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Home / Lee County / Cayo Costa

Cayo Costa State Park

Cayo Costa, Lee County, FL

👎🏻 Poor
Sunny · 86°F · Feels 90°
Marine Chart

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Solar
Sunrise
06:46 AM
Sunset
06:33 PM
Water Temp.
Temp. Fº
66 Fº
Temp. Cº
19 Cº
Wind
Speed
2 mph
Direction
WSW
UV Index
Strength
5
Level
Low
Tide Chart
Solunar Forecast
Waning Gibbous · 78% illuminated

Hourly Fishing Activity

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Peak
Good
Slow
Poor

Feeding Windows

Major
2:29 AM
to
4:29 AM
Major
2:51 PM
to
4:51 PM
Minor
10:14 PM
to
11:14 PM
Minor
8:33 AM
to
9:33 AM
🌕 Moon Rise
10:44 PM
🌑 Moon Set
9:03 AM
☀️ Sun Rise
6:48 AM
🌅 Sun Set
6:34 PM

Fish Species in This Area

Common Snook

Common Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

Spring Summer
Common
Up to 55.1 inches
Inshore, Mangroves, Estuaries
Family: Centropomidae

Prized sport fish found around mangroves and inlets. Sensitive to cold temperatures.

Local Notes: Classic backcountry snook at Cayo Costa State Park — mangrove edges on high tide, flat edges on the drop. Topwater at first light.

Mangrove Snapper

Mangrove Snapper

Lutjanus griseus

Year Round
Common
Up to 22 inches
Inshore, Mangroves, Reefs
Family: Lutjanidae

Versatile species found from mangroves to offshore reefs. Excellent eating.

Local Notes: Hold behind every mangrove point and island near Cayo Costa State Park. Light fluorocarbon and live shrimp.

Red Drum

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

Year Round
Common
Up to 59.1 inches
Inshore, Estuaries, Surf zones
Family: Sciaenidae

Popular game fish with distinctive black spot near tail. Found in shallow coastal waters.

Local Notes: Tailing reds on the flats at Cayo Costa State Park on low tide. Weedless gold spoons or DOA Shrimp.

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Year Round
Common
Up to 35.8 inches
Inshore, Grass flats, Estuaries
Family: Sciaenidae

Popular inshore species with distinctive spots. Found over grass flats and sandy bottoms.

Local Notes: Work the grass flat edges throughout Cayo Costa State Park with DOA Shrimp or live pilchards — best at first light.

Black Drum

Black Drum

Pogonias cromis

Fall Winter
Occasional
Up to 66.9 inches
Inshore, Oyster bars, Estuaries
Family: Sciaenidae

Large drum species found in estuaries. Can reach impressive sizes.

Local Notes: Root around oyster bars and shell flats at Cayo Costa State Park. Shrimp or crab on a bottom rig in 2–5 ft.

Sheepshead

Sheepshead

Archosargus probatocephalus

Fall Spring
Occasional
Up to 35.8 inches
Inshore, Docks, Structures
Family: Sparidae

Bottom feeder with strong teeth. Found around structures and pilings.

Local Notes: Work any hard structure — crab trap buoys, mangrove prop roots, oyster bars — near Cayo Costa State Park.

Tarpon

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

Spring Summer
Occasional
Up to 98.4 inches
Inshore, Offshore, Nearshore
Family: Megalopidae

Large powerful fish known for spectacular jumps. Migrates along Florida coast.

Local Notes: Roll through the backcountry creeks and bays around Cayo Costa State Park in spring. Sight-fish rollers with crabs or swimbaits.