Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor

Capt. Van Hubbard
June 16, 2003
Boca Grande - Saltwater Fishing Report

We finally got the winds to back off and let us get to the fish especially the tarpon. We fished for trout and some snook on Monday. Dr. Marr brought a couple of the Rutland guys down and we played around Bull and Turtle Bays. The trout were there but not starving. We got a bunch of small ones and finally got a good mess for the gang for dinner. The fish were so full of small minnows they were striking very lazily and hard to get a hook in.

The tarpon were challenging to locate during the middle of the week but bit ever time we got on the schools. Michael Martin and his friend Mr. Bigford were patient and we finally got some fish to sit still so we could make a presentation. After Michael hooked up the school sat there and teased us. What could we do? Hook up another one. We even managed to get both boat side for pictures. I will have a digital next season. Before the end of this year even. We enjoyed the beautiful day and pulled a pair of singles of on Thursday.

Max Kammerlocher, flew in from Oklahoma to attempt to fulfill a life long dream and catch a big tarpon. He guides landlocked strippers around his dog business. We got out and the morning was calm and perfect. The fish were everywhere but not staying up again. We worked until they settled in and got some bites. They jumped and frolicked and kept getting off. After several attempts we got Max into a solid hook-up. After almost and hour he pulled the big tarpon up and even reached out and held it while we revived it for release. We got some photos to carry him thru the long hot Summer back home.

Saturday, John and Lynn Anderson flew in from Fairfax, Virginia for a friends wedding. They slipped out for a mornings tarpon fishing. John is a retired Army man and has fished all over the world. Tarpon are so neat because they are big, strong, and near shore. Lynn read her book while John and I watched for fish. John picked off a small one about 75 pounds for a warm up. We searched awhile until we located a nice school in deeper waters about a mile off shore. It took several casts but he hooked into big momma. After an hour she was boat-side posing for photos. It was hot and we headed in for lunch.

Sunday we tried a afternoon trip. I picked up Jim, Amanda, sons Jack and Austin at the Pink Elephant on Boca. We cruised around the corner at the Light House and found a happy school of tarpon frolicking at the surface waiting for our baits. It took a few cast but we hooked a nice one that ran and jumped for several minutes before jumping off. Lots of silver kings jump off. They are so strong. Later Amanda tangled with a nice hundred pounder for almost an half hour before jumping off right next to the boat. Everyone was excited. Jack wanted her to get one mounted for the wall at home but Amanda is waiting until Jim gets his. It was great to see the family out together for a Fathers Day fishing trip. The storms ran us in at about 7 PM. The winds were calm and life is great.

We do have some holes opening up next week. If you can sneak away to get the big silver kings pack your bags and Let's Go Fishin', soon. Captain Van Hubbard.

More Fishing Reports:

• All Reports by Capt. Van Hubbard
• Boca Grande Fishing Reports
• Southwest Florida (Cape Sable to Boca Grande) Reports
• Florida Fishing Reports
• Browse All Fishing Reports