Naples & Marco Island Fishing Report: Epic Shark Season Heats Up

As winter loosens its grip on Southwest Florida's waters, our legendary shark fishing is roaring back to life. Water temperatures climbing into the 70s have triggered an explosive bite across Naples and Marco Island waters, creating prime conditions for unforgettable shark encounters.

Current Shark Action: The warming trend has multiple shark species actively feeding in our waters. We're consistently finding aggressive bonnethead sharks throughout the area, providing non-stop action for our clients. More exciting still, we're seeing increased numbers of impressive lemon sharks, which can push well over 100 pounds, cruising our productive grounds. Blacknose and Atlantic sharpnose sharks are rounding out the action, offering excellent opportunities for both novice and experienced anglers.

Prime Shark Locations: The back bays and passes between Naples and Marco Island are producing steady action, with the warming waters concentrating bait and predators. The morning incoming tides have been particularly productive, especially around structure and deeper channels.

Inshore Bonus Action: While our shark trips have been the highlight, the warming pattern has also ignited our inshore bite. Spotted seatrout have been particularly aggressive, readily taking jigs tipped with live shrimp. This provides excellent action between shark encounters or as a great option for mixed-bag trips.

Forecast: With water temperatures stabilizing and more bait moving into the area, we expect the shark action to intensify through February and into March. This is traditionally when we see some of our largest sharks of the year, including potential trophy lemon and bull sharks.

Booking Tips: Morning trips have been most productive, though afternoon sessions are also producing quality action. Full-day trips give us the best opportunity to target multiple species and find the heaviest concentrations of feeding sharks.

Experience the thrill of battling these magnificent predators in the beautiful waters of Naples and Marco Island. Whether you're an experienced angler or it's your first time targeting sharks, our specialized techniques and intimate knowledge of local waters ensure an unforgettable adventure.

Capt. Brian Teufel
Shark Chaser Charters
Naples, Marco Island, and Goodland Fishing Charters