Mangrove / gray snapper
Lutjanus griseus
Thermal window
91.2°
In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.
Florida: typically 10 in, inside the snapper aggregate. Verify FWC.
Florida · Boca Grande / Charlotte Harbor
Mangrove / gray snapper are the hunt — wait — slack in Boca Grande Pass is a boat parade, not a hunt. Heat is the clock — first light or last light.
The pass. Migratory tarpon stack in Boca Grande Pass in spring. Charlotte Harbor and Gasparilla hold snook and reds. NOAA 8725577 is the pass clock (predictions). Water temp is Fort Myers 8725520 — there is no live well at the inlet.
- ⚠ Extreme water temperature. Fish stress quickly — keep them wet, or don't boat them.
- ⚠ Charlotte Harbor / Southwest snook harvest is typically closed May 1–Sep 30 and Dec 1–end of Feb. Verify FWC.
Today
high confidence
Morning line
Boca Grande 7.2 this morning. 3 mph WSW. Mostly Clear · 3%. YOLO day is Tuesday, August 25. Scores are 1–10, not a bite.
high slack · 1.13 ftNOAA hourly · ft MLLW
Wind
NWS
From WSW
Sky
3% rain
Clear
Mostly Clear · 3%
A 20% shower chance is not a cancel. A soaker is.
Moon
91% lit
Waxing gibbous
mid range · 91%
Water
NOAA 8725520
Water
91.2°
Today’s range 1.8 ft
high slack
1.13 ft MLLW
Clock
NOAA 8725577
- HighTue 1:27 AM · 1.14
- LowTue 4:07 AM · 1.08
- HighTue 11:16 AM · 1.94
- LowTue 6:43 PM · 0.13
- HighWed 1:34 AM · 1.16
Monthly YOLO day
Tuesday, August 25 · 8.9
Best remaining dry day this month with a real wind forecast — and it is a copper day. waxing gibbous · mid · tide range ~1.8 ft · wind to 9 mph · 12% chance of rain
Next two weeks
Pulling the 14-day strip…
Where
- 6.4
Boca Grande Pass
pass jetty · public structure · deep
The pass. NOAA 8725577 is the clock. Spring tarpon stack here. Current is the whole fishery — not a wade, not a skinny skiff.
- — pass jetty on a high slack tide is a secondary match.
- — Water is hot — deeper guts, passes, and shade hold oxygen and fish.
skiffstructurespinfly - 6.1
Gasparilla Sound
grass flat · public structure · mid
Harbor grass inside the pass. Reds and snook. Do not invent a hole — this is the sound.
- — grass flat on a high slack tide is a workable match.
skiffkayakflyspin - 6.1
FL - Pine Island Sound via Matlacha
grass flat · saved map · skinny
Iconic sound flats: reds, snook, tarpon lanes. · flats · GULF ATLAS! - FISH
- — grass flat on a high slack tide is a workable match.
skiffkayakwadeflyspin - 5.2
Cayo Costa / Boca Grande side
sand dropoff · public structure · mid
State park shoreline south of the pass. Beach and bar. Park rules, not a private cut.
- — sand dropoff on a high slack tide is a secondary match.
skiffwadespinfly
When
Incoming water
9.5Tue 6:00 AM → Tue 1:00 PM
Moving water in the right part of the day.
Outgoing water
9.5Tue 12:00 PM → Tue 9:00 PM
Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.
Incoming water
9.5Tue 8:00 PM → Wed 3:00 AM
Moving water in the right part of the day.
Outgoing water
9.5Wed 3:00 AM → Wed 7:00 AM
Moving water in the right part of the day.
Incoming water
9.5Wed 6:00 AM → Wed 2:00 PM
Moving water in the right part of the day.
Launch and beach access
County and state ramps near this water. FKNMS no-take is Keys-only, on the legal list.
Placida / Gasparilla public ramps
Charlotte County
Harbor side of the Boca desk. The Pass is a run south from here.
Official sourceCayo Costa State Park
Florida State Parks
Barrier island south of Boca Grande Pass. Boat or ferry. Park rules.
Official source
Legal water
No-take and closed water cited to the agency that owns it. Only the Keys box is FKNMS.
No FKNMS polygon in this box. Mainland Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, and the Bahamas are not Keys sanctuary closures.
Why — and who
- — Tide is high slack from NOAA.
- — Water 91.2°F. Heat is the locator: early, late, deeper.
- — Mostly Clear · 3%. Sky is workable.
- — Wind 3 mph WSW. Castable. Sight-fishing is on if the sun is out.
- — Waxing gibbous moon — mid tide range. Marsh and passes usually want the extra current of a spring.
5.9
Redfish
Sciaenops ocellatus
Thermal window
91.2°
Present, not peak. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.
Florida SE: typically 18–27 in, 1/person, 2/vessel. Harvest banned in federal waters. Keys backcountry, not oceanside. Boca Harbor yes.
Tarpon
Megalops atlanticus
Thermal window
91.2°
Present, not peak. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.
Florida: catch-and-release. Fish over 40 in must stay in the water. One harvest tag/year only for a potential IGFA record.
Snook
Centropomus undecimalis
Thermal window
91.2°
Closed to harvest — still swims, do not keep. Present, not peak. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.
Region matters. SE/Atlantic (Jupiter, Biscayne): typically 28–32 in, 1/day, closed Dec 15–Jan 31 and June 1–Aug 31. Charlotte Harbor / Southwest (Boca Grande): typically 28–33 in, closed Dec 1–end of Feb and May 1–Sep 30. Snook permit required. Verify FWC.
Jack crevalle
Caranx hippos
Thermal window
91.2°
Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.
Generally unregulated. Still, do not leave a pile.
Great barracuda
Sphyraena barracuda
Thermal window
91.2°
Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.
Generally unregulated. Ciguatera risk rises with size. Do not keep a big one for the table.
Regs citedFWC saltwater recreational · current FWC regional rules · rolls in 8 days. Snook closures are regional. Boca Grande is not Jupiter. Verify FWC before you keep one.