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Barrier Islands
Boca Grande, Sanibel, Pine Island, Englewood
Inland Towns
Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda,
Venice
Urban Areas
Sarasota, Ft. Myers
Tarpon Fishing
Snook Fishing
Redfish Fishing
Flats Fishing
Fishing Report
Photos
Email
HOME
Southwest Florida is a diverse part of
the state with urban development and rural communities. Spread throughout you
can find the beautiful inland towns of Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda which line
both sides of the Charlotte Harbor. There are the barrier islands of Boca
Grande, Englewood, Pine Island, Sanibel, and Cayo Costa. To The north there is
Sarasota and to the south is Ft Myers. You will find beaches great dining and
entertainment and a variety of lifestyles. We have assembled links to the
areas so you may explore the on you own.
GO FISH CHARTERS OFFERS GUIDED FISHING
CHARTERS IN BOCA GRANDE, ENGLEWOOD, FT MYERS, PUNTA GORDA, PINE ISLAND, PORT
CHARLOTTE, SANIBEL, CAPTIVA, AND CHARLOTTE HARBOR.
For Reservations and Information
Contact
Capt Andy Boyette
Email andy@gofishcharters.com
Phone 941-769-1582
FISHING THE ENTIRE SOUTHWEST
FLORIDA COAST
WE GO TO WHERE THE FISH ARE
|
The City Of Port Charlotte Across the Harbor From Punta Gorda.
With Shopping Dinning And Great Entertainment |
|
The City Of Punta Gorda One Of The Top Ten Places To
Live In the U.S. By Money Magazine 5 Years In Row |
|
The City Of Venice Just North Of Port Charlotte About A
Fifteen Minute Drive. |
|
The City Of Sarasota Twenty Minutes North Of Venice |
|
The City Of Ft. Myers Including Ft Myers Beach |
TARPON
FISHING CHARTERS
TARPON,
species of fishes related to
the bonefish
and the ladyfish. Tarpons
occur in warm coastal waters of most tropical marine areas. They reach more than
2 m (more than 6 ft) in length and 68 kg (150 lb) in weight. They are generally
dark blue or black on the back and bright silver on the belly. The flesh is
edible but is not generally recommended as food. Tarpons
are highly prized in sport fishing because of their strength, large size, and
spectacular, acrobatic leaps when hooked.
Scientific
classification: Tarpons
make up the family Megalopidae of the order Elopiformes. The two species are
classified as Megalops cyprinoides and Megalops atlanticus.
Tarpon
are the silver kings of our local coastal waters. Ranging from 20 to 150 pounds.
They are hard fighters, and high jumpers and will create an adrenaline rush in
even the most seasoned angler. Boca
Grande Pass is the
acknowledged tarpon
capital of the world. There's no known place on this earth where these fish
gather in such large numbers to feed. This has made Boca
Grande the traditional place
to fish for tarpon
on the west coast for over a century. However tarpon
can be found throughout the Charlotte
Harbor year round, and can
taken in great numbers from April well into September.
Methods
Of Tarpon Fishing
|
The traditional method
of Tarpon
fishing is fishing Boca Grande
Pass with heavy tackle, and
live bait near the bottom of deep holes where most of the fish congregate. The
traditional boat used, is a large sport fishing vessel. The captain stays at the
helm with engines running, giving instructions to the clients that are trying to
keep the baits from hanging in the rocky bottom in 70 foot deep water. Jig
fishing has recently become a widely used method of fishing the Pass. The
jigger, as they are locally known use a break-away lead jig head with a plastic
bait that simulates a live bait. The jig head is wire tied to the hook so it
breaks-away leaving only the hook in the mouth of the Tarpon,
hence the break away jig. |
When a Tarpon
hits the bait, the captain drives the boat forward quickly, attempting to hook
the fish and pull it away from the many other boats competing for the fish. This
helps reduce the chances of a hooked tarpon jumping into someone else's boat.
The photo below was an incident that took place this year when the Tarpon we had
hooked landed in someone else's boat. Pass fishing Boca
Grande
can be dangerous even with the most experienced fisherman, which makes the Tarpon
one of the most challenging of sport fish.
A modern Tarpon
fishing method that has surfaced recently is to sight fish these creatures which
can be really rewarding. Starting out an a summer morning when the wind is at a
stand still and the water is slick calm, Tarpon
can be found rolling and feeding on the surface throughout Charlotte
Harbor. Live bait and
artificals are the weapons of choice here. These fish are feeding in 5-15 foot
of water and when hooked on the end of your line become explosive. Tackle is
25-30lb gear with 100lb leader and 7/0 hook for live bait or a variety of plugs
and/or flies for the Fly-Guys. There are no crowds to contend with and if there
is another boat in the area he's probably your buddy. This gives you the room
for unforgettable action allowing ample space and time to fight even the biggest
of Tarpon. On
a typical day you can easily jump 10 Tarpon,
and perhaps boat 2 or 3. But one thing for sure it beats fighting a crowd and
makes a trip a lot more memorable, And the scenery in Charlotte
Harbor is magnificent.
Capt Andy
is centrally located on the Charlotte Harbor and has pickup arrangements at
numerous docks from Ft. Myers, Sanibel, Port Charlotte, Boca Grande, Englewood,
Pine Island, and Captiva. Charters are available for a half day, full day, or night
trip, and group arrangements can be made. We fish for Tarpon
in Boca Grande Pass, Charlotte Harbor and along the beaches, live bait, jig fishing,
or fly fishing.
Capt Andy
is a knowledgeable fishing
guide and knows the local waters well. Not only does he Guide you to where the
fish are he is an instructional guide who will leave you with an experience you
will never forget.
"Good things come
to those with Bait!" -Capt. Andy Boyette
For Reservations and Information
Contact
Capt Andy Boyette
Email gofishtarpon@hotmail.com
Phone 941-769-1582
PHOTOS
TARPON FISHING THE ENTIRE
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST
WE GO TO WHERE THE TARPON ARE
Snook
With about five species
(may be more) including the Fat Snook,
Swordspine Snook,
Tarpon Snook
and the Common Snook
with the first four being a smaller species and the latter being the largest.
All are distinctive in apperance with a characteristic protruding lower
jaw and a prominent black lateral line running from the gill plate cover
to the tail.
Scientific classification: Centropomus undecimalis a member of the
Centropomidae family which includes the prized species Nile Perch and is
more superior as sportfish. It is also related to the barramundi which
it shares some appearance and behavioral traits. |
Snook
probably one of the most sought after fish in our local waters. Snook
can be caught year-round locally preferring warm, but not hot water. Our
local waters with vast back country, grass flats, and canal systems are
ideal territory; moving up the rivers during the winter months. Snook
will take a wide range of live baits, but prefer what is locally know as
the greenback. Plugs, jigs, spoons, and jerk baits work great for the
real sportsman. Generally, the size range is 3-15lbs, but Snook
weighing 20-30 are not uncommon.
A tropical species of fish Snook
are largely confined to about the lower half of Florida. But in the warmer years
they have spread pretty far north barring a freezing temperatures. Snook
fishing can try the most seasoned anglers, this is one of the most elusive fish
found in our waters and pound for pound the toughest. Snook
have excellent vision and keen hearing due in large to the predominate lateral
line that runs down both sides to the fork of the tail, thus giving them the
local common name of linesider. There are many methods of snook
fishing from poling around the flats to chumming the pot holes of mangrove lined
shores in the back country. Snook
fishing is by far the best at night as these hungry fish tend to be more active
at night which can bring you catch average up considerably.
GO FISH CHARTERS OFFERS GUIDED SNOOK
FISHING CHARTERS IN BOCA GRANDE, ENGLEWOOD, FT
MYERS, PUNTA GORDA, PINE ISLAND, PORT CHARLOTTE, SANIBEL, CAPTIVA, AND CHARLOTTE
HARBOR.
We do full and
half day charters as well as night Charters
For Reservations and Information Contact
Capt Andy Boyette
Email andy@gofishcharters.com
Phone 941-769-1582
SNOOK FISHING THE
ENTIRE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST
WE GO TO WHERE THE SNOOK ARE
FLATS
FISHING CHARTERS
Flat,
A long, level and shallow part of a body of water adjacent to deeper water
and/or channels. Flats
can be found in bays, estuaries, and marshes as well as around islands. Some
expansive shallow low areas along mainland coast or beaches may also be
considered flats.
The bottom composition of a flat may be mud, sand, gravel, rock, grass or a combination
of sand and aquatic vegetation. Flats
having hard bottoms and shallow depths are suitable for fishing thus creating
the local and angler term flats fishing.
Flats,
and the edges of flats provide feeding opportunities for various fish; and in
our area tarpon, snook, and
redfish are the most sought
after, along with various other species of fish. The fish move on and off,
migrate through, and reside on the flats for varying periods. Flats with with
grass or other vegetation are among the best for fishing, since they offer cover
for most species and food for small and larger fish alike. The term "flats
fishing" is usually specific to saltwater and fishing activities,
especially tarpon, snook,
redfish, seatrout locally.
Southwest Florida
has an expansive flats system from the mouth of Charlotte Harbor through
Gasperilla Sound, Pine Island Sound, Bull Bay, Turtle Bay, and San Carlos Bay.
These diverse areas offer some of the best fishing Florida Has to offer.
GO FISH CHARTERS
OFFERS GUIDED FLATS FISHING CHARTERS IN BOCA GRANDE, ENGLEWOOD, FT MYERS, PUNTA
GORDA, PINE ISLAND, PORT CHARLOTTE, SANIBEL, CAPTIVA, AND CHARLOTTE HARBOR
"Good
things come to those with Bait!" -Capt. Andy Boyette
For Reservations and Information
Contact
Capt Andy Boyette
Email andy@gofishcharters.com
Phone 941-769-1582
FLATS FISHING
THE ENTIRE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST
WE GO TO WHERE THE FISH ARE
Red Drum
Sciaenops ocellatus, commonly know
as the redfish or
channel bass, the redfish
is second only to the the black drum in size among the members of the drum
family. The redfish
is coppery red in apperance on the back and white on the lower sides and belly,
and has a spot or spots on the tail called eyespots. Redfish
live in the estuary as immature fish untill become mature at about 30 inches at
which time they move off shore and can grow to over sixty pounds.
Redfish
fishing has fast become a great fishing sport as the redfish
has gained popularity among anglers. The redfish is
a hard fighter and will test anyone's light tackle angling skills. Live shrimp,
greenbacks, and pinfish are top choices for redfish.
With a variety of spoons, jigs and topwater baits taking good numbers of redfish.
Most of the fish caught
inshore are juvenile's as the mature fish tend to live in nearshore to offshore
waters. Redfish
will school in potholes of deeper water and can also be found foraging on the
bottom with their tails sticking out of the water on the flats. Redfish
can be found throughout our area year-round and from about July through October
can be found in large schooling numbers. During these months redfish fishing is
at its hottest, with a fifty redfish
day not uncommon.
GO FISH CHARTERS OFFERS GUIDED REDFISH
FISHING CHARTERS IN BOCA GRANDE, ENGLEWOOD, FT MYERS,
PUNTA GORDA, PINE ISLAND, PORT CHARLOTTE, SANIBEL, CAPTIVA, AND CHARLOTTE
HARBOR.
We do full
and half day charters as well as night Charters
For Reservations and Information Contact
Capt Andy Boyette
Email andy@gofishcharters.com
Phone 941-769-1582
REDFISH FISHING THE ENTIRE
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST
WE GO TO WHERE THE REDFISH ARE
SNOOK FISHING CHARTERS
FLORIDA FISHING
CHARTERS
FLATS FISHING CHARTERS
Photos of
clients with Tarpon Snook Redfish Cobia Seatrout King Mackerel Grouper Tuna and
many other species of fish.
click on any
photo to enlarge
For Reservations and Information
Contact
Capt Andy Boyette
Email andy@gofishcharters.com
Phone 941-769-1582
FISHING THE
ENTIRE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COAST
WE GO TO WHERE THE FISH ARE
The Ft Myers
International Airport is 35 minutes away. We area also located close to many
Florida attractions including Disney World, Sea World, and Busch Gardens.
SNOOK FISHING CHARTERS
FLORIDA FISHING
CHARTERS
FLATS FISHING CHARTERS