Tarpon Fishing at Boca Grande Pass
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
Target tarpon, snook, and jack crevalle in famous Boca Grande PassExpert guides provide insider knowledge on optimal fishing conditionsFourhour inshore adventure accommodates up to four guests
Boca Grande Pass is hands down the tarpon capital of the world, and this 4-hour morning charter puts you right in the thick of it. Starting at 8 AM when the fish are most active, you'll be working some of the most productive waters in Southwest Florida with guides who know every current, every structure, and every tide change that matters. This isn't just another fishing trip – it's your shot at tangling with silver kings in their prime habitat, plus bonus opportunities for snook and crevalle jack that call these waters home.
Your day kicks off right at first light when tarpon are moving and feeding. The guides here have been working Boca Grande Pass for years, so they know exactly where to position the boat based on the tide tables and current conditions. You'll be fishing the deeper cuts where tarpon stage up, the grass flats where snook ambush bait, and the structure where crevalle jack patrol in schools. The boat holds up to 4 anglers, so you're not fighting for rod space or competing with a crowd. Weather and tide timing drive everything here – your captain will adjust the game plan throughout the morning to keep you on fish as conditions change.
This is serious inshore fishing, so you'll be using heavy spinning gear and conventional reels spooled with 30-50 pound test. For tarpon, live bait is king – pilchards, threadfin herring, and crabs work best when presented on circle hooks. The guides will set you up with proper leaders and weights to get your bait down in the current. Drift fishing and anchor fishing are the main techniques, depending on what the fish are doing. When tarpon are rolling on the surface, you might switch to artificial lures like DOA Baitbusters or large swimbaits. For snook around the mangroves, you'll be pitching live shrimp or small pinfish tight to cover. The crevalle jack usually hit whatever you're throwing – they're aggressive feeders that will slam both live and artificial baits.
Tarpon are the main event here, and Boca Grande Pass holds some of the biggest silver kings in Florida waters. These fish average 80-150 pounds, with giants over 200 pounds showing up regularly during peak season from April through July. What makes tarpon so special is their aerial acrobatics – when hooked, they'll jump repeatedly, shaking their heads and gill-rattling to throw the hook. The fight can last 30 minutes or more on heavy tackle. Tarpon are catch-and-release only, but getting that grip-and-grin photo with a 100-pound silver king is a lifetime memory.
Snook are year-round residents that love the structure and current breaks around the pass. These fish hit hard and make powerful runs toward cover, testing your drag and reflexes. Spring and summer are prime time when snook are feeding heavily, and a slot-sized fish makes excellent table fare. They're ambush predators that stage along mangrove edges and dock pilings, so accurate casting and quick hook-sets are essential.
Crevalle Jack bring non-stop action to the trip – these bruisers fight like fish twice their size. They school up in large numbers and when you find them, it's game on. Jack will bend your rod double and make screaming runs that test your tackle. They're not great eating, but pound-for-pound they're some of the hardest fighting fish in these waters. Peak action happens during warmer months when schools of jack patrol the flats looking for baitfish.
Boca Grande Pass fishing doesn't get much better than this – experienced guides, prime departure time, and access to some of Florida's best inshore fishing grounds. The 8 AM start puts you on the water when fish are most active, and the 4-hour window gives you plenty of time to work different areas and techniques. A low deposit holds your spot, but remember it's non-refundable so plan accordingly. Whether you're chasing your first tarpon or adding to your Florida fishing bucket list, this charter delivers the goods. The guides know these waters inside and out, and they'll put in the work to make sure you're hooked up and having a blast on the water.
Get ready to chase tarpon aboard this well-equipped 25' Sea Born Bay Boat in the legendary waters of Boca Grande Pass. This fishing machine accommodates up to 4 anglers and packs serious power with a 300 HP Suzuki engine to get you to the hot spots fast. The wireless trolling motor lets you slip quietly into position without spooking the fish, while the GPS and fish finder combo helps locate schools of tarpon, snook, jack crevalle, and mangrove snapper. When you hook into a silver king, the fighting chair gives you the leverage needed for the battle. Keep your catch fresh in the live well, drinks cold in the icebox, and take advantage of the onboard toilet for those long fishing days. Whether you're sight-casting to rolling tarpon or working the structure for snook, this bay boat handles the shallow flats and deeper pass waters with ease.
Caranx HipposJacks are the bulldogs of the flats - pure muscle and attitude packed into 3-5 pound packages, though the big girls can hit 15+ pounds. Look for diving birds working baitfish and you've found your jacks. They cruise everything from shallow grass flats to deeper channels, always hunting in aggressive schools. Year-round fishing here, but summer months really fire them up. Guests love these fish because they fight way above their weight class - strong, steady pulls that'll test your drag. They're not great eating, but the fight more than makes up for it. Here's the trick: cast past the school and burn your lure back fast. Jacks can't resist chasing something that looks like it's trying to escape.
Centropomus UndecimalisThese sleek predators with that distinct black lateral line are what make our mangrove edges come alive. Most snook you'll hook run 18-28 inches, but the bigger females can stretch past 3 feet. They love hanging around structure - docks, mangroves, creek mouths - anywhere they can ambush baitfish. Spring through fall gives you the best action, especially around the new and full moons when they're spawning. What makes snook so addictive is that explosive strike and strong fight in shallow water. They're also fantastic table fare when kept in season. My go-to trick? Work your lure slow along the mangrove line, then speed it up right at the end - that sudden change in pace triggers their ambush instinct.
Megalops AtlanticusThe silver king - nothing matches watching a 100+ pound tarpon launch itself 6 feet out of the water. These giants average 4-6 feet and 80-120 pounds around Boca Grande Pass. They love deeper channels and passes where strong currents push baitfish through. May through July is prime time when they migrate through our waters to spawn. What hooks people is that first jump - pure power and acrobatics you'll never forget. We release every tarpon since they're not good eating and take years to mature. The secret to landing one? Keep steady pressure but never horse them. When they jump, bow to the fish by dropping your rod tip - it prevents them from throwing the hook on those spectacular leaps.
Sarasota