many interesting species of fish you can catch.
Cobia
Cobia are known as large, long fish with a dark stripe along the sides of the body. They can sometimes be found in the calm and shallow waters of Marco Island from spring until the end of autumn.
Redfish
Redfish can usually be caught on light tackle so they are good targets for amateur anglers. Redfish are often bottom feeders (their mouths are pointed down) who generally eat small crabs and shrimp.
Snook
Snook like living amongst mangroves, bridges, rock outcrops, sandbars, grass flats, wrecks, or jetties. They are ambush feeders that wait for fish and crustaceans to pass by before pouncing on them.
Top Types of Fishing in Marco Island, Florida
When you charter a fishing boat in Marco Island, there are so many options for the types of fishing you can do.
Offshore Fishing
If you enjoy fishing in deeper waters, sail offshore to some of Marco Island's wrecks or artificial reefs. Catch that game fish that fights so well or the large grouper and snapper that might become your dinner.
Backwater Fishing
Relax and fish among the shallow shores of the 10,000 Islands. These peaceful waters are full of game fish like snook, tarpon, and redfish. The backwaters require a little casting of either live or artificial baits around the mangroves and sandy beaches, which can be a great adventure for the whole family.
Open Waters
As you fish the shallows, you can see dolphins, West Indies manatee and all kinds of different land and sea birds. Stop off on one of Marco Island’s barrier island beaches to look for shells or swim in the warm water.
Marco Island, Florida Fishing Seasons
Because Marco Island has such an amazing climate, fishing is a popular outdoor activity all year.
January
Bottom fishing for snook or redfish is a rewarding activity when you sail your fishing charter around the barrier islands.
February
During February, bottom fishing for snook or redfish is still very popular in plenty of locations off the coast.
March
Marco Island's waters get warmer and all kinds of tropical species can be found swimming around in March.
April
A few of the most common catches off Marco Island during the month of April can be king mackerel and cobia.
May
If you plan to do some offshore fishing, May is the best time to try for some trophy catches like sailfish.
June
Anchor your fishing charter off the coast, drop a few lines into the water, and enjoy the incredible June weather on your boat.
July
It is often a good idea to try fishing for red snappers and tarpon from your Marco Island fishing charter during July.
August
Pelagic fish like snappers and groupers can usually be found swimming off the coast of Marco Island in August.
September
The water temperatures around the island cool down a little, but lots of pelagic fish can still be found two or three miles from the shore.
October
October is a good time to sail the waters on your Marco Island fishing charter and try out trolling behind the boat.
November
November is another good time of year for some bottom fishing again, straight from your Marco Island fishing charter.
December
Although temperatures can get a little chilly, midday fishing trips can still be really fun during December.
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