PUNTA GORDA/CHARLOTTE HARBOR RECREATION 36

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Teeming with 256 species including snook,
redfsh, sea trout, yellowtail, cobia, snapper,
shark, grouper, barracuda, kingfsh, mackerel
and tarpon; Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf
Islands warm waters are so productive that
the area attracts plenty of tournaments. It has
welcomed everything from the ESPN2-televised
Redfsh Cup & Festival, recognized as the nations
premier saltwater fshing tournament, to the
Professional Tarpon Tournament Series. Several
politicians have also come to enjoy its world-class
fshing over the years including Teddy Roosevelt,
John F. Kennedy and the Bush family.
Guests who want to enjoy one of the worlds top
sport-fshing destinations during their Florida
vacation have a variety of ways to test their luck
out on the water. Several charter companies
are available including King Fisher Fleet
(kingfsherfeet.com) which ofers four-, six- and
eight-hour back bay fshing excursions in the
Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve. Florida Light
Tackle Charters (foridalighttacklecharters.com)
is another popular company ofering a variety of
excursions including deep sea fshing charters.
If you plan on eating what you catch, anglers can
take their fsh to the Village Fish Market in Punta
Gorda where its cooks will prepare your cleaned
catch any way you like: baked, broiled or fried.
Wonder whats biting? February ofers some of
the years best bottom action for fsh including
grouper, snapper, triggerfsh, sheepshead and a
variety of other reef dwellers. Good bottom action
continues in March with amberjack beginning
to appear on the deeper wrecks. By the months
end, the spring run of mackerel will get underway.
Barracuda also start to gather around wrecks and
artifcial reefs during this time of year.
April is the peak month for the spring run of
Spanish mackerel, king mackerel and lots of
barracuda and amberjack can be found on the
wrecks. Teres also steady bottom action for
grouper and snapper. Finally, May is a prime
month for tarpon fshing in Boca Grande Pass.
Out in the Gulf: mackerel, kingfsh, grouper,
snapper and barracuda can be caught while
goliath grouper and permit tend to show up
on the wrecks. For more experienced anglers,
large sharks can even be found in the area in
conjunction with the spring tarpon run.
Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf Islands are
located halfway between Tampa and Naples
on the southwest Florida Gulf coast. For a list
of available charters and fshing guides, visit
charlotteharbortravel.com.
GO FISH
WHATS BITING IN CHARLOTTE HARBOR AND THE GULF ISLANDS
By Heather Turk
Known as the Tarpon Capital of the World, Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf
Islands is every fshermans dream.
Capt. Ralph Allen, owner of King Fisher Fleet
and one of Charlotte Harbors shing guides,
navigates the backcountry waters
Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands offer
world-class shing opportunities in
backcountry waters and the Gulf of Mexico
Charlotte Harbor & the Gulf Islands is considered to be the Tarpon Capital of the World