Charlotte Harbor is the best fishing location in southwest Florida. In fact, it is probably the best fishing destination in all of Florida. Charlotte Harbor is bounded by Punta Gorda to the east, Port Charlotte to the north, Pine Island Sound to the south and the Gulf of Mexico and a string of barrier islands to the west.
In a day of fishing within a 10 mile boat ride you can pursue tarpon, redfish, snook, speckled trout, cobia, grouper, kingfish, snapper and about 30 other species. The hard part is focusing on one species! This is no fish story and Capt. Chuck can back up these claims. Charlotte Harbor provides a protected bay sanctuary as it has uninhabited shorelines allowing for leeward (calm banks) regardless of the wind conditions, and offers huge network of backcountry fishing for the shallow water angler.
The light tackle and fly angler will find this to be the ultimate location within a short boat ride of your personal dock or the boat ramp. The open waters of the harbor at their deepest are 21 feet on high tide and are home to huge tarpon, Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle and dozens of other fish at any given time.
The harbor meets the gulf at Gasparilla Island, better known as Boca Grande Pass. Boca Grande Pass is known as the best tarpon fishing area in the world. The average tarpon exceeds 100 pounds and 150 pounders are an everyday thing. Offshore fishing is nothing short of phenomenal and largely under-fished! Within 5 miles of the islands you can tangle with big game on most days. There are plenty of public reefs that hold monster grouper, snapper, cobia and a host of other species. Further ventures offshore bring a broader range of fish into the picture including billfish, dolphin and other pelagics.
Charlotte Harbor is formed by the confluence of the Myakka River and the Peace River. Both are formidable rivers with incredible fishing where you can expect to catch a mix of largemouth bass, redfish and snook all on the same bank! This is a tidewater fishing paradise and perfect for small boaters, kayaks and canoes.
