Ft Myers-Cape Coral When are the best fishing months?

[Hitman]

I am thinking about coming down to SW FLA to fish and am wondering when is the best fishing down there? I am even thinking about housing any ideas, hows crime? Thanks!

[aimless]

Depends on what fish you want. There's something going on all the time.

[scottsmith]

Like Aimless said...there's always something going on down here. Right now, sheepshead and trout in shore and grouper in 60ft.
Inshore- red, snook really good in the spring starting late March when the bait shows up..the fish follow. Mid April through late June is prime tarpon season.
Offshore we fish more in the summer just because of the winter winds but the grouper bite is really good this winter. Just need to get out there. My favorite months are May, June, July, Oct. and early part of November. Generally, we fish offshore in 100ft plus from March through November and then in the winter we fish closer to shore within 70 ft. In the summer especially in June and early July before hurricane season gets cranking is when we do long runs.... 70 miles plus well offshore for AR snapper, grouper, aj's etc. ...also a good time for Tortugas or runs to the keys a little over 100 miles away. To get up to date reports go to floridasportsman.com forum, southwest section. Hope this helps. Oh, and the crime is here like everywhere else........the level is dependent upon where and how one sets up camp.

[granpafish]

"You should have been there yesterday".

[tg]

I don't have the range scottsmith does, so I prefer the fishing in the spring/summer/fall. Permit, cobia, tarpon,snook,shark are all within 40 miles.

edit: although I did land a 28 pound redfish last month within 3 miles of shore. Trolling a strtch 25.