[Guest]

My wife and I are taking a road trip down the gulf coast of Florida this spring and I wanted to get y'all's input on any places to fish along the way - preferably without a guide or boat. I'm interested in any fly fishing wading opportunities or fishing along the beach.

Here's where we're going; Cedar Key, St. Pete Beach, Boca Grande, Cabbage Key, Sanibel/Captiva, Naples.

So, what's available? And if you do know of any great guides in any of these towns, I'd welcome their names. I'd probably do a half-day trip since this is supposed to be a trip with the wife and not a dedicated fishing trip (but y'all know how that goes!)

 

[eightwt]

Have only fished Cedar Key once from a boat, but there is a nice pier that you can fish. Also, some shoreline that looked kind of fishy right along the street. Would recommend Tony's for clam chowder, its awesome.

 

[Zika]

Sanibel/Captiva area: Capt. Paul Hobby

fishinghobby.com

 

[SomaliPirate]

Capt. Danny Allen is out of CK and is a great guide but doesn't do any poling or fly. To my knowledge, nobody in the area does as far as guides go. He will absolutely put you on some fish though.

 

[Megalops]

Capt.Shawn McCole for Tampa/St.Pete if you can snag a cancellation.

 

[SomaliPirate]

Forgot to mention: The Keiths (father and son) also guide out of CK and know their stuff.

 

[ifsteve]

Depending on when you are going snook off the beach are a real possibility. Sanibel Beach is a good area. Some good information here:

http://normzeiglersflyshop.com/Home_Page.html

And yes I have fished the beach there on my own.

 

[Backwater]

Depending on when you are going snook off the beach are a real possibility. Sanibel Beach is a good area. Some good information here:

http://normzeiglersflyshop.com/Home_Page.html

And yes I have fished the beach there on my own.

Living close to there, Sanibel was one of my fishing stops. Worked about 3 minutes from the causeway at one point for years and that didn't help my habit any either!

I now live, work near and regularly fish at, what I would consider is the "new Sanibel!" For me, the "old Sanibel" has lost it's luster.

 

[DuckNut]

There are plenty of wading areas in the Tampa Bay Area by the bridges. Courtney Campbell by rocky point. NE side of skyway.

Lovers key in Bonita springs has good fishing on the beach and not many people.

 

[skinnydip]

jeff legutki, bill faulkner, and kevin mihailoff all in naples all good

 

[Sublime]

I love Sanibel / Captiva. Public parking can be tough. If you see an open spot, I'd grab it instead of trying to find something better. Walk the beach EARLY for snook before the shell people get out.

 

[EdK13]

Boca 17th Street. Lime stone shelves off the beach hold snook, Trout, Juvie Grouper and sometimes Cobia, ladies and a few tarpon cruise. The point by the lighthouse- there will be a hundred tarpon boats working, fun to see, once. Where the oil dock is (or used to be) big snook. I got two 40+ inch snook and a 48 inch Red there in one day 92'. Had many a cheese burger in Paradise at Cabbage Key when I lived on Manasota Key, used to be great fun and a beautiful boat ride. In Port Charlotte Fishing Frank has decent intel. Danny Latham is good but is a big boat guy these days. He knows and does Tarpon and inshore on mainly conventional tackle.
https://reelfishing.com/ He will recommend someone good.

St Pete East Beach and the rip (by where the barrack's walk-through museum is) at Ft Desoto was good during the week this time of year. Skyway NE Flat was also productive. Just watch out for the hole to the left and the Taxman.

If you want one of the 3 guides (legutki, faulkner, or mihailoff) mentioned in the Chuck/Naples area call now. Flamingo should be ready to go off too.

 

[timogleason]

Visit Pine Island / Matlacha. One of the few bits of Old Florida left.

Greg McKee at WildFly Charters is a good guy out of Matlacha area

 

[BGBrown311]

jeff legutki, bill faulkner, and kevin mihailoff all in naples all good

I highly recommend Jeff Legutki out of Naples. I have fished with him numerous times and am going back to fish with him for three days in June.

 

[skinnydip]

Ditto leaving tomorrow back again in june. He had cancellation in next couple weeks very rare high tarpon season