May has lived up to every expectation so far. Water temperatures are sitting right where we want them in the upper 70s and low 80s, the bait is thick across the flats, and the fish are responding. We’ve been running trips across the full Southwest Florida fishing grounds this month, from Pine Island Sound down through Sanibel and into Estero Bay, and the action has been consistently strong from sunrise through the morning tide windows.
This Fort Myers fishing report covers what we’ve been catching, where the bite has been turning on, and what’s working bait-wise for clients booking trips through the rest of the month. Snook harvest is closed across the Gulf coast through September, so everything you’ll see in this report is catch and release for snook. Trout, redfish, and the rest of the inshore mix continue to produce excellent table fare for clients who want to bring something home for dinner.
Here’s the full breakdown from the past few weeks on the water.
1. The Redfish and Trout Bite Continues
The redfish and trout pattern that started ramping up in late April has carried right through into May. We’ve been finding fish on the same flats and oyster bar systems that produced in April, with the addition of larger schools as more bait moves into the back bays. Live shrimp under popping corks is producing on the trout, and gold spoons or soft plastic paddle tails are doing the work on the redfish.
Mornings have been the strongest window. We’re starting trips early to catch the moving water on the outgoing tide, and the bite has been firing for the first three to four hours before slowing as the sun gets high. Clients who want consistent action this time of year are best served on the inshore fishing this month format with a 6:00 AM departure.
The water clarity around the mangrove edges has been excellent. Sight casting opportunities have been better than I expected for this time of year, especially in the first hour of the morning before boat traffic picks up. If you’re booking through the rest of May, ask about the flats we’ve been running. The same spots have produced day after day, which tells me the fish are settled in and feeding hard.
2. Some Big Trout and Smaller Redfish While Fishing Around SWFL
A few trips this month have produced exactly the mix I love seeing on a multi-species day: gator-class trout pushing the upper slot, with smaller redfish mixed in for steady action. The trout we’re seeing are in the 18 to 22-inch range with a few solid specimens above that, and the smaller schoolie reds have been keeping rods bent between the bigger bites.
This pattern has been holding across the broader SWFL fishing grounds. Same tactics that produced in early April are still working, just with bigger fish on the trout side as the water warms. Live shrimp is doing most of the heavy lifting, but we’ve also had clients catching well on artificial soft plastics worked slowly across the grass flats.
For clients chasing big trout specifically, the bigger fish have been holding in deeper potholes adjacent to the grass flats rather than on the flats themselves. Drift the edges, work soft plastics or live shrimp through the deeper water, and you’ll find the size you’re looking for. The smaller schoolie trout are everywhere on the flats, but the gators want a little more depth and a little more current.
3. Big Trout and Redfish Around Sanibel, Florida
We’ve been running a number of trips in the Sanibel waters this month, and the bite has been outstanding. The combination of cleaner water, less back-bay pressure, and the deeper grass flats around the island has produced some of the best mixed-bag days I’ve had in May.
Sanibel-area redfish have been running larger on average than what we’ve been finding in the deeper back bays. We’ve boated several upper-slot reds in the 26 to 27-inch range, with a few over-slot fish that went back as required. The trout fishing has been strong too, with consistent quality fish that fight harder than the typical schoolie.
The Sanibel pattern has been tide-driven, just like everywhere else in May. We’ve been timing trips for the strongest tidal flow, fishing the first two hours of the outgoing on most charters. The bait has been pushing through the passes and across the eastern flats on schedule, and the fish have been waiting in predictable spots.
For clients staying in or near Sanibel and Captiva, ask about the trips that work the eastern Sanibel flats. The runs are short, the water is consistently clean, and the fish have been cooperative.
4. Plenty of Action With Trout, Ladyfish, Jack, and a Bonus Tarpon
This past week brought one of those days that reminds me why May is my favorite month to fish in Southwest Florida. We had non-stop action from the first cast: trout on the flats, ladyfish blowing up in surface schools, jack crevalle hammering anything that moved, and one absolute surprise. A juvenile tarpon rolled on a free-lined pilchard and gave us a 15-minute fight under the bridge before we got the leader to the boat for a clean release.
This is what May is all about. The water is alive, multiple species are feeding aggressively, and you never know what’s going to eat your next bait. Days like these are why I run saltwater action this week trips that stay flexible on target species. We chase the bite wherever it’s hottest.
The bonus tarpon shot is the photo I keep coming back to. That fish came out of nowhere on a slack tide change, and watching her go aerial with the Sanibel Causeway bridge in the background is one of those May moments that makes the whole season. Tarpon season is fully underway across the tarpon hotspot details zones, and I’ll have a dedicated tarpon-focused report later in the month as the migration peaks.
The ladyfish action has been ridiculous. They’ve been schooling in massive numbers along the flats edges, and they’re a perfect species for kids and beginners. Hard fighters, jumpy, and willing to eat just about any artificial worked through the school. If you’re bringing kids on a trip this month, the ladyfish bite alone makes for an unforgettable day.
5. Plenty of Jack and Snook Action While Vacationing in Estero Bay
Wrapping up this report with a run we did in Estero Bay this past week. The bay has been fishing exceptionally well in May, with strong jack crevalle activity along the mangrove shorelines and snook holding tight to dock structures and bridge pilings throughout the system.
Snook fishing has been the headline. We’ve been catching them on live pilchards free-lined along mangrove edges, and the size class has been solid. Several fish in the 22 to 28-inch range, plus a couple of upper-30 inchers that fought hard in tight quarters. Remember, snook are catch and release until October 1, so every fish goes back. But the action itself has been outstanding for clients who want shots at quality snook on the bite right now.
The bonus catch from the Estero Bay run was a quality flounder that came up off a sandy bottom area near a creek mouth. Flounder are an underrated catch this time of year, and they make excellent table fare. We released that one because the slot was right at the edge, but it was a great reminder that Estero Bay holds more variety than people realize.
The jack crevalle action deserves its own mention. These fish are pure muscle, and a 5-pound jack will pull harder than a 10-pound snook. We had a stretch where every cast produced a jack, and the smiles on the boat said everything. They are not table fare (most anglers release them), but they fight like nothing else in the bay for their size.
What’s Coming for the Rest of May 2026
Based on what we’re seeing on the water and the patterns developing, here’s what to expect through the end of the month and into June.
Tarpon migration is peaking. Boca Grande Pass is firing, and the local passes (Big Carlos, Blind Pass, Redfish Pass) are seeing increasing numbers of fish daily. If a tarpon trip is on your list, the next four weeks are the prime window. Book early because peak tarpon dates fill faster than any other charter type all year.
Snook will stay strong on catch and release. The pre-spawn aggression we’ve been seeing should continue through May and into June. The action is excellent even though harvest is closed. For anglers who want quality snook fights without keeping fish, this is one of the best windows of the year.
Mangrove snapper bite is building. Nearshore reefs are starting to produce mangrove snapper in better numbers as water warms. Clients who want eating fish for dinner can target snapper on shorter nearshore runs, with grouper as a bonus species on the same trips.
Morning trips outperform. As we push into late May and the heat builds, the morning bite window gets shorter and more critical. Sunrise departures will outproduce mid-morning starts by a wide margin. Plan accordingly.
For a deeper look at how May’s patterns compare to earlier in the spring, the March 2026 fishing report and February fishing report cover what was producing earlier in the year and how the patterns evolved.
Booking Through May and Into June 2026
The calendar is tight. Tarpon season has the boat booked solid through the end of June already, with most weekends fully reserved. Weekday availability is better but moving fast. If you’re planning a trip in the next four to six weeks, get in touch sooner rather than later.
For the broader picture on charter options, Fort Myers fishing charters operate across the full Southwest Florida region with options ranging from half-day inshore trips to dedicated tarpon hunts. Operations like Sea n Red Charters run trips year-round across Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva, Cape Coral, and Pine Island waters, and we adjust based on conditions, tides, and your group’s goals.
May has been one of the best months in recent memory across the Southwest Florida fishing grounds. Whether you want to chase the silver king, fill a cooler with trout for dinner, or just put your kids on their first redfish, the conditions are right and the fish are cooperating.
Spots are filling fast. Call (239) 980-2630.
