I spoke with Robert at Fishn' Frank's Bait & Tackle in Port Charlotte this afternoon. He was telling me that fishing in Charlotte Harbor is good and only going to get better as water temperatures climb toward the 70 degree mark. The snook bite is slow during the day right now due to the poor daytime tides, but is real good at night. Look for snook around bridges. docks and other lighted structure at night in the upper harbor. Shrimp, white bait (if you can find them), and sugar trout are the best live baits for snook. Bomber lures are the old trusty standby, but are still the best artificial bait for snook. The redfish schools have broken up, but plenty of individual fish can be found closer to the Intercostal Waterway. Look for redfish around Bull Bay, Catfish Creek, and Burnt Storm Harbor in the lower portion of Charlot Harbor and around the sand holes of the grass flats of the upper harbor. Live shrimp, and cut ladyfish are the best natural baits. The Exude Shad in the Golden Brim and Red Mangrove colors are the best artificial bait for redfish. Speckled trout fishing has slowed with the warming waters but a few cobia are showing up and the spanish mackerel fishing is good in and out of the harbor. The largest concentrations of mackerel can be found outside of the mouth of Charlotte Harbor, but inside, Roberts customers are catching very large spanish mackerel, up to 27". Live shrimp, jigs, or anything flashy will catch mackerel. Only a few resident tarpon can be found in the creeks, canals, and in the Peace River right now. Robert expects the larger concentrations of tarpon to move into the area in about three weeks. For more information contact;
Fishn' Frank's Bait & Tackle
941-625-3888
4425 Tamiami Trail #D
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
www.fishnfranks.com
