Pine Island Sound Fly Fishing

Fly Fish Pine Island Sound With Capt. John Stark

Pine Island Sound lies conveniently to the West of Fort Myers, FL and includes the waters surrounding Matlacha, Pine Island, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Captiva, and Cayo Costa. This body of water is made up of several protected marine sanctuaries; Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve, Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve, and the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Pine Island Sound is fed by the freshwater outflow of the Caloosahatchee River to the South and the saltwater of Charlotte Harbor and the fabled Boca Grande Pass to the North.

Pine Island Sound doesn’t get a lot of attention in the fishing world, and frankly we appreciate that. This area seems to get overlooked by a lot of saltwater anglers, but has some of the best sight fishing opportunities on the Gulf Coast of Florida.

The Pine Island Sound Ecosystem
Pine Island Sound is a barrier island estuary ecosystem with close proximity to both freshwater as well as the saltwater of the Gulf of Mexico. In general, this area is best know for its migratory bird life and is home to dozens of species of wading birds and waterfowl. It is rimmed by mangroves as well as some of the most beautiful white sand beaches that Southwest Florida has to offer. The bottom composition is mostly sea grass, and Pine Island Sound has some of the densest sea grass beds on the entire Gulf Coast. The sea grass is prime habitat for a multitude of species of baitfish, crabs, and shrimp that attract the gamefish that feed on them.

Pine Island Sound Fly Fishing
Fly fishing Pine Island Sound is similar to fly fishing the Florida Keys as fish are often found on vast open flats in gin clear water. Capt. John Stark primarily sight fishes these waters while poling his anglers through the shallows. Fish can sometimes be difficult to see over the dark turtle grass bottom, especially if the wind is blowing. A slight push or a quick glimpse of a tail might be the only clues of its presence a fish will give an angler.

Snook and redfish are our year-round targets in Pine Island Sound, and the clarity of the water makes these fish wary in nature. Bring your A-game, as although these fish can be willing to eat flies haphazardly, they usually require a lot of things to be spot-on for them to eat a fly.

During the spring and summer months, tarpon move up the coast of Florida and into Pine Island Sound to feed and aggregate to spawn. These big migratory fish have attracted anglers to this area for hundreds of years, and rightfully so. Catching a tarpon on rod and reel is one of the most exciting things there is.

No matter what time of year, a fly fishing trip to Pine Island Sound with Capt. John Stark will be one to remember, and he will go out of his way to ensure it.