Charlotte Harbor Tarpon Fishing

     Charlotte Harbor tarpon fishing is closely related to Boca Grande Pass since Boca Grande Pass is the inlet from which the waters of Charlotte Harbor flow into the Gulf of Mexico.  Charlotte Harbor has probably the best tarpon fishing in North America because it has a very large and healthy population of resident tarpon and it is also has a very large population of migratory tarpon that spend a good portion on the spring and summer along the beaches of Boca Grande and in the backwaters of Charlotte Harbor while getting ready for the annual spawn.

     Fishing for tarpon in Charlotte Harbor is very complex and require a number of techniques to be successful on most days. Sight fishing for tarpon is always a option when fishing Charlotte Harbor. On calm days rolling tarpon can be seen from miles away. Drift fishing or using a trolling motor is the best option but in either case stealth is a must. The waters of Charlotte Harbor are only 10-20 ft deep and the tarpon spook or go down if they are pressured.  If the harbor is choppy, then one must rely on faith. Tarpon can be located in the deeper stretches of the harbor with a good sonar but since the water is relatively shallow the tarpon don't usually allow boats to drive on top of them for very long and soon they will move.  Fishing with cut bait is a good choice when the tarpon aren't visible from the surface.

     The key to catching tarpon in Charlotte Harbor is to "match the hatch". Tarpon will eat almost everything in Charlotte Harbor at some point in time but they only want a certain bait at any given time. I've seen them eating shrimp, threadfin herring, mullet, perch, trout, ladyfish, pinfish and crabs. I usually prefer to use threadfin herring, crabs and ladyfish when bait fishing for tarpon in Charlotte Harbor. Artificial lures also work for catching tarpon in Charlotte Harbor. Soft plastic swim baits, twitch baits and large crank baits work well. A trusty buck tail jig is a excellent choice catching tarpon in Charlotte Harbor also.

     Fly fishing for tarpon can be done in Charlotte Harbor. When the conditions are "right" tarpon can be caught on fly in as deep as 20 ft.  Tarpon can also be targeted along the many shallow sand bars that line Charlotte Harbor. During the spring the water in the harbor is very clear and the tarpon can be seen roaming the bars in 2-4 ft of water. Stealth is a must and most tarpon are taken from smaller boats with a guide pushing an angler from push pole. 11-12 wt fly tackle is needed for targeting tarpon in Charlotte Harbor. The average tarpon in the Harbor is 80-100 pounds and a 175 pounder can be hooked at any time during the season.

Lodging near Charlotte Harbor

The Tarpon Lodge

The Beach House Lodge

Burnt Store Marina

Best Western