Southwest and Ten Thousand Islands

The Ten Thousand Islands are in a prime spot today with a New Moon and a strong 4.2-foot tide swing creating excellent current. Redfish, flounder, and mangrove snapper are the top targets, all benefiting from the light winds and active feeding window. The heavy current pushes bait into the grass flats and passes around Marco Island and Everglades City, making these species highly vulnerable to sight fishing. Since snook harvest is closed in the Southwest Region, you must practice catch and release, but they are still active and worth targeting for sport. The best window to be on the water is the morning minor solunar period from 6:50 to 7:50 AM, which aligns with the rising tide before the low at 9:58. This early start is critical because showers and thunderstorms are likely after 9 AM, with a 60% chance of rain and high heat index values. Keep a close eye on the sky as you fish the Chokoloskee or Flamingo areas. Fish the first hour of the morning tide to beat the incoming storm cells and capitalize on the pre-rain bite.