Punta Gorda Fishing Charters & Guides

Punta Gorda Fishing Charters

The massive silver beast turned for another run yet again. Line was screaming off of the reel. The angler began to think that these fish may have been tagging in and out because of the sheer endurance this fish had. Why wasn’t it tiring? With an explosion at the water’s surface, the beast revealed itself to the angler, easily clearing the length of its five foot plus body. “Put the rod tip down” the guide instructed, “he will throw the hook if you don't!” The seven foot rod tip dove into the warm flats of Punta Gorda. The fish landed back in the water and the angler put the pressure back on. Approximately 45 minutes later, the fish came to the side of the boat. The guide assisted in snapping a few pictures, and released the monster back into the water to fight again another day. The guide grinned. “You still have seven hours of your day’s trip left. Wanna go after another one?” That “one” they were after was the tarpon, the largest member of the herring family. Punta Gorda Florida has excellent fishing opportunities for anyone looking for both inshore and offshore fishing. The tarpon story above, for example, is one of the four inshore targets anglers vie for to achieve the "Inshore Slam."

Punta Gorda Inshore Fishing

Your Punta Gorda Fishing Charters choice has a large selection of inshore locations to complete the slam. Tarpon get huge. Fish of 30 pounds are common with some tipping the scales at over 100 pounds. This means specialized fishing tackle that most anglers do not have. The guides will be able to provide all of the gear necessary for tarpon. Tarpon fall easily to fresh bait, lures and flies for the fly angler. The mouth of the tarpon is hard and bony, so super-sharp hooks are necessary to get the hook set. Tarpon are fun to catch. Florida fishing regulations have specific rules for tarpon in the area; specifically, they are catch and release only. Tarpon do not make for good eating, so the pleasure is in the catch. Three other members of the slam are abundant as well. The snook is quite possibly the most popular of all inshore Florida gamefish. Snook fall easily to almost anything, fight hard and jump frequently. Most importantly, snook are abundant around Punta Gorda. Fishing charters that accept families, and most do, will get the kids in on the Snook action. Snook also make for great fillets. Your Punta Gorda Charter Fishing team can help you with all of the fish preparation. Almost 30 years ago, the redfish population in Florida was in desperate straits. Less than one percent of the adult population spawned. Florida passed some of the strictest regulations on redfish in the coastal states. The decision has been one of the best for the angler. Redfish of 15 pounds and more are common now. Big reds run hard, with some anglers reporting runs of over 200 yards at a time. Battle a redfish and tarpon in the same day, your slam may be fleeting because you will be too tired to continue for the last of the four. The speckled trout rounds out the list of the four of the Inshore slam. Another excellent choice for the oil, grill or smoker, sea trout are easy to catch on almost any tackle.

Punta Gorda Offshore Fishing

Punta Gorda has excellent offshore options as well. Sharks, grouper, snapper and other species are populous. Many anglers go offshore without a complete idea of what will bite on the other end of the line. Most offshore fishing is done on the bottom close to reefs and other structures. The Punta Gorda fishing charters and their captains have most of the best spots locked into GPS. They can put you right on top of the fish. There is one fish that can prove to match the tarpon in strength and voracity. The amberjack or ‘reef donkey’ lives in deep water. Fish of 30 pounds plus are common and wrenching these massive brown missiles from the depths can be a real struggle for even the most hearty of anglers.

Punta Gorda Goliath Grouper

There is one quarry that only the bravest of the brave dare meet. Baits are usually live fish over a full foot in length because the leviathan under the water can grow to over 300 pounds. Some scuba divers report these as being as large as a small car, and they are not over exaggerating. The angler needs stout tackle, a strong back and some serious endurance because Goliath grouper could be in water over 100 feet in depth. Imagine deadlifting 300 pounds 100 feet. It is not an easy task, but those who do it love it. Goliath grouper are highly protected as a species. The fish are strictly catch-and-release. However, your fishing guide can quickly snap your memories before helping you release your catch back into the water to live and fight again.

Book A Punta Gorda Fishing Charter

The Captains and Guides of Punta Gorda are fishing every month of the year. They are geared up and ready to get you hooked up! Find your next adventure with a Punta Gorda charter today.