Captiva Fishing Charters

Make your Florida trip complete with Sanibel and Captiva Fishing Charters, offering inshore and near-shore trips from Captiva Island. Native guide Capt. Cliff runs every trip for your group only, and we can customize the day around what you want to catch or see. Licenses, bait, tackle, fish cleaning, water and an iced cooler come with every fishing charter.

Where We Pick Up: Jensen's Marina on Captiva

Most trips leave from Jensen's Marina, 15107 Captiva Dr, Captiva, FL 33924. It sits right on Captiva Island, so you're on the fishing grounds within minutes instead of spending your morning on the causeway. If you're staying at South Seas Island Resort or elsewhere on the north end of Captiva, Jensen's is just a short drive down the island. Pickup from North Captiva is available for an extra $100 on half-day and full-day fishing charters.

Where We Fish Around Sanibel and Captiva

Our fishing range runs from Boca Grande south through Pineland and Pine Island Sound to Sanibel and down to the Port Sanibel Marina area. The water around these islands holds a lot of fish in a small area, and Capt. Cliff picks spots each day based on tides, wind and season:

• Pine Island Sound: mangrove shorelines, oyster bars and grass flats for redfish, snook and seatrout. It's our go-to for most inshore trips.

• Redfish Pass: the pass between Captiva and North Captiva, where moving water draws snook, redfish and bigger fish to the structure.

• Blind Pass: the pass between Sanibel and Captiva, a reliable spot for snook and redfish on the right tide.

• Sanibel Causeway: the bridges and pilings hold sheepshead, snapper and Goliath grouper.

• Near-shore reefs and wrecks in the Gulf: for grouper, snapper, sharks and Goliaths when the weather allows.

What's Biting by Season

What you catch depends on the time of year and the tides. Here's a general guide based on our recent trips:

• Spring and summer: tarpon, snook, redfish and seatrout, with afternoon thunderstorms to plan around. Morning trips are often the most comfortable.

• Fall: "Red October" brings strong redfish action in Pine Island Sound, and snook are active along the mangroves. This is also a good time for Goliath grouper and shark trips.

• Winter: when cold fronts push through, fish move to deeper, warmer water around docks, creeks and bridges. Sheepshead are the winter mainstay, with trout, snapper and redfish mixed in. Snook are catch and release only from December 1 through the end of February.

For what we've been catching lately, see our Captiva fishing reports.

Our Trips and Prices

Half-Day Fishing Charter (4 hours)

$650 for up to 3 people, plus $75 for each additional passenger, up to 6 total. It's a good fit if you have a full vacation schedule and want a morning or afternoon on the water. Half-day details

Full-Day Fishing, Lunch and Sightseeing Charter (6 hours)

$900 for up to 3 anglers, plus $75 for each additional passenger, up to 6 total. Fish near Captiva in the morning, then cruise the islands for shelling and lunch at a spot like Cabbage Key, or pack a beach picnic on Cayo Costa. Full-day details

Goliath Grouper Charter

$750 for 4 hours or $1,000 for 6 hours for up to 3 people, plus $75 for each additional passenger. Goliaths can top 350 pounds, and the fight usually takes some teamwork. Every Goliath is catch and release, and we keep the fish in the water and let it swim off healthy. Not recommended for young children. Learn more at goliathgrouperfishing.com.

Shark Fishing Charter

$750 for 4 hours or $1,000 for 6 hours, with a maximum of 4 people. The price reflects the heavier gear and extra bait and chum these trips need. We fish inshore or near-shore depending on weather for blacktip, bull, nurse, hammerhead, bonnethead, spinner sharks and more. Suitable for ages 12 and up. Shark charter details

Shelling Trip and Dolphin Cruise

$650 for 4 hours or $900 for 6 hours, including 4 people, with up to 2 additional passengers at $75 each. We often see dolphins, manatees, sea turtles and many kinds of birds, and Capt. Cliff will help you identify them. It's a safe, relaxed trip for kids and adults. Shelling cruise details

Family-Friendly Charters

Young adults and well-behaved children are welcome on fishing and shelling trips. Bring a hat, non-spray sunscreen and polarized sunglasses. We provide the gear, so please leave big coolers and tackle boxes at home. See what to bring.

Questions and Booking

Prices, deposits, cancellations and more are covered in our Sanibel and Captiva Fishing Charters FAQ. A deposit holds your date and is refundable with 72 hours' notice or if weather cancels the trip. To book Sanibel and Captiva Fishing Charters, call or text Capt. Cliff at (239) 349-2158 or send a request through our contact page. Calls during fishing hours are answered by text.