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Charlotte Harbor is 100 miles south of Tampa and 30 miles north of Fort Myers and includes the areas of Boca Grande, Pine Island, Gasparilla Island, Placida, Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda. “A tranquil getaway on Florida’s Southwest Gulf Coast and a premier charter fishing destination”.
Charlotte Harbor redfish, snook and sea trout fishing is among the very best in Southwest Florida.
Spring tarpon fishing along the beachfronts is known as the best in the world.
Other sport fish species available; sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bluefish, cobia, bonito, snapper, grouper and flounder. mangroves, grass flats, canals, beachfronts, passes, and artificial reefs. The fishing and exploring possibilities are endless.
This twenty five mile long, five mile wide Harbor lends itself perfectly to guided light tackle and fly fishing. Sight fishing is exciting along the flats and mangroves of the East Side, Bull Bay, Placida and Gulf Beaches. Blind casting the grass flats of the West Wall, Cape Haze and Turtle Bay is very productive. On windy days the Peace River, Myakka River and endless canals provide shelter and consistent action. There are over ten area boat ramps that make for short runs to productive fishing
This past week I had the pleasure of fishing with Jen Lofgren the store manager of Orvis, Cherry Creek in Denver, CO and Jason Cooper, fishing manager of Orvis Bellevue near Seattle WA. It was great getting to know these hard working and knowledgeable folks while fly fishing along the Gulf beaches of Pine Island and Gasparilla Sounds’ barrier islands. We had light winds, temps in the 90s and steady tarpon and snook action.
Conditions: The big wind and seas have subsided, the tarpon have returned to the beaches outside of Pine Island and Gasparilla Sounds.
Bait: threadfin herring, Green back Herring, pinfish, shrimp, crab
Species to target this week: Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Jack Crevalle
Fishing Tactics: The backcountry fishing as slowed up a bit but the sounds and beaches are producing. Go early and work the troughs and edges until the light get good for sight casting.
My Fly Fishing Tip of the Week: There’s a lot of Pilchards and threadfins on the beaches… If your favorite pattern is not working swap to a whitebait imitation.
My Spin Fishing Tip of the Week: Its tarpon time – lube your reel service your drag and pull test your knots.
7 day outlook: Tides will be close to neap early in the week with good flow returning by the weekend. Light to moderate east winds will provide for excellent beach tarpon and snook fishing. Watch for those afternoon thunderstorms.
Sometimes Mother Nature throws you a big fat hanging curve. Sometimes she jambs you on the knuckles with a smoking fastball… John and Bill from CT got jammed on Monday. 20-25mph east winds with gusts over 35 at times. Our hopes of beach tarpon off Captiva and Sanibel Islands dashed, we headed for Pine Island and fished the back country of the Matlacha pass national wildlife refuge with John’s first saltwater fly fishing catch as a goal. Mission accomplished, John landed some snook on a whitebait pattern using an Orvis Helios2 9wt rod. 60' casts in 20+mph winds? - piece of cake. 5 hours of poling an 18' skiff in 20+ mph winds? not a piece of cake - thank you hot shower and Advil.
This week's Fishing Report
Conditions: The water level in the backcountry will be high enough to get way back in the creeks. The passes, sound and beaches will have a lot of moving water. Water temps will be in the low mid 70s and slowly rise throughout the week. The winds the first part of the week will make it really tuff fishing on the beaches.
Bait: threadfin herring, Green back Herring, pinfish, shrimp, crab
Species to target this week: Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Jack Crevalle
Fishing Tactics: Tarpon will be the target later this week as the water calms down on the beach. Look for fish moving into the passes on the incoming tide. In the meantime, the deep holes in backcountry creeks should be holding redfish and snook should be hanging around the mangroves near moving water.
My Fly Fishing Tip of the Week: When the visibility drops anchor up along the bar edges and wait for the tarpon to come to you. You’ll need weighted flies and possibly even sink tip line to get down to the fish in time if they are running deep
My Spin Fishing Tip of the Week: Pass crabs drift along in the current, they don’t swim like baitfish. I have never seen a tarpon chase a crab being retrieved upstream.
7 day outlook: Temps will rebound into the mid 80s. The front will lift to the north by mid week bringing improved fishing conditions. Morning flood tides will provide good moving water all week.
Looking for trvel info and more things to do in Charlotte Harbor?
Tarpon have arrived in Charlotte Harbor/ Boca Grande / Pine Island Sound. The next six week will provide the best tarpon light tackle and fly fishing action in Florida. I have some open charter dates, call / text 207-841-1444 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. today for availablity.
Just under a minute of crazy 80 pound tarpon action. Caught with light tackle spinning gear using a live crab on the beach off Pine Island Sound's barrier Islands.
More Tarpon are Showing on the Beaches Daily
Conditions: May conditions are here, water temps in the mid-eighties. Watch for those afternoon thunderstorms.
Bait: threadfin herring, Green back Herring, pinfish, shrimp, crab
Species to target this week: Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Seatrout.
Fishing Tactics: The beach is the place if the wind and swells allow. Go early and look for rolling tarpon before the wind gets going. There are big snook cruising in the troughs and on the second bars.
My Fly Fishing Tip of the Week: Anchoring up for tarpon has been more effective than stalking them with a trolling motor.
My Spin Fishing Tip of the Week: White bait and pass crabs are both getting bites from the beach tarpon. Stay back and shut off your outboard. Long casts are key.
7 day outlook: There will be some wind and showers early in the week. Things will cleat on Wednesday night. The rain and clouds should cool the backcountry water temps. More tarpon are arriving daily on the beaches and in the sounds.
I have a few Tarpon days available in May. Contact me today for details.
Check out the new Tarpon Videos!
Chris from Arcadia, FL and his buddy Mike from LeBelle, FL had a fun morning tarpon fishing on the beaches off Charlotte Harbor / Pine Island Sound. Flat calm conditions, only three other skiffs in sight and happy tarpon for two hours made for trip to remember for a long time. The spawning migration has started and the next 6 weeks will provide world-class fishing here in Southwest Florida.
Chris From the Razzor Ranch in Zolfo Springs and his long time friend Mike had a great day of light tackle tarpon fishing off Captiva and Sanibel Islands. Perfect conditions and only three other skiffs in sight. We fished on pods of happy tarpon for two hours. By the way, the Razzor Ranch puts on a great hog hunt, I went there a couple weeks ago with my buddy Greg Straut and had an excellent time.
Tarpon Prime Time is here, I have openings in May, airfair and rooms are now at off season rates! FMI go to the rates and resevation page
Tarpon Time
Conditions: Water temps are between 81* and 85*. Moderate winds should allow for good sight fishing this week. There is a good chance of showers so keep an eye to the sky.
Bait: threadfin herring, Green back Herring, pinfish, shrimp, crab
Species to target this week: Tarpon, Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish.
Fishing Tactics: Time to hunt for tarpon. They are starting to show in Pine Island Sound and on the beaches. Look for rolling fish early and then for sub surface pods as soon as the light gets good.
My Fly Fishing Tip of the Week: Tarpon time – rig your 11 or 12wt with a sink tip or use weighted flies if the tarpon are moving fast or deep.
My Spin Fishing Tip of the Week: With backwater temps in the mid eighties, your casts need to be at the drip line or up under the mangroves as the tide rises.
7 day outlook: Moderate winds and 20-50% chance of showers this week. Good morning tides will produce moving water for first part of the week. Neap tides late week morning tides will provide little or no moving water.
I have a full compliment of Orvis H2 rods on my boat. If you haven't experienced the Helios 2, you are truly missing something. Book you trip today, cath a fish of a lifetime on the worlds best casting fly rod!
5/5 Best guide I've met - 4/9/2015By: gkilloug fished Matlacha, FL
"Dave Pecci is the kind of guide you'd want to fish with every day. Dave is a passionate (die hard) angler who works as hard as any guide I've seen to keep his clients on fish. He should be running clinics on boat control... He's also a great teacher, but he offers instruction in a patient and calm way, you almost don't realize he's coaching you until the casts get better, the presentations improve, and you start hammering fish. It doesn't hurt that he's a great story teller and also just an all-around good guy (and those pastries he brings...). I'll be fishing with Dave again the next time I'm in the area without a doubt. Can't wait!"
5/5Look no further... - 3/25/2015 By: FlyByNite fished Pine Island/Matlacha, FL
"Capt. Dave is a joy to fish with. He uses top shelf fly fishing and spinning gear, is a wealth of local knowledge, and doesn't rely on two or three "honey holes" to provide action. He will work to keep your day on his boat action-packed. West coast Florida is filled with amazing, scenic back-country fishing and Capt. Dave is the guy to take you there."
Fishing for seatrout, snook, redfish, bluefish and jacks combined with a successful hog hunt. Hope your flight home was uneventful. Great having you visit with Barb and I. Next time BRING DENISE! That's an Order! See you in June on our trek north.
Conditions: Neap tides of the past week are now behind us. Good flow and water temps in the low 80s will produce great conditions. Watch out for those afternoon storms though.
Bait: threadfin herring, Green back Herring, pinfish, shrimp
Species to target this week: Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Jack Crevalle, Ladyfish, Bluefish.
Fishing Tactics: Go early and blind cast the first hour or two of the incoming tide. Sight fishing will be good as soon as the sun gets overhead.
My Fly Fishing Tip of the Week: White bait patterns are working on snook. Be prepared for follows and refusals if the strip is not correct. You have to tease the big’uns into biting.
My Spin Fishing Tip of the Week: White and pink soft plastic twitch baits are producing snook. Root beer is the redfish color of the week.
7 day outlook: A lack of weather fronts in the 7 day forecast will provide a steady barometer and light winds. There are a few snook on the beach and some tarpon in Pine Island Sound. Lots of white bait around too. Snook, trout and jacks are on the backcountry flats.
Brad Osborn from Falmouth, Maine joined me this past weekend for some productive snook, trout, and jack crevalle action. We fished Pine Island Sound with both fly and spinning gear. Brad brought along one of his favorite New England "Albie" lures and the local fish ate it up!
From Brad 04-14-15: Thanks Dave! As always, I had a great time. Snook, jacks, ladyfish, trout, thousands of cow nose rays, a manatee at the boat, sight casting to giant snook on the beach. It does not get better than that for a Mainer looking for a break from mud season.
LL Bean Hunt and Fish Dept. Senior Product Developer Jeff Miller and his 14 year old son Jason joined me for a fun filled Saturday morning fly fishing and light tackle spin fishing near Pine Island. We caught mangrove snapper, bar jack, bluefish, jack crevalle, seatrout and snook. Check out the porpoise attack in 18” of water when we released an eight pound jack!
It takes a big snook to show up 40 feet away on my boat cam! this snook was 40+ inches long. Watch as it looks Chris' fly over then swims off. Oh well, we'll get her the next tim you're in town Chris.
Conditions: Water temps have fallen into the high 70s due a weekend cold front but will rebound quickly. Good tidal flow will get the fish feeding again.
Bait: threadfin herring, pinfish, shrimp
Species to target this week: Redfish, Seatrout, Jacks, Ladyfish, Bluefish.
Fishing Tactics: Fish structure early and mangroves later in the day.
My Fly Fishing Tip of the Week: Fish will be staged on the edges in deeper water until mid day when the flat warm.
My Spin Fishing Tip of the Week: Fish deep along edges with jigs until mid day then swap to suspending baits and move to the shallows as the water warms.
7 day outlook: The cold front from the past weekend is long gone and the water temps will rebound by mid week. Early afternoon high tides will provide good moving water. Its going to be a great week!
Greg hooked and landed this nice jack on a shrimp pattern in 12” of water on one of my favorite oyster beds in Matlacha National Wild Refuge. We didn’t get the redfish portion of his inshore slam but this bruiser make up for it. Fantastic job Greg!
Greg had a great day fishing Matlacha Wildlife Refuge using an Orvis 8wt Helios 2. Fog and clouds combined with an incoming tide set the stage for some fantastic fishing. Greg is an excellent angler, he made my job easy. Safe travels back to Canada Greg, We’ll get that 34” snook next year.
Both Matlacha and Ding Darling Preseves have great fishing this week. Here's Greg Killough and a nice Jack caught on an Orvis Helios 2 8wt fly rod. Greg also caught seatrout and snook.
Conditions: Water temps are in the high 70s to low 80s. A mild cold front will be arriving late in the week slight chance of afternoon showers and light winds through the weekend.
Bait: threadfin and greenback herring, pinfish, shrimp, crabs
Species to target this week: Snook, Redfish, Seatrout, Jacks, Ladyfish, Spanish Mackerel.
Fishing Tactics: With water temps rising the mid day fishing will be slow. Fish the morning tides for the best action.
My Fly Fishing Tip of the Week: Snook will be cruising the mangrove edges at the tide rises. Redfish will be near the oyster beds as the tide ebbs.
My Spin Fishing Tip of the Week: Suspending twitch baits and soft plastic on light jig heads fished slow along the mangrove shadows can be productive.
7 day outlook: Higher water levels in mornings will allow for easier access to the backwaters.
