Tarpon have invaded Boca Grande Pass ~ 05/22/09
Tarpon Fishing has been on now for about the past 2 weeks in the Boca Grande Pass and Charlottle Habor area. I have been fishing the pass and habor over the past few weeks and man it is on fire! . The technique has been to locate the pods of tarpon and set up long drifts with jigs. Typically finding the tarpon pods would result in a HOOK- UP. Believe me when I tell you the bite is on, The bite is on! There has been a big school of tarpon that have been moving in and out of the pass. A combination of factors including bull sharks, gin clear water, hill tides and untypical weather, have contributed to these tarpon coming in and out of Boca Grande Pass. A typical day in the pass so far has been anywhere from 5 to 10 HOOK- UPS just in 4 hours. The dates are getting limited, so book while you can and come experience the thrill of fishing in Boca Grande Pass.
Hot Charlotte Harbor Redfish Fishing ~ 01/29/09
Of all the great fish we have the pleasure of chasing here in southwest Florida, there's little doubt that redfish are my favorite, hands down. And, winter is one of the best times of the year for these bronze donkeys. When the water clears up and the tides get lower, sight fishing for these donkeys can be the ultimate challenge. This type of fishing is not for everyone. It can be tough and it requires some patience. It's usually referred to as hunting rather than fishing, and that's about the description. These fish are in super clear, shallow water and they can be very nervous. Sometimes it doesn't take much to spook them, and precision casting is in order here. They can be tough to catch. Redfish will gather in potholes. Locating a hole that holds fish is a matter of paying your dues. You might have to try several before that first hook-up. Holes are usually light colored, sandy areas that are deeper than the grass surrounding them. They can be difficult to see without polarized sunglasses, or at times of low light. Once the fish move up on the flat, they'll usually spread out to feed in the shallow water. The higher the sun gets, the easier it is to spot them, whether they're in the holes or over grass. Keep in mind though, the higher the light, the easier it is for them to see you, too. Of course, with cold fronts dropping down on us, this scenario won't present itself every day. Best bet is to wait until a day or two after the front passes, and the winds die down, then have at it. Most likely, the fish haven't fed for a while and will be on the prowl. Trout are in abundance. Along with the super clean water and the super low tides. The trout are schooling right now. If you catch one I bet there's a ton of other ones waiting to eat your bait. The grass flats near devil fish key, have been holding a lot of trout. Now, snook on the other hand are kind of picky in the winter. Most of the snook go into deeper water where is just a bit warmer. The PGI canal system wouldn't be a bad place to start even with all the wind. Just remember a slow presentation is the key !
Stay warm and be safe !
Capt. Justin
Trout Fishing the Grass Flats of Gasparilla ~ 01/23/09
As you may know, winter is just around the corner and the low tides are here. Along with that , we get are fair share of wind and we see the bait start to disappear. On a recent trip, we limited out on trout and caught a few nice lingering reds. Most of the trout were caught in the Gasparilla area in about three to four feet of water on the open grass flats. Try to look for sand holes or ledges. The red fish were also caught in the same holes as the trout. The later we get into the winter months, you'll start to find more reds in the holes. King fish are also starting to invade the area. There are good reports coming from just 2 to 4 miles off the beach, anywhere from Stump Pass, to Boca Grande pass. Try trolling spoons or red and white bombers.
