Bokeelia FL

[slacker]

Looking for information regarding Bokeelia, Florida. Looking for a get away vacation that I don't have to rely on the guide for all seven days.
I have some questions...
1. Looking to go second week of April...where are the Tarpon for waders/shore bound.
2. Anyone have experience with Bokeelia?
3. Anyone recommend a guide that is professional.
4. Are there any better areas on the West coast that the shorebound should investigate?
four guys...no wives...we can fish long hours, and just about anywhere
Thanks for any and all information.

[flyfishsalt]

Slacker,

The Tarpon are just coming into the area that I fish for them (Pine Island Sound, and Gulf side of Sanibelle, Captiva, Cayo Costa, and Boca Grande) around the middle of April. This is a very large area and on some days I cover 25 miles of it. I think catching Tarpon from shore is a little like catching False Albacore or Bonito from shore. It can be done but you really need all things to come together. There is only one place that I have seen consistant shots at Tarpon from shore and that is mostly in late May and June, and there are no Tarpon there in April. Many times when the fish first come in they are difficult to locate in a flats boat, nevermind while wading from shore.

If you are willing to fish for Snook and Redfish there are plenty of places to fish for them from shore. In addition to these fish being easier to get at from shore the time of year that you mentioned is a great time to fish for Snook and Redfish. I will be fishing in S.W. florida this year from March 15 - May 15 and will be happy to give you an updated fishing report. Feel free to send me an email when you get down or if you have any other questions.



Looking for information regarding Bokeelia, Florida. Looking for a get away vacation that I don't have to rely on the guide for all seven days.
I have some questions...
1. Looking to go second week of April...where are the Tarpon for waders/shore bound.
2. Anyone have experience with Bokeelia?
3. Anyone recommend a guide that is professional.
4. Are there any better areas on the West coast that the shorebound should investigate?
four guys...no wives...we can fish long hours, and just about anywhere
Thanks for any and all information.

[slacker]

Slacker,

The Tarpon are just coming into the area that I fish for them (Pine Island Sound, and Gulf side of Sanibelle, Captiva, Cayo Costa, and Boca Grande) around the middle of April. This is a very large area and on some days I cover 25 miles of it. I think catching Tarpon from shore is a little like catching False Albacore or Bonito from shore. It can be done but you really need all things to come together. There is only one place that I have seen consistant shots at Tarpon from shore and that is mostly in late May and June, and there are no Tarpon there in April. Many times when the fish first come in they are difficult to locate in a flats boat, nevermind while wading from shore.

If you are willing to fish for Snook and Redfish there are plenty of places to fish for them from shore. In addition to these fish being easier to get at from shore the time of year that you mentioned is a great time to fish for Snook and Redfish. I will be fishing in S.W. florida this year from March 15 - May 15 and will be happy to give you an updated fishing report. Feel free to send me an email when you get down or if you have any other questions.

Thanks for the reply, it's hard to plan a trip if you have never been there. Any chance you could give me an idea of the better areas to fish from the beach. I don't mind a drive. I've found that I've wasted a lot more time trying to find an area to fish than fishing. I wouldn't mind fishing for snook or reds from shore day or night.

[JSeamans]

You should think seriously about renting kayaks or a small skiff since you're just south of incredible fishing around bull and turtle bays and you probably have plenty of backwater around you where snooks reds and trout can be had

[flyfishsalt]

O.K. so if you are interested in kayak rentals there is a new place right near the entrance to Boca Grande that rents them. The river that they are on has snook in it. As far as shore fishing spots, if you would like to have access to miles of beach that could have fish, especially at night, then look into staying on Boca Grande (gasparilla island). The Boca Grande Club is right on the beach and Boca North is on the back side of the island. There are condo's for rent by the week or by the day, and there is places to wade and fish around there. It is going to be hit and miss at best at that time of year, but that is a pretty good shot. I spent 10 years (86'-96') fly fishing the pass at the north end of the island for Snook at night before there were homes built there. Now you will notice that unless you are staying somewhere along the water it is hard to access the water accross private property and unlike New England most people do not do it. In areas where there is public parking or a public beach, the fishing is limited. If you take the kayaks for the day or rent them for the week I would also check out the Myakka River (?sp?). It sometimes holds Tarpon year round. These brackish areas are great holding areas for all these species of fish, but not usually the larger (12 weight) Tarpon.

You should think seriously about renting kayaks or a small skiff since you're just south of incredible fishing around bull and turtle bays and you probably have plenty of backwater around you where snooks reds and trout can be had