I spoke with Robert at Fishin' Frank's Bait & Tackle in Charlotte Harbor this morning. He tells me that tarpon fishing is phenomenal in Boca Grande Pass and in Charlotte Harbor. Blue crabs, pass crabs, and greenbacks are all good tarpon baits. Shark fishing is also excellent in the harbor. Bull sharks, hammerheads, blacktip, and other sharks are active in the day and at night. Cut bait on an extra strong hook, attached to your main line with a short piece or wire, is best for catching sharks. Quarter sized chunks of sardines or ladyfish are perfect for smaller sharks, larger chunks of jacks or mullet works best for the bulls and hammerheads. A few cobia are swimming with the sharks in the harbor and will hang out in the shade provided by your boat. Large jigs and pinfish will get the cobia to bite. Redfish are hanging under mangroves, docks, and other shady areas near Pine Island and Burnt Store on the east side of the harbor. Dead shrimp, mullet and ladyfish are the best baits. Snook are biting early and late in the day in Boca Grande Pass and on the beaches. Pinfish, ladyfish, and cut bait are all good baits for snook. Remember that snook season is closed so bend down the barbs on your hooks, land the fish as quickly as is possible, and spend extra time reviving your snook before releasing it. Mangrove snapper fishing is excellent at night. Mangos can be caught any where from reefs 25 miles offshore to inside Charlotte Harbor. The biggest snapper are on the reefs farthest offshore where fish 2lb - 4lb's can be found. Near shore reefs are holding plenty of snapper also with fish slightly smaller then those found farther offshore. Snapper in the harbor are also good sized with fish to 2 1/2 lb's being caught. Small pinfish and cut sardines are the best baits for snapper. For more information contact;
Fishin' Frank's Bait & Tackle
941-625-3888
4425 Tamiami Trail #D
Port Charlotte, FL 33980
www.fishinfranks.com/
