Captiva Pass

Located in Lee County, Captiva Pass is a strait that separates North Captiva Island from La Costa Island, with Pine Island Sound to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. It is an area noted for its great year-round fishing.

In the spring, schools of snook can be found here. They run most heavily between May and July. Sardines are also prevalent, as are semi-tame porpoises that use this as a feeding zone. Deeper into the summer months, Captiva Pass is noted for its tarpon. They can be caught in waters up to 27 feet deep by using live pinfish, crabs, squirrelfish, or jumbo shrimp as bait.

Fly fishing is also possible near the sandbars, especially in the morning when the strait's surface is calm. Sometimes the water is clear enough to see fish moving in schools. Other fish that can be caught at Captiva Pass include flounder, trout, and pompano, especially as the weather gets cooler in the fall. In late October through December and again in March through April, Spanish mackerel are quite common here.

Launching boats at Captiva Pass is a bit problematic, as there are not many public ramps available. One good launch point is at the south side of the Sanibel Island Causeway, just past the toll bridge from Fort Myers to Sanibel.