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Described elsewhere as the "Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World",
this area is renowned for its fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. The actual tarpon fishing action is off the tip of Boca Grand island a
mere 15 miles from our villa. Guides for the day
with boat, tackle and bait cost around $500 - $600. If you have your own tackle
and know what you're doing, boats can be hired for considerably less.
Unless you are fishing
on a licensed charter fishing boat or from a licensed fishing pier, you
should have a Florida fishing license. You can purchase licenses
at most fishing tackle stores or from all the big stores that sell tackle
like Wal-Mart who also have free leaflets with details of size limits.
We also know that officials will check the size of any fish you keep to
make sure they comply with the somewhat complex regulations. We have been advised that a freshwater
license is not required to fish on Rotonda (ie from the bottom of the
villa garden).
In
the Rotonda River at the end of the garden we have caught largemouth bass
over 3 pounds, sunfish, something that looks like a roach and catfish
(watch the spines) over 5 pounds. The bass was on a lure and the others
were almost all caught on bread, but the catfish will eat anything. We've seen a gar in the river around
6lbs but couldn't catch it. One guest caught four grass carp to over 30lbs on floating bread.
In the Intracoastal waterway and from local Gulf beaches we have caught hammerhead
sharks, sheepshead, whiting, trout, grouper, snook and mangrove
snapper. Our favourite bait is live shrimp which is easily obtainable and sand fleas (see below).
Useful Links
Florida Sportsman
fishing regulations
We went snook fishing with Captain Van Hubbard and had a fantastic days fishing with probably 20 snook on live bait, mostly from Ski Alley and around Lemon Bay.
Other charter skippers available locally - (there are dozens) include...
Captain Jack's Charters
Captain Rocky's Fishing Charters
Florida Back Country Charters
Tail Chaser Charter Services
Another Keeper Charter
Placida Deep See Fishing
Anglers Dream Charters
Good places for bait include...
Englewood Bait
House on the way to town beach
Fisherman’s Edge Tackle 941-697-7595 4425 Placida Rd. Englewood
Whiddens Marina in Boca Grande town
Eldred's Marina just before the toll bridge onto Boca Grande.
Frozen bait can be found in the bait freezer in the fishing section of any big store
that sells tackle.
You can catch your own sand fleas but will need both a "Florida Snow Shovel" and guidance from a local. These are terrific bait, well worth the effort, and can catch some huge fish.
Live bait can be caught quite readily with a Sabaki rig available from everywhere that sells tackle. Just tip each hook with a small piece of shrimp and cast to the horizon.
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