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Home / Collier County / Naples

Vanderbilt Beach

Naples, Collier County, FL

Mist ยท 76ยฐF ยท Feels 81ยฐ
๐Ÿ‘Ž๐Ÿป Poor

๐ŸŸ Strike Window

12a
3a
6a
9a
12p
3p
6p
9p
Peak
Good
Slow
Poor
Marine Chart
Astronomy
Solar
Sunrise 06:35 AM
Sunset 08:14 PM
Marine
Water Temp.
75 Fยฐ
24ยฐC
Conditions
Wind
11 mph
Direction: S
Protection
UV Index
6
High
Live Reading
Barometric Pressure
29.97" 1015 mb
โ†“ Falling

Good bite window opening. Fish are moving โ€” get on the water.

Gear Intel
What to Throw at Vanderbilt Beach

Tarpon Heavy Leader Setup

Tarpon

80-150lb mono leader with crimps

Tarpon require heavy, abrasion-resistant leaders; their mouths are tough and bony

Pompano Rig with Sand Fleas

Top Pick

Two-hook rig with sand flea bait

Classic beach setup โ€” pompano love sand fleas; productive all year

Silver Spoon

Silver spoon (Hopkins, Acme)

Ideal for Spanish mackerel in the surf โ€” fast retrieve, great flash

Gotcha Plug

Classic shad-shaped hardlure plug

Beach staple โ€” works for Spanish macks, bluefish, and mackerel

Tide Chart
Solunar Forecast
Waxing Gibbous ยท 91% illuminated

Hourly Fishing Activity

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

Feeding Windows

Major
2:24 PM
to
4:24 PM
Major
2:24 AM
to
4:24 AM
Minor
8:13 AM
to
9:13 AM
Minor
9:34 PM
to
10:34 PM
๐ŸŒ• Moon Rise
8:43 AM
๐ŸŒ‘ Moon Set
10:04 PM
โ˜€๏ธ Sun Rise
10:38 AM
๐ŸŒ… Sun Set
12:16 AM

Local Fishing Resource

Naples & Collier County Fishing Cheat Sheet

Free

10,000 Islands backcountry, Marco Island passes, and the Naples nearshore scene

Open the Collier County Cheat Sheet

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: Patrol the shoreline at night during summer. Topwater and live bait work near any structure or trough.

Florida Pompano

Florida Pompano

Trachinotus carolinus

Fall Spring
Common
Up to 25.2 inches
Surf zones, Sandy beaches
Family:Carangidae

Excellent eating fish found in surf. Silver body with yellow fins.

Local Notes: Run the first trough behind the breaking waves at Vanderbilt Beach. Sand fleas on a pompano rig or a 1/4-oz jig with shrimp.

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish Mackerel

Scomberomorus maculatus

Spring Summer
Common
Up to 35.8 inches
Nearshore, Coastal waters
Family:Scombridae

Fast-swimming pelagic fish with gold spots. Common in spring and fall.

Local Notes: Blitz along the beach at Vanderbilt Beach during bait migrations. Casting silver spoons into the frenzy.

Red Drum

Red Drum

Sciaenops ocellatus

Year Round
Occasional
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: Hunt the troughs and shell pockets along Vanderbilt Beach. Cut mullet or live pinfish on a fish-finder rig.

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: Hold around any structure, rocks, or sea walls near Vanderbilt Beach. Fiddler crabs are most effective.

Spotted Seatrout

Spotted Seatrout

Cynoscion nebulosus

Year Round
Occasional
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 nearshore grass patches visible from Vanderbilt Beach with DOA Shrimp or live pilchards at first light.

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 along the beach at Vanderbilt Beach in the early morning during spring migrations. Live mullet or crabs.