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ALL TRIPS INCLUDE:
- Fishing License
- Bait
- Tackle
- Rods & Reels
- Ice/Built-In Cooler
- Fish Cleaning
THINGS TO BRING WITH YOU:
- Sunscreen
- Polarized Sunglasses (very important when sight fishing)
- Non-Marking Soled Shoes
- Any medications needed during the trip
- Food/Water you want for the trip
- Hat to cut the glare
- Any additional clothing you might need (long sleeve shirt, rain jacket, coat)
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CHARLOTTE HARBOR TARPON FISHERY EARLY SEASON (APRIL/MAY)
Starting sometime around the second week of April, tarpon start to show up in Charlotte Harbor in great numbers. The Tarpon will stay in Charlotte Harbor for three to four weeks depending on moon phases. Around the end of the third week of April, the Charlotte Harbor tarpon fishery doubles in size. Tarpon will be found from the mouths of the rivers all the way up to Pine Island Sound. The tarpon usually school up by the hundreds to enjoy the schools of bait that also call Charlotte Harbor home. As May approaches and the water temps get optimal these giant tarpon move into World Famous Boca Grande Pass. Guides from all over Florida will now start their season.
BOCA GRANDE PASS TARPON FISHERY
Boca Grande Pass and the surrounding beaches offer world class tarpon fishing from around May through the middle of July. It is documented that at the height of tarpon season there will be up to 10,000 tarpon that call Boca Grande Pass home, hence the reason why Boca Grande is truly the tarpon fishing capital of the world.
HILL TIDE
The full and new moon spring tides offer the best tarpon fishing of the season in Boca Grande Pass. The strong outgoing tides during these lunar phases sweep millions of Calico crabs from Charlotte Harbor through Boca Grande Pass. The tarpon gather around the "hill" of Boca Grande pass anxiously awaiting an easy meal. They can be seen feeding actively on the surface, and will rarely turn down a properly presented live crab as bait. Double and even triple hookups are not uncommon during these feeding frenzies. The Tarpon are often targeted with lighter tackle than traditionally used in Boca Grande, making the experience that much more challenging and fun. True hill tides are sometimes difficult to estimate, but are based on moon phases and the activity of recent years.
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BEACH FISHING
I offer tarpon fishing trips along the sandy beaches of Southwest Florida in addition to Boca Grande Pass trips during mid May through July. Schools of tarpon roam the shallow waters of the Gulf beaches in what I call pods. We will sight fish the beaches for rolling and "daisy chaining" tarpon using live bait, pass crabs or artificial baits. Average size ranges from 60-150 lbs. The opportunity for this type of fishing is short and the months of May through early July are traditionally the best time. The Tarpon will break away from Boca Grande Pass to migrate towards the north on a daily basis. There are not many guides that fish both Boca Grande Pass and the beaches. Sometimes the best tarpon fishing is in Boca Grande Pass and other times it is found along the beaches. Typical tackle used for these fish are 7-8 foot spinning gear with a reel that can handle 300+ yards of 20# class line.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR TARPON FISHERY (LATE SEASON)
Once the tarpon action in the pass and along the beaches comes to an end, usually around late July or early August, I focus my attention inside Charlotte Harbor. From July through September great numbers of tarpon will call Charlotte Harbor home. This is truly my favorite time of the season. Artificial lures and live bait will both be successful. Rolling pods of tarpon will be seen in almost every direction. Once again light to medium size tackle will be the weapon of choice.
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