Port Charlotte Fishing Charters & Guides

Port Charlotte Fishing Charters

In between Tampa and Fort Myers is Port Charlotte, a mid-size town just waiting to host your next fishing adventure. The Peace River and Myakka River meet at Port Charlotte to form Gasparilla Sound and Charlotte Harbor. The confluence of the fresh and salt waters makes a breeding ground and estuary for shrimp, fish, oysters and so much more. The west side along the Myakka is lined with mangrove-covered islands. Just a short ride up the Peace River to the east, more mangrove islands fill the river channel. Port Charlotte itself is also full of tidal creeks and canals. That means fishing here is amazing. For those less interested in chasing fish, Port Charlotte has plenty of beaches, restaurants, parks and historic places to visit. The Chamber of Commerce keeps a list of upcoming events and activities. The website also has a community guide for visitors. Before hitting the water, make sure you are aware of regulations heading out and coming back to the dock.

Port Charlotte Inshore Fishing

The area "is one of the most fertile fishing grounds that can be found anywhere in Florida. You can catch snook, redfish, spotted sea trout, sharks, tarpon, grouper, cobia and much much more right in the harbor," says Mike, a Florida native who runs a website teaching people how to be a better angler. Your rod and reel, line and chosen lure or bait are different depending on which fish you are chasing. If you don't have the needed gear, don't worry. Port Charlotte fishing charters have all the equipment you need. You just need to show up ready for some great fishing fun. For trout, reds and snook, light to medium tackle is enough. Live shrimp or fingerling fish under a popping cork is like ringing a dinner bell for these fish. Advances in shrimp lures means using some of these under a cork is just as effective as live bait. The sharks, tarpon, cobia and monster grouper need different methods. Big baits, whether live or artificial, and strong tackle are required. Use caution with cobia. These fish are curious and when hooked will easily come to the boat. Do not attempt to land the fish immediately. They tend to thrash about in the boat, breaking rods and causing havoc. Scare the fish and make it run. Wear it out. Then bring it in. Just next door is Charlotte Harbor, home to one of the biggest tarpon tournaments in the world. The silver kings are fairly easy to catch. Getting one to the boat is another matter. Big tarpon especially are masters of destruction. You need a reel with lots of line. More is better. Tarpon hit pinfish, mullet and blue crabs so hard you'll think they are getting revenge. Many fly fishermen consider tarpon a bucket list fish and an ultimate challenge. They are correct. You will lose many more than you get to the boat. Tarpon break leaders regularly. You must have outsize flies, crab, shrimp and big streamers are best, and ultra-sharp hooks. An 8-weight rod is the smallest you should take and the reel needs at least 200 yards of backing.

Port Charlotte Offshore Fishing

Out in the Gulf of Mexico, tuna, wahoo, mahi mahi, sailfish, marlin, grouper, snapper, hogfish and more are looking for their next meal. Be in the right place at the right time with Port Charlotte fishing charters and these fish can become your next meal. The fish here are either open-water or reef fish. The same rod and reel work for both, but the techniques to catch the fish vary. You need 20-pound test line or stronger. If you are after the biggest fish, use 40-pound line or stronger. You have to find open-water fish to catch them. The two ways to do this are: 1) Trolling. Trolling covers a lot of water in a short amount of time. Downriggers and outriggers help to get the bait to desired depths. Multiple hookups are common when the boat passes through a school. 2) Sight. Birds diving bombing the surface are a guarantee that something is hammering the bait from below. Experienced charter guides head for this activity. You can troll past the feeding frenzy or cast white bucktails into the school. Reef fish are down near the bottom. The structure provides hiding places for prey fish. Reef monsters like amberjack, grouper and snapper hang around to chomp smaller fish that get careless. Live and cut bait dropped right over the side will draw strikes. In some cases, you can try jigging spoons.

Book A Port Charlotte Fishing Charter

Ready to test yourself against sea monsters like the goliath grouper? Want to bring home snapper fillets? Either way, Port Charlotte is the place to fish and we can connect you to the best fishing guides. Search for a local guide and get the adventure started.