Folks doing the Sanibel Stoop aren’t the only ones acting oddly on Florida’s southwest coast. So are snook anglers!
On The Fly Saltwater
Featured photo by Polly Dean.
August 2025
By Jimmy Jacobs
They call it the “Sanibel Stoop.” Down in southwest Florida, you see it most mornings along the Gulf shores of Sanibel and Captiva Islands. These beaches are noted as some of the best in the world for picking up seashells. Thus, a steady stream of early morning pickers walk slowly along the sand hunched over looking for a prized shell.
Heading to the beach. Photo by Polly Dean.
On this summer morning the crew from On The Fly South walked the path through the dunes from our headquarters at Twin Waters Island Resort to join the caravan along the beach. However, we did not do the Sanibel Stoop. Rather it was the “Sanibel Stare.” As we walked, our eyes were locked on the drop off in the edge of the surf, looking for snook cruising the trough it created.
While the seashells may be the more noted attraction to these beaches, in the hot summer months from June to September the option for snook in the surf is the draw for local and visiting fly casters.
This type angling is not limited to these two islands. In the heat of summer it takes place all along both shores of the peninsula to the south of Tampa on the west and Fort Pierce on the east.
The numbers and size of the line-sided fish that show up very near the sand at this time of year can take aback anglers experiencing it for the first time. The casts needed to reach these fish are no more than 30 feet and at times as little at 10. And, it is basically sight-casting!
For the most part, only short casts are needed. Photo by Jimmy Jacobs.
The twin factors that bring the fish this close in are feeding and spawning. The urge to reproduce lures them to the beaches, as well as the presence of forage. Additionally, during this period they often form small pods or schools. While singles and pairs are common, fishermen sometimes have larger numbers of snook swim past. Many of the fish are in the 18- to 24-inch range, but some top 36 inches and double-digit weights.
Of course, not all of these fish are going to be easy targets. Some will pass like they are on a mission, headed to someplace they need to be. The ones that are of most interest seem to be poking along the edge of drop offs, obviously prospecting for an easy meal. Those fish can give you time to make multiple casts to them if needed and you don’t spook them.
The wave action on the Gulf side is ordinarily milder than on the Atlantic waters. That makes spotting fish and casting to them easier. But clear water conditions are an imperative. As noted, this is sight casting. Additionally, the best time for this angling is the early morning, which puts the rising sun at your back. That relieves the problem of glare on the water and aides seeing down in it. Be aware, however, that you still need good polarized sunglasses.
On Captiva, much of the beach is lined by a stair-step of small drop-offs, that go quickly down to 6-foot depths. As the tide rises and falls, this trough presents drop-off edges at all levels. When fishing these, you can stay back up on the sand. In fact, getting in the water will probably only result in spooking approaching fish.
A Captiva summer beach snook. Photo by Polly Dean.
With regard to gear, set ups of 8- or 9-weight are best. Anytime you are on the beach, you should expect some wind and may have to punch your fly through the breeze. Having too light a rod makes that difficult. Additionally, you could find yourself connected to a out-sized snook. You don’t want to end up killing such a fish if you land it, because the fight took so long it finished it off.
You also want to be spooled with an intermediate line. If there is any wave action at all, that motion will keep jerking your fly around on a floating line. The intermedia line provides enough weight to cut through the waves and keep the fly in the strike zone needed.
As to flies to use, there are several options. For the most part, the color is white, since that mimics most of the small bait fish the snook are looking for in the surf. Size No.4 Clouser Minnows in solid white or the Schminnow, developed by the late Norm Ziegler on these beaches, are two favorites. At times, however, Clousers in chartreuse-and-white, or Pugliese patterns in the green-and-white work well. If the snook are ignoring all of these, try switching to a darker pattern, such as purple. If the water is a slightly off-color, a tan-and-white Clouser is also popular with local anglers.
One annoyance with the beach action on Captiva is a lack of access. While all the beach is open to visitors, parking to get to the sand is the problem. If you are staying at any of the beachfront resorts or rental properties, the problem is solved. You simply have to walk over to the beach.
For day-trip anglers, there are but two options. At the south end of Captiva at Blind Pass, Turner Beach Park is open to the public with a small parking lot that fills up fast. Also, presently a $5 per hour parking fee is charged that must be paid using a smart phone app.
The only other public access is at the north end of Captiva Drive, the main thoroughfare running up the island. Here Captiva Beach also has a limited parking area and the same parking fee.
