When gag grouper are here
Gag grouper fishing out of Fort Myers Beach follows the season regulators set, not a local calendar. State and federal managers set the openings and closings, and the Regulations section below points to both. Biology and general seasonality are covered in the gag grouper guide. Check the rules before you read the guide. Region-wide coverage is in the wider Gulf of Mexico guide.
Where boats run from Fort Myers Beach
Boats out of Fort Myers Beach run to offshore Gulf reefs in two distance tiers: 18-25 miles and 50-150 miles. Passes, ramps and conditions sources are on the Fort Myers Beach port page.
| Run | Distance | Operator that runs it |
|---|---|---|
| Reef trips | 18-25 miles | Captain Tony’s |
| Long range | 50-150 miles offshore | Gulf Bound |
Which tier makes sense depends on how far your boat can go and still get back.
18-25 miles: reef trips
Captain Tony’s runs charter reef trips 18-25 miles into the Gulf. That distance is a useful baseline if you’re planning your own run.
50-150 miles: long range
Gulf Bound fishes 50-150 miles offshore. This tier suits boats with the range to cover it.
Grounds and structure
Named grounds near Fort Myers Beach include Lee County reef sites, artificial reef patches and the USCGC Mohawk Veterans Memorial Reef.
Lee County reef sites
Phoenix is a Lee County reef site at 26° 45.582′ N, 82° 28.443′ W. The Mount is Chris Koepfer’s ARC reef site at 26° 24.721′ N, 82° 24.747′ W.
Artificial reef patches
Dean Hicks East Patch sits at 26° 22.045′ N, 82° 17.121′ W, and Dean Hicks West Patch at 26° 22.043′ N, 82° 17.464′ W. Big Carlos Bridge Artificial Reef is the other named artificial reef in this group.
Mohawk memorial reef
The USCGC Mohawk WPG-78 Veterans Memorial Reef sits in 90 ft of water, about 30 miles off Sanibel Island.
| Name | Type/notes | Coordinates/depth |
|---|---|---|
| Big Carlos Bridge Artificial Reef | Artificial reef | – |
| The Mount | Chris Koepfer’s ARC reef site | 26° 24.721′ N, 82° 24.747′ W |
| Dean Hicks East Patch | Artificial reef patch | 26° 22.045′ N, 82° 17.121′ W |
| Dean Hicks West Patch | Artificial reef patch | 26° 22.043′ N, 82° 17.464′ W |
| Phoenix | Lee County reef site | 26° 45.582′ N, 82° 28.443′ W |
| USCGC Mohawk WPG-78 Veterans Memorial Reef | Memorial reef | 90 ft, about 30 miles off Sanibel Island |
Chart layers and coordinates are for planning, not navigation.
How it’s fished and who fishes it
Gag grouper here are fished on offshore Gulf reefs and artificial reef sites, 18-25 miles out on reef trips and 50-150 miles out on long-range trips.
Offshore reef fishing
For technique on reef fish, see the reef fish guides.
Charters that list gag grouper
Captain Tony’s Deep Sea Fishing lists gag grouper and runs reef trips 18-25 miles out of Fort Myers Beach. The operator’s site names Captain Tony and Captain Chris.
FAQ
How far offshore do boats run for gag grouper from Fort Myers Beach?
Reef trips with Captain Tony’s run 18-25 miles. Long-range trips with Gulf Bound run 50-150 miles offshore. Choose the tier that fits your boat’s range.
Where is the USCGC Mohawk reef?
The USCGC Mohawk WPG-78 Veterans Memorial Reef lies about 30 miles off Sanibel Island, in 90 ft of water.
What are the coordinates for The Mount?
The Mount is Chris Koepfer’s ARC reef site at 26° 24.721′ N, 82° 24.747′ W. Coordinates are for planning, not navigation.
Which Fort Myers Beach charters list gag grouper?
Captain Tony’s Deep Sea Fishing lists gag grouper. Its site names Captain Tony and Captain Chris.
Where do I check gag grouper rules before leaving Fort Myers Beach?
Check FWC for state water and the federal Gulf reef fish rules for federal water. Both apply on these runs. See the Regulations section above.
