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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor RegionSheepshead · Open

Big Carlos Bridge Reef

26.38°N · 81.96°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
80
Good
Tide
0.1 ft ▲
Flooding
Current
—
Flood
Wind
8 kn
ENE · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
78°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
31% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 80 Good. Tide 0.1ft Rising ▲. Current +0.4kn Flood. Wind 8kn ENE G13. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 78.3°.

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 openKing Mackerel Retention openGray Snapper Retention openSpanish Mackerel 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

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

Big Carlos Pass
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
81
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81 · Spotted Seatrout 81
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9 kt E
H 8:00 PM · 0.6 m
L 11:49 PM · 0.5 m
Hogue Channel
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
80
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 80 · Gray Snapper 80 · Spotted Seatrout 80
0006121824
10 kt E
H 8:00 PM · 0.6 m
L 11:49 PM · 0.5 m
Needmore Point
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
81
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81 · Spotted Seatrout 81
0006121824
9 kt E
H 11:52 PM · 0.2 m
L 4:16 PM · 0.1 m
White Rock Shoal
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
82
Top: Red DrumSHOULDER SEASON
Red Drum 82 · Spotted Seatrout 82 · Common Snook 82
0006121824
10 kt E
H 11:52 PM · 0.2 m
L 4:16 PM · 0.1 m

About Big Carlos Bridge Reef

Big Carlos Bridge Reef is an artificial reef in the Florida Gulf state waters of the Charlotte Harbor region, off Fort Myers. Spanish Mackerel move across the reef in two peak windows, March through April and September through November, and casting small spoons, jigs, plugs, and soft plastics over the structure is the standard approach, with chumming using cut bait or frozen chum to hold schools in range. Sheepshead take over from November through March, when bottom fishing with live shrimp, fiddler crabs, sand fleas, or oysters tight to the reef material produces steady bites. Gray Snapper peak from May through August and respond to bottom fishing with live shrimp, live pilchards, cut bait, or squid, while jig heads and soft plastics work the edges of the structure. Gag Grouper, King Mackerel, and Cobia round out the species list at the reef.

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Big Carlos Bridge Reef is one of the spots we track around Fort Myers. More spots in Fort Myers · All of Florida.

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