You’ve Gotta Try This: Tarpon Fishing in Boca Grande Pass

By Dalia Colón

Florida is home to world-class fishing. And, one of the most unique opportunities is angling for tarpon in Boca Grande.

Located northwest of Fort Myers on Gasparilla Island, the small community is home to Boca Grande Pass—a world-renowned destination for tarpon fishing.

“Tarpon are incredibly hard to catch. It’s so very exciting to catch the fish,” says Captain Chris Slattery of Reel Intense Inshore Charters.

Every year, visitors flock to Boca Grande to experience the excitement for themselves.

“It’s Florida’s No. 1 species targeted by tourists,” says Captain Jay Withers, owner of Silver Lining Charters and host of the streaming fishing show GuideLines TV. “The bulk of my business comes from tarpon season.”

Why Boca Grande Pass?

The Boca Grande Pass is famous for sport fishing, and in particular tarpon fishing. Connecting Charlotte Harbor to the Gulf of Mexico, Boca Grande Pass is one of Florida's deepest natural passes. Its Lighthouse Hole reaches depths of 80 feet.

As fresh water from the Peace and Myakka rivers flows into salty Charlotte Harbor, it creates brackish water—the ideal environment for juvenile tarpon.

Each year, thousands of tarpon congregate in Boca Grande Pass to form mating pods.

“It’s like a big tarpon disco,” says Captain Sandy Melvin, who owns Gasprilla Outfitters in downtown Boca Grande. “They show off to each other.”

Female tarpon don’t actually spawn in Boca Grande Pass; when they’re ready to lay eggs, they move into the Gulf of Mexico. But with up to 10,000 tarpon returning to form mating pods year after year, Boca Grande remains one of the best tarpon fishing spots in the world.

“You don’t have to travel to far-off lands,” Melvin says.

Why Tarpon?

“One of their big draws is one, they’re strong; and two, they’re incredibly acrobatic. They jump like they’re on fire,” Withers says. “The element of surprise when that 6-foot-long fish comes flying out of the water 10 feet in the air, it’s that wow moment.”

This makes for an exciting day of fishing. People love the challenge of catching tarpon—one of the largest game fish caught in shallow waters.

With its large size and silver color, tarpon is nicknamed the silver king. The average adult tarpon weighs at least 100 pounds. They can reach upwards of 200 pounds and 8 feet long. The world record is 286 pounds, 9-ounces caught in Rubane, Guinea-Bissau, Africa.

“What I love about it is they’re big and they’re strong and they jump a lot. There’s a lot of excitement,” Melvin says. Still, you don’t have to be a bodybuilder to catch a tarpon.

“They’re a fish that anybody can catch, with a good guide that shows them what to do,” says Melvin, who sponsors the annual Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament in June. “You don’t have to travel to far-off lands” to catch tarpon, he notes.

Over the years, Withers has reeled in countless tarpon alongside his wife, Amy.

“She loves to catch tarpon. She’s a petite girl,” Withers says of Amy. “She’s a rockstar.”

What to Expect

The combination of clear water and tarpon’s girth means you can see the fish approaching the boat. This is the biggest surprise for many first-timers. But after that moment of awe, prepare for battle.

With their size and strength, tarpon love to put up a fight—which is why they’re so much fun to catch in the first place. The fish are especially known for their acrobatics.

“It’s fight or flight,” Withers says. “The moment he feels any pressure that he’s not happy with, all of a sudden, he goes airborne.”

Expect a workout as you try to wrangle the 100+ pound fish as it leaps through the air.

“I honestly think that fish is pound for pound the hardest fish to catch. It really tests your arm strength and core strength, so physically it’s a very hard fish to catch,” Slattery says.

With so many tarpon swimming in Boca Grande Pass, you stand a pretty good chance of hooking one. But there are no guarantees.

“There are a lot of obstacles when it comes to catching tarpon,” Slattery says. One of the biggest obstacles is boat traffic.

“It is a popular fish, and a lot of people are targeting it,” Slattery says. For your first time on the water, it is recommended to sign up for a guided excursion. For help finding a guide, contact the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association.

If you decide to venture out on your own, choose a dedicated person to drive the boat and can fully concentrate on navigating around boat traffic.

Also, be mindful of sharks and stay in the boat. “Sharks are very prevalent around these fish,” Slattery warns.

Catch and Release

Tarpon are strictly game fish, meaning strictly catch-and-release.

It’s true that tarpon have a unique ability to inhale air when they’re out of the water for a short time, but being out of water for too long can be deadly for the fish. In Florida, it is illegal to pull a tarpon into your boat, even if it’s just for a photo op. Tarpon more than 40 inches long must remain in the water at all times.

“You are not allowed to bring the fish out of the water fully. I still see people grabbing the fish by the mouth and putting their belly on the side of the boat. That’s bad for the fish, too,” Slattery says. “For me, that fish is a natural resource. And it’s a natural resource to Florida in general. I’m not going to harm that fish. … People come from all over the world to fish that fish,” Slattery says.

About 10 percent of catch-and-release tarpon end up dying when they’re released back into the water. A prolonged fight and extended time out of water decrease the fish’s chances of survival.

“In order to get that perfect picture on the side of the boat, you really have to tire it out,” and by doing that, you’re just going to be feeding it to a shark when you release it, Slattery says.

Some anglers fight fish for more than an hour, but the stress of such an ordeal can prove deadly for the fish.

“They’ll fight to the point of exhaustion,” Melvin says. You may return a seemingly healthy fish to the water, only to watch it sink to the bottom or get eaten by a shark. Aim to keep the fish out of water for only about 10 minutes.

In an ideal game fishing scenario, the fish lives to swim away.

“It’s like a football game,” Melvin says. “You do your battle, and at the end of the day, everybody walks off the field.”

Best Time of Year for Tarpon Fishing

Peak tarpon season begins in March and extends into late summer, because tarpon prefer water over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The fish are “much spunkier at 74-degree water temp,” Withers notes.

Of course, spring and summer in Florida are notoriously hot and humid, with high temperatures in the 90s.

To avoid overheating, schedule your tarpon fishing excursion for around sunrise or sunset. Tarpon remain active after dark, so night fishing is also popular.

What to Bring

Water reflects the sun, so proper protection is a must. For a comfortable and successful tarpon fishing excursion, bring the following:

What to wear:

• Sunscreen of at least 30 SPF.
• Polarized sunglasses, such as Costa’s Polarized Fishing Sunglasses.
• Quick-dry, long-sleeved “performance” clothing.
• Sneakers or other rubber-soled, closed toed shoes.
• A head covering to limit sun exposure, such as a BUFF balaclava.

A note about bait

“The proper tackle to use in Boca Grande Pass is generally heavier than what you would use in the Keys,” Melvin says. Your best bets for live bait are pass crabs and blue crabs. Threadfin herring also work well.

But almost any bait will work, Withers notes. “They’re not picky,” he says. “When they want to eat, they’ll eat just about anything.” Artificial bait is also an option, although it makes reeling in the tarpon more challenging.

What else to pack

• Florida fishing license.
• Tape measure and/or scale.
• Rods and reels.
• Tackle box.
• Motion sickness tablets, bracelets or patches.
• Cooler with drinks and snacks.
• Cash to tip your guide.

With preparation and patience, a day of tarpon fishing can be enjoyable for you and safe for the fish. Withers captains 260 trips a year, and still loves angling tarpon.

“For Florida, it’s arguably the number 1 game fish across the board—anywhere in Florida,” he says. “I still love to fish, and tarpon is still my No. 1.”