Get Flathookedup Fishing Report
Fishing Report for Charlotte Harbor, Boca Grande & other surrounding areas.

Updated: May 13th, 2008

Well the tarpon have invaded the entire area.  With huge numbers of tarpon rolling into Boca Grande Pass and large groups of fish on the beach if your target in Tarpon now is the time.  Since mid April we have been putting tarpon in the air with live bait and artificials.  Many of the fish have been in the 90-150 pound range with some in excess of 200 pounds. 
Each new moon and full moon of both May and June will see great tides from what is known as the "Hill Tide", we have a very strong outgoing tide that flushes crabs out of Charlotte Harbor through Boca Grande Pass and the tarpon are there to feed like lining up at a buffet line.  Most of the tarpon will be taken by heavy spinning outfits and many trips will jump as many as 20 fish in a trip.
Now our morning tarpon bite has been off to a great start.  We have seen some big females taking jigs at first light.  During the daylight hours between 6 am and noon the jig bite is strong with sometimes 10-15 fish on per trip.

One thing that comes along with the tarpon are the sharks.  We have lots of sharks, probably to many sharks and not enough shark fisherman.  Everyday we see ten foot plus hammerheads and prowling bull sharks just waiting to pick of a tarpon.  Last year the world record hammerhead was caught right here in Boca Grande Pass.  That hammerhead measured out at 14.5 feet long and 1280 pounds, defiantly more shark than I would ever want.  However if you are in the mood for shark the toothy beast are here.  Just about every drift through the pass you will hook up with a bull shark and if your lucky your get to see a 10 foot plus hammerhead chewing on you bait.

Our backcountry or flats fishing certainly can not go without mentioning.  The redfish have been a steady bite with good numbers of 20-30 fish per trip.  We have been fishing some nice groups of fish that seem to have gathered around oyster bars and some broken bottom.  Most of the fish haven been taken on cut bait but they are also suckers for a well presented artificial. 

Snook on the other hand have been on fire.  The snook bite is pre-spawn and they are feeding on what ever comes there way.  For the best bite we are loading up the livewells with fresh whitebait and chumming up the snook.  In many cases we get the snook feeding so well the water looks as if it is boiling.  Just about every cast when the bite is on is how we like it, and this time of year is when it's easy snook fishing.