Florida Tarpon Fishing Flats Fishing Report

Every year at this time, after spending some great fishing days inside the backcountry flats and tarpon filled holes of Charlotte Harbor, I take a annual trek offshore. With a break in charter action and the right weather conditions Capt Scot Hughes and myself took a break and headed offshore in search of the annual kingfish action. With light winds and warm air temps and water temps in the low 70s we headed about 12 miles west of Boca Grande to an undisclosed wreck. With no bait in sight in the harbor we figured we could sabiki some bait offshore and slow troll it near the wreck and pickup some Kingfish. About halfway we found a nice pod of threadfins about the size of two football fields and proceeded to fill the live well. Once on the wreck we immediately marked plenty of suspend fish on the color machine and deployed some frisky baits behind the boat. First fish to the boat was a small king about 7 lbs. Not exactly the kingfish we where hoping for but kingfish none the less. Next couple of drifts bring the same size king fish, when suddenly another hookup looks to be much bigger fish. Not running like a kingfish, after about a 20-minute, fight and some imaginative guesses about what could be on the end of the line, we boat a 25lb Amberjack Really great action on the light tackle we where using with multiple fish landed over the next hour, the largest about 40lbs

Kingfish should hold in the area for another few weeks and the Amberjack we encountered will stay on these near shore wrecks until the warm weather returns in the spring. The grouper bite has been fair close to shore along with the snapper and like the amberjack should stay close as long as the weather stays cool.

Inshore fishing will be in a transition until water temps stabilize. With the bait supply drying up your favorite plastic and jig combination should bring plenty of trout action. Big redfish should start showing in the potholes where chumming with cut bait like ladyfish will pay off. Snook fishing in the canals and in the rivers should be good. After cold mornings warming afternoons will be the best time to be on the water.

A short video of our amberjack action can be seen at http://flixoutdoors.com/play.php?vid=194 Look in the members section under captandy

Capt Andy Boyette
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Prior to the cold front that past by first of the week where temps dropped into the 40s Pine Island Sound was stating to show some decent action with Snook and Trout with the occasional Redfish. Bait fish was making a good showing but unlike the past few years it is not in the usual spots. Tarpon began showing in small numbers on the beaches and I have heard from other guides they have been catching a couple a week. I went in to the big Pass today and marked a handful of tarpon and there where several boats drifting live bait.

Bull and Turtle Bay have been fairly reliable with a mixed bag, but I struggled to put fish in the boat today. Several of the trout we caught did not even fight, indicating that the cold must have affected them more than I thought.

Upper Charlotte Harbor has a steady supply of bait in and around the two bridges. Snook fishing continues to be good in the rivers and canals, and I expect until we get a week or longer of warm days they will be in no hurry to leave.

I have been steady booking tarpon trips and have very limited availability for May. I stll have openings in June so if you are planning a tarpon trip this year you should be getting your plans together. I expect another phenomenal season

Spring like weather patterns continue, with the mildest winter I can remember in recent history. Red fish fishing is not as good as it should be with reds being a hit or miss, however big redfish are showing in the potholes. The slot-sized reds are harder to find and not in good numbers. Cut bait and scented plastic are still the best. Snook season opened and some slot fish are being taken in the upper Myaka as well as the Peace River. Smaller snook are more abundant on the flats and deeper cuts. Trout fishing is pretty hot with plenty of gator trout mixed with slot size, a good day well consist of 30-50 fish. Non-stop action can be found drifting and casting 1/8-1/4 ounce jigs with jerk baits or gulp shrimp.

Grouper fishing continues to be good close to shore as well as the snapper. Drifting cut or live bait will take home plenty of dinner. I also hear a lot of success trolling plugs near good bottom or structure. Interesting fact the there could be new regulations on the horizon for offshore fishing so it is a good idea to get involved and be vocal on your position. If not no complaining when the season is closed for half the year like is being proposed.

As always tarpon fishing is a subject I bring up. With the tarpon that where being caught in December and the amount of tarpon up the rivers now, the upcoming season I expect to be phenomenal. I have been booking steady and have more on the books at this time than any other year in the past; I hear the same from many other veteran tarpon guides, I still have a lot of room on my book, but at the pace I am booking, timing will become an issue if you are planning to fish with me. I have stressed this in the past and this year is no exception good tarpon guides book up early and become very limited. So if you are thinking about fishing there is no better time than now. It allows you to secure the date that works best for you.

Capt Andy Boyette


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