Boca Grande Charter
Boca Grande Is The Tarpon Fishing Capital Of The World
Boca Grande tarpon fishing is world renowned. We are blessed every spring when thousands of migrating tarpon decide to take up residence in our back yard. Although May and June are considered prime. We’re able to fish them from April through August. They begin showing up to the south in Pine Island Sound and soon spread out throughout all the bays and sounds that surround Charlotte Harbor.
Boca Grande the island is unique in its own regard. It’s located on the middle of Gasparilla Island. This is one of the barrier islands separating Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico. A quaint laid back sea side town with its own lighthouse, few cars, no stop lights and where many get around on golf carts. The name Boca Grande means Big mouth in Spanish and most likely comes from its close proximity to the largest and main pass, Boca Grande, into Charlotte Harbor on Gasparilla Islands southern shoreline.
Tarpon are what make this time of year such a special place. However, if the wind makes tarpon fishing difficult there are backcountry options in many of the adjacent bays and sounds. From Gasparilla Sound down through Bull and Turtle Bay there are ample opportunities for snook, redfish, and spotted sea trout.
Most Popular Fish Around
Boca Grande
- Tarpon
- Snook
- Red Fish
- Spotted Sea Trout
- Sheepshead
Places To Fish Near Boca Grande
- Cayo Costa
- Gasparilia Sound
- Lemon Bay
- Bull Bay
- Turtle Bay
Boca Grande Fly Fishing
What makes fishing the flats so special is the visual aspect or when we combine the sport of casting with seeing. It’s the thrill of sight fishing and casting to a laid up or moving game fish then getting a chance to experience the take or eat is incredible. Moreover, to stand on the bow of a skiff in this few feet of water and wait for a group of tarpon as they get ready to cross your path is special. There is no game fish more exiting to cast to than the tarpon or Silver king. In most cases, it’s about the eat, pull, and jump. Getting one to the boat is the ultimate experience.
On fly, when you cast to a sighted fish and as you’re stripping it tracks and eats your fly as you watch makes for truly one of the most remarkable experiences there is.
Moving to the back
As the winter fronts add up it’s only a matter of time before the combination of wind and cooler water temperatures push some of our favorite game fish deeper into the back country in order to find more moderate conditions. This is particularly true along the upper...
Back at the bench
Ok, well it’s been a bit on the cool and windy side the last few days as we just had another front blow through. On a positive not, it’s given me a chance to think and work on an issue thats been giving me a few problems. That would be the eyes on my flies. Just a...
The eyes have it
For me, except for a couple exceptions, putting eyes on my flies can be somewhat problematic. Maybe not problematic, but time consuming for sure. So, it has kind of made me ask do they make any difference? Well, to make a long story short, yes they do. In fact, eyes...
November and negative tides
As November rolls in we’ve already experienced a couple frontal systems with the strongest and coolest one right on top of us as I’m putting these thoughts together. As I put away October’s tide schedule and plug in November’s, my first observation are the negative...
Weedless and streamlined
Although I have an extensive fly collection, I really only throw just a few favorites. Whenever it’s applicable, anyone who has spent any time on my skiff knows how much I like the clouser. Here, It’s all about the drop and it’s very effective on many of my favorite...
Redfish are grouping up
After spending some time on the east side of the harbor, I've been seeing more and more redfish grouping up along several shorelines. As well, many of these redfish have been good sized and look to be upper or over slot fish. Some shorelines have been active on an...
Charlotte Harbor fishing report
Exploring two different habitats. As I've been using my summer offseason to do some exploring around the bays and sounds that make our fishery so special its been interesting comparing the distinct differences between the upper harbor and Pine Island Sound. Both areas...
Charlotte Harbor fishing report
Over the past week, I've been exploring the east side of the upper harbor between Alligator Creek and Pirate Harbor. We have been going through a rainy period as the winds have switched around from the west and are bringing lots of tropical moisture in from the Gulf....
Charlotte Harbor fishing report
As August begins, I'm on the water early at first light and typically back to the dock by 11:00 A.M. For the most part, it's flat calm and really nice for a few hours. For sure, I'm looking for rolling tarpon but if they don't show I have no problem working one of our...
Charlotte Harbor fishing report
As we officially begin our summer season, I'll begin moving a bit north of Pine Island Sound where the bite has been consistent all spring and start to explore the our mangrove habitat around the east wall of the upper harbor. First of all, it's closer to home and...
