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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor RegionSheepshead · Open

Big Shell Island

26.52°N · 82.01°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

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

All times EDT

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Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
80
Good
Tide
0.5 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
9 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
86°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
36% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 80 Good. Tide 0.5ft Falling ▼. Current -1.6kn Ebb. Wind 9kn E G13. Sea 1 ft chop Easy. Air 86.2°.

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
Gray Snapper Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpanish Mackerel Retention openSpotted Seatrout Retention openCommon Snook 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
260-660 ft
Mixed
STRUCTURE
Drop Off
Outer Exposed

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

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
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
Big Carlos Pass
Florida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor Region
81
Top: SheepsheadSHOULDER SEASON
Sheepshead 81 · Gray Snapper 81 · Spotted Seatrout 81
0006121824
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

About Big Shell Island

Big Shell Island is an outer, exposed drop-off in the Charlotte Harbor region off Fort Myers, Florida, where mixed bottom falls away through depths of 260 to 660 feet. Sheepshead peak from November through March, Spotted Seatrout from March into April, Common Snook from April through June, Gray Snapper from May through August, and Red Drum from August into October, with Spanish Mackerel rounding out the lineup. Bottom fishing with live shrimp, fiddler crabs, or sand fleas works the mixed structure along the drop for Sheepshead, while Gray Snapper respond to live pilchards, cut bait, and squid presented on the same edges. Live bait fishing with pilchards and pinfish produces Red Drum and Common Snook, and jigging with jig heads and soft plastics covers water along the break. The exposed position and steep relief concentrate fish along the edge of the drop-off, which makes precise boat positioning over the structure central to success here.

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Big Shell Island is one of the spots we track around Fort Myers. More spots in Fort Myers · All of Florida.

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