Fishing Boca Grande

Charlotte Harbor, Gasparilla Sound, Lemon Bay and the waters surrounding the Charlotte Harbor are known as the Tarpon Fishing Capital of the world. Each year in May hundreds of fishing charter captains, fishing guides and tournament fishermen descend upon Cape Haze Peninsula for the beginning of the Tarpon tournament season. These Silver King monsters are so thick at Boca Grande Pass that you could almost walk across the harbor on the backs of the Tarpon.

It is not unusual to find a hole where every other cast is a fish, even with two or three people in the boat.  Shark, Jack and Ladyfish often are found in the same locations.

The Tarpon Tournaments wind down in July, but the fishing remains great throughout the year. As an amateur fisherman I have landed as many as 13 species of fish on a single weekend fishing trip with one of my favorite Cape Haze fishing guides. These have included Redfish, Snook, Trout, Spanish Mackerel, Jack, Ladyfish, Flounder, Shark, Sailfin Catfish,  and a few less desirable species.

Most often we get warmed up fishing for trout until we get bored catching too many, then spend the rest of the day fishing for Snook, Redfish or both. 

There is no doubt that you will catch more fish and learn a great deal about the ecosystem when you fish with any one of the Boca Grande fishing guides or other guides working the waters of the Charlotte Harbor estuaries. Once you learn to read the local waters, and with a little experience, you can do quite well on your own by renting a boat and fishing with live shrimp or other live bait, or artificial lures.

It is not unusual to see fisherman casting off from the shore into the Gulf of Mexico or fishing from any of the many piers or docks along the Intra-Coastal waterway.  My personal favorite is fishing after dark, by catching live shrimp along the edge of one of the brackish bays, then walk to the Gulf side and cast into the surf after Snook.  When a Snook or anything for that matter hits at night, it is most exciting.

My Cape Haze has special fishing packages.  Be sure to let us know if you are an avid fisherman or if you want to find a new reason to love Southwest Florida.