Fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region
Explore fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region of Florida. Tampa Inlet, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Naples, Thou
The inlet streams feeding Tampa offer good fishing for the region's target species.
1. Tampa Inlet (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Tampa Inlet, FloridaThe inlet streams feeding Tampa offer good fishing for the region's target species.
2. Sarasota (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Sarasota, FloridaSarasota offers excellent fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast with good public access and scenic surroundings.
3. Fort Myers (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Fort Myers, FloridaFort Myers offers excellent fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast with good public access and scenic surroundings.
Boat Launch: City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin →
4. Naples (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Naples, FloridaNaples offers excellent fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast with good public access and scenic surroundings.
Boat Launch: Naples Boat Club →
5. Thousand Islands (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
000 Islands, Florida000 Islands offers excellent fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast with good public access and scenic surroundings.
6. Lake M12 (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Lake M12, FloridaLake M12 offers good fishing opportunities in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast of Florida with scenic natural surroundings.
7. Echo Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Echo Lake, FloridaPopular fishing lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Boat Launch: Kayak /canoe launch →
8. Lake Tarpon (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Lake Tarpon, FloridaPopular fishing lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
- ⚠ This water: Fish Management Area: special bag limits and methods apply (stocked; see FWC FMA regulations for this water).
9. Sawgrass Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Sawgrass Lake, FloridaPopular fishing lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
10. Sunset Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Sunset Lake, FloridaPopular fishing lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
11. Alafia River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Alafia River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
12. Anclote River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Anclote River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Boat Launch: Kayak /canoe launch →
13. Braden River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Braden River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
14. Cooper Creek (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Cooper Creek, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
15. Hillsborough River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Hillsborough River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
16. Joshua Creek (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Joshua Creek, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Boat Launch: Nocatee Boat Ramp →
17. Little Manatee River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Little Manatee River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
18. Manatee River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Manatee River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
19. Myakka River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Myakka River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
20. Myakkahatchee Creek (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Myakkahatchee Creek, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
21. Palm River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Palm River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
22. Peace River (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Peace River, FloridaPopular river fishing in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
23. Christina Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Christina Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Boat Launch: Lake Hancock Boat Ramp →
24. Lake Daytona (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Lake Daytona, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
25. Doe Pond (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Doe Pond, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
26. Laura Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Laura Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
27. Lake Juliana (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Lake Juliana, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
28. Morris Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Morris Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Boat Launch: Lake Santa Fe Boat Ramp →
29. Lake Midget (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Lake Midget, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
30. Ned Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Ned Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
31. Tom Pond (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Tom Pond, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
32. Tenmile Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Tenmile Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Boat Launch: Lake Weeks Boat Ramp →
33. Up and Down Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Up and Down Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
34. A J Kennedy Pond Two (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
A J Kennedy Pond Two, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
35. A J Spencer Pond (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
A J Spencer Pond, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
36. A S T Kraysland Pond (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
A S T Kraysland Pond, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
37. Abbott Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Abbott Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
38. Acorn Fish Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Acorn Fish Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Boat Launch: Lake Ashby Boat Ramp →
39. Acorn Lake (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Acorn Lake, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
40. Lake Ada (Snook, Redfish, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper)
Lake Ada, FloridaNamed lake in the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region region of Florida.
Fishing Tips for the Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region
- Get a licence — All anglers need a valid state fishing licence — check your state's wildlife agency site.
- Check the weather & water conditions — always check forecasts and wind before heading out, especially on big water.
- Know the regulations — size and catch limits vary by water body in Florida; check the local regulations first.
- Best times — early morning and late evening are prime. Many Southwest Florida & Gulf Coast Region waters fish best in spring and fall.
- Use the right gear — match your rod, line, and tackle to the species you're chasing and the water you're fishing.
More Regions in Florida
- Central Florida
- North Florida
- Panhandle & Northwest Florida
- South Florida & Everglades
- Southeast Florida & Keys
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