FISHING GUIDE · SOUTHWEST FLORIDA

Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor Fishing Guide

Boca Grande Pass is one of the most famous tarpon spots in the world, with big schools of tarpon in late spring and early summer. Inside, Charlotte Harbor is a big, shallow estuary with grass flats, mangrove islands and oyster bars that hold snook, redfish and trout. In cooler months the bridges, docks and structure fill with sheepshead and snapper.

📍 Charlotte, Lee and Sarasota counties. Towns: Boca Grande (Gasparilla Island), Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Englewood, Placida. Landmarks: Boca Grande Pass, Gasparilla Sound, Pine Island Sound, Peace River, Myakka River.

📅 Florida Fishing Calendar — best months, closed seasons, bait & rigs →

Map: spots, ramps and marinas

★ Fishing hot spot · ● Boat ramp · ● Marina · ▭ Protected area (solid red = no fishing, dashed = fishing with rules)

Open the full Florida Gulf Coast map →

Quick facts

Charlotte Harbor is the second-largest estuary in Florida, about 30 miles long and 7 miles wide with 219 miles of shoreline.
The Peace River and Myakka River flow into the harbor; Boca Grande Pass is its mouth to the Gulf, between Gasparilla Island and Lacosta (Cayo Costa) Island.
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park protects more than 45,000 acres and over 100 miles of shoreline.
Boca Grande Pass has special year-round FWC gear rules, plus extra rules in April, May and June during tarpon season.
Tarpon visit Charlotte Harbor from about April to October, often peaking in June.

What you can catch

Tarpon
The main event in Boca Grande Pass, April through June; catch-and-release.
Snook
Mangroves, docks and passes; Gulf slot 28-33 inches.
Redfish
Flats and mangroves; excellent in October.
Spotted seatrout
Grass flats; strong in winter and early spring.
Sheepshead
Docks, bridges and structure in winter.
Mangrove snapper
Docks and structure; surge in late summer.
Spanish mackerel
Spring runs and again in the fall.
Cobia
Show on the flats in spring.

Month by month

January	Trout strong; sheepshead and mangrove snapper on structure.
February	Trout, sheepshead, pompano; snook harvest closed until March 1.
March	Early cobia, Spanish mackerel arrive; snook and reds improve.
April	First tarpon arrive; Boca Grande Pass 3-line rule starts.
May	Tarpon season in the pass; snook harvest closes May 1.
June	Peak tarpon; last month of the pass's 3-line and no-breakaway rule.
July	Tarpon in bays and rivers; snook and reds steady.
August	Mangrove snapper surge; hot, stormy afternoons.
September	Snook still closed to harvest through Sept 30 here.
October	Redfish excellent; snook harvest opens Oct 1 - Nov 30.
November	Trout, snook and reds strong; Spanish mackerel around.
December	Trout, reds, sheepshead and snapper; snook harvest closed Dec 1.

Tips

In Boca Grande Pass, year-round, you may not use gear where a weight hangs below the hook when the line is vertical, or a jig whose weight can slide below the hook. Natural bait does not count as a weight.
In April, May and June, no more than three lines may be in the water from one boat in Boca Grande Pass, and breakaway gear may not be used or placed in the water.
If you are not sure your rig is legal in the pass, call the FWC regional office at 863-648-3200.
Keep tarpon over 40 inches in the water; use circle hooks and keep fights short.
Watch for posted manatee zones and avoid running over shallow seagrass.

Rules and license

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) · Official rules page ↗

A Florida saltwater fishing license is required (unless you fish with a licensed guide), plus a snook permit to keep snook.
This area is in FWC's Charlotte Harbor region (from near Venice Municipal Airport south to near Vanderbilt Beach Road).
Redfish (Charlotte Harbor region): 18-27 inch slot, 1 per person, 2 per vessel, open year-round.
Spotted seatrout (Charlotte Harbor region): 15-19 inch slot, 3 per person per day, one over 19 inches allowed per vessel, open year-round.
Snook (Charlotte Harbor region): 28-33 inch slot, 1 per person per day; closed Dec 1 - end of Feb and May 1 - Sept 30.
Tarpon are catch-and-release only; one tarpon tag per person per year for a state or world record attempt; fish over 40 inches must stay in the water otherwise.
Boca Grande Pass gear rule: no weight hanging below the hook (line vertical) and no sliding-weight jigs, year-round; in April-June, max 3 lines per vessel and no breakaway gear.
Gag grouper (Gulf state waters): the 2026 season was Sept 1-30; check FWC for future dates.

Rules change. Always check the official page before you fish.

Boat ramps and marinas

The map above shows 40 boat ramps and 13 marinas from OpenStreetMap. Tap any dot for directions.

Boat Ramp Herman Horton Park
Boat ramp near Alligator Bay
Boat ramp near Glover Bight
Boat ramp near Lemon Bay
Boat ramp near Pelican Bay
Boat ramp near Placida Harbor
Boat ramp near Redfish Cove
Bocilla Seaport Boat Ramp
Burnt Store Marina
Butterford Waterway Park
Captiva Landing Marina
D&D Bait Boat Ramp
El Jobean Boat Ramp
Fisherman's Village Yacht Basin
Inn Marine
Isles Yacht Club
Laishley Marina
Lavender’s Landing
Marine Laboratory
Matlacha Park Boat Ramp
Monroe Canal Marina
Ole Fish House & Marina Boat Ramp
Paradise Marina
Pine Island Commercial Marina
Pineland Marina
Pineland Marina Boat Ramp
Ponce Park Boat Ramp
Rosen Park Boat Ramp
Shell Point Marina
Tarpon Point Marina
Tween Waters Marina
Uncle Henry's Marina
Yacht Harbour Marina

Sources

Checked October 2026. BigJoe does not invent facts: every number on this page comes from the sources listed above.