Best time to fish in Captiva
Today, Wednesday, October 28, 2026 · local time (EDT) · Florida, United States Today, Wed, Oct 28 · EDT- High tides
- 1:44 am
- Major periods
- 2:05–4:05 am and 2:36–4:36 pm
- Solunar activity
- Medium
- Sun
- 7:36 am–6:49 pm
Today, Wednesday, October 28, the best time to fish in Captiva is 9:50 am to 10:50 am, with the 10:21 am low tide, moonset and some swell, though with fresh wind. It's a fair day (4/10). The best day this week is Monday, November 2, at 7/10.
Your day in Captiva at a glance
The strip runs from midnight to midnight, local time. Night in gray, daylight in yellow; the blue curve is the tide; below, the solunar periods and the best windows.
Fishing forecast for the next 7 days
| Day | Rating | Best times | High tides | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 4fair day | 9:50–10:50 am6:30–7:10 pm | ▲ 1:44 am | Waning gibbous |
| Thu 29 | 6average day | 11:00 am–12:00 pm1:20–3:20 am | ▲ 2:24 am | Waning gibbous |
| Fri 30 | 5average day | 12:00–1:00 pm4:40–5:30 pm | ▲ 3:12 am | Waning gibbous |
| Sat 31 | 5average day | 12:50–1:50 pm6:10–7:10 pm | ▲ 4:12 am | Waning gibbous |
| Sun 1 | 5average day | 12:40–1:40 pm6:10–7:10 am | ▲ 4:30 am ▲ 9:45 pm | Last quarter |
| Mon 2 | 7good day | 6:10–7:10 am1:20–3:50 pm | ▲ 6:07 am ▲ 9:45 pm | Waning crescent |
| Tue 3 | 6average day | 7:00–8:50 am2:40–4:40 pm | ▲ 7:59 am ▲ 10:01 pm | Waning crescent |
Each day's rating comes from the tide, the solunar periods, the light and, when we have the forecast, the weather.
What can you catch in Captiva?
Sport fishing species with the most records within about 19 mi of Captiva: sheepshead, lane snapper, striped mullet, gray snapper and common snook. October is one of the months when these are seen most: striped mullet and common snook.
- Sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus · fish · 17 records Photo: Wikimedia Commons · public domain
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Lane snapper Lutjanus synagris · fish · 10 records Photo: SEFSC Pascagoula Laboratory; Collection of Brandi Noble… · public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Too few sightings to tell the months
- Striped mullet Mugil cephalus · fish · 9 records Photo: Roberto Pillon · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
-
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Common snook Centropomus undecimalis · fish · 6 records Photo: Wikimedia Commons · public domain
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
- Ladyfish Elops saurus · fish · 6 records Photo: Wikimedia Commons · public domain
Too few sightings to tell the months
- Permit Trachinotus falcatus · fish · 6 records Photo: Brian.gratwicke · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Too few sightings to tell the months
- Crevalle jack Caranx hippos · fish · 5 records Photo: Caio Henrique G. Cutrim · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- JanJ
- FebF
- MarM
- AprA
- MayM
- JunJ
- JulJ
- AugA
- SepS
- OctO
- NovN
- DecD
These are sightings and catches recorded since 1970 (reports from divers and anglers, scientific surveys and museum collections), not a promise that you will catch them. The months come from sightings only, adjusted for how many there are each month; hatched months have too few to tell.
Source: GBIF.org, which also gathers OBIS data. Only records licensed CC0 or CC BY 4.0, from 1,130 datasets (retrieved October 24, 2026). Where the data comes from
Photos: each species' image on Wikidata (Wikimedia Commons) or, if there isn't one, one from GBIF; only licences that allow this use, each with its author and licence.
What anglers catch most in Florida (Gulf coast and Keys)
Recreational saltwater catch across that whole coast of the state in September and October (2021–2025 average), from NOAA's recreational fishing survey (MRIP). It counts fish kept and fish released; bait fish are left out.
From shore
Beaches, piers, jetties and rocks
- Pinfish 3.3 million 65% released
- Atlantic Spanish mackerel 1.2 million 50% released
- Gray snapper 1.1 million 90% released
- Blue runner 1 million 65% released
- Crevalle jack 840,000 70% released
Private or rental boat
Private boats and rentals without a captain
- Spotted seatrout 2.7 million 90% released
- Pinfish 1.7 million 50% released
- Gray snapper 1.1 million 80% released
- Red drum 1.1 million 90% released
- Ladyfish 930,000 90% released
Charter or party boat
Charters and party (head) boats
- Vermilion snapper 100,000 15% released
- White grunt 98,000 40% released
- Gray snapper 78,000 55% released
- Common snook 75,000 100% released
- Spotted seatrout 74,000 75% released
Fish a year · * Less precise figure: use with caution
All year: the top three every two months
| Months | Species |
|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Pinfish, Gray snapper, Unidentified grunts |
| Mar–Apr | Pinfish, Gray snapper, Atlantic Spanish mackerel |
| May–Jun | Pinfish, Blue runner, Gray snapper |
| Jul–Aug | Pinfish, Gray snapper, Blue runner |
| Sep–Oct | Pinfish, Atlantic Spanish mackerel, Gray snapper |
| Nov–Dec | Pinfish, Gray snapper, Unidentified grunts |
| Months | Species |
|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Spotted seatrout, Gray snapper, White grunt |
| Mar–Apr | Spotted seatrout, Gray snapper, Red drum |
| May–Jun | Spotted seatrout, Pinfish, Gray snapper |
| Jul–Aug | Pinfish, Spotted seatrout, Gray snapper |
| Sep–Oct | Spotted seatrout, Pinfish, Gray snapper |
| Nov–Dec | Spotted seatrout, Red drum, Ladyfish |
| Months | Species |
|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | White grunt, Gray snapper, Spotted seatrout |
| Mar–Apr | White grunt, Spotted seatrout, Common snook |
| May–Jun | Red snapper, Vermilion snapper, Spotted seatrout |
| Jul–Aug | Vermilion snapper, Red snapper, Gray snapper |
| Sep–Oct | Vermilion snapper, White grunt, Gray snapper |
| Nov–Dec | White grunt, Spotted seatrout, Gray snapper |
These are estimates from a survey of anglers, not a count, and they cover the whole state, not this exact spot. Each figure is the average for one year in those two months, rounded. Only species with a relative standard error of up to 50% are shown, NOAA's standard; those marked * are between 30% and 50%, and NOAA advises using them with caution.
Source: NOAA Fisheries, Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP), wave-level catch estimates for 2021–2025. Courtesy: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Where the data comes from
Piers, ramps and tackle shops nearby
Map: OpenFreeMap · © OpenMapTiles · © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Bayview Fishing Pier 2.0 mi
- Jetty 2.2 mi
- Andy Rosse Lane Kayak Landing 0.1 mi
- Boat ramp 4.6 mi
- Marine Laboratory 6.0 mi
- Pine Island Commercial Marina Facilities: 1 lane · 30 trailer spaces · restrooms · dock · fee 6.2 mi
- Captiva Landing Marina 0.4 mi
- Tween Waters Marina 0.8 mi
- Yacht Harbour Marina 1.8 mi
- Pine Island Bait and Tackle 6.6 mi
- Old Pine Island Marine & Tackle 6.7 mi
- Fuel dock 1.9 mi
Within 9.3 mi. A spot may be missing or closed. Open the map on OpenStreetMap · Missing one? Add it to OpenStreetMap
Spots: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps. Boat ramp facilities: FWC-FWRI (Florida).
Artificial reefs and wrecks to fish from a boat
Artificial reefs and wrecks draw fish, so they make good spots to fish from a boat. The nearest ones, within 16 mi.
Check the rules before you go: some have closed seasons, protected zones or banned gear. Wreck and reef positions are approximate and not for navigation; a wreck’s depth runs from the top of the hull to the seabed.
US wrecks: NOAA electronic navigational charts (ENC), a U.S. Government work; not for navigation. Florida reefs: FWC-FWRI and FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management.
How we work out the best time
We score every moment of the day, every 10 minutes, with simple rules anglers have used for decades:
- Tide: 2 to 3.5 points in the hour before and the hour after each high and low tide. Spring tides (high coefficient) score more, because the water moves faster.
- Solunar: 2.5 points in the major periods (moon overhead or underfoot) and 1.5 in the minor ones (moonrise and moonset).
- Light: 2 points at dawn and dusk, from first light to the end of the morning golden hour and from the evening golden hour to the end of twilight.
- Weather: falling pressure adds 1 point and rising pressure takes 1 away; wind takes points away from force 4 (about 12 mph), up to 5 points in a gale; waves of 1.6 ft to 4.9 ft add half a point (they stir up the water) and from 8.2 ft they take points away (up to 4).
- Best windows: the stretches of 40 minutes to 3 hours with the most points, at least an hour apart.
- Day's rating out of 10: the best window (up to 5), the moon (up to 2, near new or full moon), the tide coefficient (up to 2) and whether a solunar period lines up with sunrise or sunset (1). Without a tide, we score out of 8 and scale it to 10. Good weather adds up to 1 point and bad weather pulls it down.
Today: best window 3.3 of 5, moon 1 of 2, coefficient 1.5 of 2 and lineup 0 of 1; the weather multiplies the rating by 0.75.
It's a guide, not a guarantee: fish don't read tide tables. Always check the sea conditions and local fishing rules before you go.
Learn more
Fishing rules in Captiva
Licenses, size limits, bag limits and closed seasons are set by the authorities and change often. We don't copy them here: check the official website before you go.
Questions about fishing in Captiva
What's the best time to fish in Captiva today?
9:50 am to 10:50 am, with the 10:21 am low tide, moonset and some swell, though with fresh wind. Also 6:30 pm to 7:10 pm and 2:40 pm to 4:40 pm. Today's rating: 4/10 (fair day).
What about tomorrow? When's the best time to fish in Captiva?
Tomorrow, Thursday, October 29: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, with a rating of 6/10.
Which day this week is best for fishing in Captiva?
Monday, November 2, at 7/10. Its best window is 6:10 am to 7:10 am.
What can you catch in Captiva?
Sport fishing species with the most records within about 19 mi of Captiva: sheepshead, lane snapper, striped mullet, gray snapper and common snook. October is one of the months when these are seen most: striped mullet and common snook. These are sightings and catches recorded in GBIF and OBIS, not a promise that you will catch them.
When are the solunar periods in Captiva today?
Major: 2:05–4:05 am and 2:36–4:36 pm. Minor: 9:50–10:50 am and 8:21–9:21 pm. Solunar activity today: medium.
Does the tide affect fishing in Captiva?
Yes. Today high tide is at 1:44 am and low tide at 10:21 am, with a tide coefficient of 84 (average tides). The hours around each tide change tend to fish best, because moving water carries food.
How is the rating worked out?
From the tide, the solunar periods, the light at dawn and dusk, the moon phase and, when we have the forecast, the pressure, the wind and the waves. Each factor gives a fixed number of points and the rating sums them up out of 10.
Does it take the weather into account?
Yes. During today's best window: steady pressure (29.97 inHg), fresh offshore wind (23 mph) and some swell (2.5 ft waves) to stir the water. Strong wind and big waves lower the rating; falling pressure raises it a little.
What are the fishing rules in Captiva?
Recreational fishing rules in Captiva (licenses, size limits, bag limits and closed seasons) are set by the authorities: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; offshore, NOAA Fisheries. They change often: check the official website before you go.
More about Captiva today
Our own calculation: tide from Captiva Island (NOAA), sun and moon with astronomy-engine and, when available, weather and sea from Open-Meteo (ECMWF, NOAA GFS and Copernicus Marine, CC BY 4.0). Slackwater database (https://github.com/openwatersio/slackwater-database)