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BoatFlorida Gulf State Waters: Charlotte Harbor RegionSheepshead · Open

Lofton Island

26.65°N · 81.87°W

Species

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14-Day Forecast

Data from: ECMWF + GFS + BlueCaster
Sun
Nov 1
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24-Hour Conditions

All times EDT

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Conditions
Time
1 PM
Now
Score
79
Good
Tide
0.7 ft ▼
Ebbing
Current
—
Ebb
Wind
10 kn
E · steady
Sea state
Easy
1 ft chop
Air temp
86°
Warm
Weather
Partly cloudy
32% cloud
Hour 1 PM. Score 79 Good. Tide 0.7ft Falling ▼. Current -1.3kn Ebb. Wind 10kn E G14. 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
Common Snook Retention openRed Drum Retention openSpotted Seatrout 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
3-15 ft
Sand
STRUCTURE
Flat
Inner Protected

Nearby Spots

View all on map →

Other productive spots within easy run

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
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
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 Lofton Island

Lofton Island is a protected sand flat near Fort Myers in Florida's Charlotte Harbor region, with water running 5 to 15 feet deep across its inner, sheltered bottom. Sheepshead dominate the cooler months from November through March, when bottom fishing with live shrimp, fiddler crabs, or sand fleas works the sand. Spotted seatrout peak in March and April, and common snook follow from April through June, with live bait fishing using live pilchards, live pinfish, or live mullet as the dominant snook approach. Gray snapper take over from May through August on bottom rigs baited with live shrimp, live pilchards, cut bait, or squid. Red drum peak from August through October and respond to sight casting with weedless gold spoons and soft plastic jerkbaits across the shallower edges, while Spanish mackerel round out the species mix.

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

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