A Total Backwater Adventure

Every year thousands of people flock to the mouth of Charlotte Harbor called Boca Grande Pass. They come from all over the country, and world. To witness one of the most spectacular sites an angler may ever see. And try there luck at catching the "King". The king we are talking about is the Tarpon. Also known as Sabalo Real, Silver Fish, or Silver King. Scientifically called Magelops Atlanticus, little is known about this prehistoric looking fish. It is one of the only fish that has a air bladder that allows the fish to travel into back waters with little or no oxygen. Nobody knows exactly what attracts the fish to Boca Grande pass, or up onto the shallow flats of Charlotte Harbor. But as most guides you talk to will tell you, it is instinct. Spawning of these fish take place as far out in open water as 100 miles.The juvenile fish then make their way into the estuaries along the coast line. A female Tarpon can lay up to 15 million eggs. From microscopic to mature fish over 7ft. in legnth weighing in at 250lbs.That’s impressive! The average Tarpon in Boca Grande Pass and in the harbor range from 70 to 100lbs with many caught each season over 100lbs. Most fish over 100lbs are believed to be females and taking 8 to 10 years to reach that weight. Tarpon can live past 50 years of age.

There are many ways to fish for Tarpon, and has been considered a top sport fish since the 1800’s. Fishing in the Pass has lured guides and anglers alike. And has more than 5000 fish hooked up each season. That’s a lot of fish in a typical 80 day cycle. Pass fishing has really took off  with the introductory of the Tarpon jig. The jig is made up of soft plastic body,in tiger tail green or rootbeer color.  A 3 to 5oz weight attached to a large circle hook. It is up to the captain to put the boat over the top of the fish. He does this by the use of a fish finder, and knowing what fish will eat, and what fish won’t. It is at the utmost importance to keep the jig straight down towards the bottom. Since that is where the fish were recorded on the finder. At any given day during the season their can be as many as 200 boats drifting the holes of the pass. So attention is a must.

The two holes in the pass the Coast Gaurd hole and the Boca Grande hole are about 70 ft in depth. The Coast Guard hole is the smaller of the two and is closer to the beach. The larger one, the Boca grande hole runs lengthwise with the pass just south of the light house. Located at the south end of Boca Grande Island, Where the old phosphate docks once thrived. Every year another phenomenon also takes place. And this gives Tarpon anglers yet another shot to hook up. On the spring tides of the full and new moon, millions of crabs get washed out of the harbor in route to spawn.This is what locals consider the hill tide. When the hill tide is in full swing, anglers as well as the tarpon travel well inside the pass to a place referred to as the hill. And since one of a tarpons favorite food is a crab most anglers dip crabs to use as bait. At times of the hill tide it is not uncommon for you to look around and every boat is hooked up, fighting a fish.The crab run is hard to predict each year, so to get a chance guides put their clients on stand by. Because this time is the best chance to catch tarpon. And timing is everything.

The other ways to catch Tarpon is by fishing the upper harbor. This can be done later in the season when the pass slows. Spots such as the 20 ft. hole in Charlotte Harbor, the bridges on the Peace and Myakka all produce fish from April till August. Fish can be caught on artificial as well as live bait. So come join the many that travel to our area every year with hopes of catching the “King”

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