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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor RegionSheepshead · Open

Belton Johnson Reef

26.42°N · 82.20°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
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24-Hour Conditions

All times EDT

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Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
78
Good
Tide
0.2 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
9 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
78°
Warm
Weather
Clear
22% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 78 Good. Tide 0.2ft Rising ▲. Current +0.5kn Flood. Wind 9kn E G15. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 78.1°.

Why this score

Current
Slack
Prime

Current regulations

In effect now

What you can keep at this spot today

Sheepshead
Retention open
Daily limit
8 per day
Possession
Not published
Size
Minimum 12"
Gear
Legal: hook and line, cast net, seine, spear or gig. Multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait prohibited; snatching prohibited.
Annual quota
Not published
Other
Minimum 12 in total length. Vessel limit 50 per trip during March and April. Page says state regulations extend into federal waters. Special rules apply in Biscayne National Park (not relevant here).
Other species here
Gag Grouper ClosedCobia Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openKing Mackerel Retention openGray Snapper Retention open
Always check with FWC ↗

Source: FWC · Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region · synced today

Seasonality

52-week view · today highlighted

When Sheepshead is best at this spot

Shoulder seasonShoulder season for Sheepshead
~1 more week in shoulder
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Peak seasonShoulder seasonOff season

SPOT PROFILE

DEPTH
—
STRUCTURE
Artificial Reef

About Belton Johnson Reef

Belton Johnson Reef is an artificial reef in the Florida Gulf state waters of the Charlotte Harbor region, off Fort Myers. Sheepshead peak here from November through March, and anglers work the structure with bottom fishing rigs baited with live shrimp, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or oysters, or with jigheads tipped with shrimp or fiddler crabs. Gray Snapper take over from May through August and hold tight to the reef, where bottom fishing with live shrimp, live pilchards, cut bait, or squid draws them out of the structure. Spanish Mackerel move through in March and April and again from September through November, and casting small spoons, jigs, plugs, and soft plastics over the reef intercepts them, while chumming with live shiners, cut bait, or frozen chum holds a feeding school close to the boat. Gag Grouper, King Mackerel, and Cobia round out the species list on this reef.

CUSTOM ALERT
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Belton Johnson Reef is one of the spots we track around Fort Myers. More spots in Fort Myers · All of Florida.

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