This page covers mahi-mahi fishing from Fort Myers Beach, a town on Estero Island in southwest Florida. Boats reach the Gulf of Mexico through Matanzas Pass or Big Carlos Pass. For the port’s entrances, ramps and marinas, see the Fort Myers Beach port page. Documented mahi information for this port is thin, and this guide says what is and is not known. For the wider coast, see the mahi-mahi fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico offshore fishing guide.
When the species is around the port
No month range for mahi is documented for Fort Myers Beach. Local coverage says offshore waters open up possibilities for mahi during peak seasons, but it names no months. Across the Gulf, mahi build through spring and hold through the summer. The fish follow blue water and weed, which move from year to year, so check the water rather than the calendar.
Where boats run
Local coverage places the bluewater grounds 10 to 15 miles offshore, past the continental shelf edge and the offshore reefs, where depths drop beyond 200 feet. No compass direction for mahi grounds is documented from this port. Boats leaving through Matanzas Pass cross San Carlos Bay, where shoals run between 1 and 6 feet and the aids to navigation have been moved to mark the best water. Follow the physical markers ahead of plotter lines, and check conditions yourself before the run.
Grounds and structure
The shelf edge and offshore reefs that local coverage describes are not named, so no specific ground can be given. Named structure nearer the passes includes the Big Carlos Bridge artificial reef, about 4 nautical miles out of Big Carlos Pass, and M.A.Y. Reef, a 20-foot site that supports guide and charter trips. The USCGC Mohawk, a wreck scuttled in 90 feet of water, lies about 30 miles off Sanibel Island. None of these is documented as a mahi ground, so use them for orientation only.
How the species is fished out of the port
No mahi method is documented for this port, so the general Gulf approach applies. Troll ballyhoo or skirted lures along a weedline edge, then keep a hooked fish in the water beside the boat to hold the school. Pitch baits to fish that come up around floating debris, using light spinning gear for schoolies and heavier conventional gear for larger fish. Gaff only the fish you plan to keep.
Who fishes it
No charter is documented for mahi out of Fort Myers Beach. One offshore charter listing names red snapper, grouper, amberjack and cobia, not mahi, so ask before you book if mahi are the target. No mahi tournament is documented for the port.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a month range for mahi at Fort Myers Beach?
Not documented for this port. The wording available says only that mahi are possible during peak seasons. Look for the warm, weedy stretch on the water.
How far offshore are the bluewater grounds?
Local coverage puts them 10 to 15 miles out, where depths pass 200 feet. Mahi follow blue water and weed, so the distance changes with the day.
Which pass should I use?
Matanzas Pass is the dredged, lighted channel with the most marked water. Big Carlos Pass has shifted in the past, so check its current markings before you use it.
Is there a mahi tournament here?
None is documented for mahi at this port.
