Tarpon fishing
in Captiva.
Captiva is the quiet alternative to Boca Grande for a tarpon day. Captiva Pass and Redfish Pass both drop to 30 to 40 feet and funnel the spring migration — same fish, same structure logic, a fraction of the boat traffic. The Gulf beaches along Captiva's northwest shore hold rolling pods in clear water for fly sight-casting. It's a real fishery, not just an overflow.
Tarpon fishing in Captiva, Florida centers on Captiva Pass and Redfish Pass — deep tidal inlets that funnel the spring migration without the boat traffic of nearby Boca Grande. Peak runs May through July. Fly anglers work the pass edges and nearshore Gulf beaches; conventional anglers drift live baits through the deeper pass structure. RescueFly Charters runs Captiva tarpon trips from Pine Island.
Updated April 2026 · Captain Stuart Behrens
Tarpon on the fly.
Captiva Pass and Redfish Pass both fish well for tarpon during the migration. On the fly, we target the edges — where the deep pass channel drops off into the flats — with 10- or 11-weight rods and heavy Toad patterns. Nearshore along Captiva's Gulf beaches, we sight-cast to rolling pods in 8 to 15 feet. The advantage over Boca Grande: we can run the same class of fish without a 30-boat fleet drifting on top of us.
Why Captiva for tarpon?
Captiva Pass and Redfish Pass aren't as famous as Boca Grande — and that's exactly the point. The bathymetry is similar enough to concentrate migratory tarpon, but the angler pressure is a fraction. When Boca Grande is a circus in late May, Captiva is calm water with the same fish transiting. The Gulf-side beach migration also runs past Captiva, offering clear-water fly shots most days.
Tarpon are a catch-and-release fishery in Florida. A $50 tarpon tag is required only if you intend to take a fish from the water, which we never do.
Current rules: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission →
About tarpon fishing in Captiva.
- Is Captiva a good place to tarpon fish?
- Very — and increasingly popular for anglers who want the migratory fishery without Boca Grande's boat traffic. Redfish Pass and Captiva Pass both see the same spring push and fish the same way.
- What's the difference between Captiva Pass and Redfish Pass?
- Captiva Pass is the north boundary of Captiva Island — between Captiva and Cayo Costa. Redfish Pass is the south boundary — between Captiva and Sanibel. Both are deep tidal inlets that the spring migration runs through; we fish whichever pass is fishing best on a given day.
- Can you fly fish for tarpon at Captiva?
- Yes — the fly-water is excellent. Pass edges and the nearshore Gulf beach both offer clear-water sight-casting conditions with a 10- or 11-weight. We run fly or light-tackle depending on what clients want to fish.
Other species we chase in Captiva.
Chase tarpon at these locations too.
Ready to chase tarpon in Captiva?
Limited dates each season. Reach out to lock in your charter.