Visiting Boca Grande to fly fish?? Here is what you need to know
Boca Grande is among the world’s top fly fishing destinations. As a result I receive numerous calls and emails from people all over the world asking about this world class fishery. My goal is to give you as much information as I can so you have a good understanding of available fishing opportunities and expectations as well as logistical details for lodging and pick-up locations.
Where do we fly fish when you come to Boca Grande?
When coming to Boca Grande you will have access to Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound and the Gulf Coast of Southwest Florida. This makes for a very diverse fishery with lots of fly fishing opportunities.
Premier backcountry fly fishing areas like Bulls Bay and Turtle Bay are only a short boat ride away while the Gulf Beaches are just around the corner. Depending on weather, what we are targeting, and where the best “bite” is, your usually fishing within 10-15 minutes. Not to say that we won’t make long runs for better fishing, but we will discuss those options and make plans accordingly on the day of your trip. It’s a big playground out there, conditions are ever changing and I fully understand these challenges.
What should I expect fly fishing Boca Grande??
This is kind of a loaded question but I will do my best to answer.
Boca Grande and the Gulf Beaches are home to a huge assortment of game fish species, most of which can be targeted with a fly rod. Some of the better known fish that can be targeted are Tarpon, Redfish, Snook, Spotted Seatrout, Black Drum, Cobia, Bonita (False Albacore), Shark, Pompano, Mackerel, and more. There is always something worth targeting here. Now, here comes the “loaded” part.
Let’s be honest. Not all anglers have the same skill set. Especially when it comes to fly fishing. Something VERY important, always be honest and realistic about your skills when talking to your guide so they can plan your trip accordingly.
If you are just beginning your journey as a fly angler, sight fishing for tarpon may prove to be extremely frustrating for you and me, as your guide. While fishing for snook or trout may be much more rewarding and fun. These are the things that need to be considered if your guide’s interests are to put you on some fish and show you a good time.
Besides skills, we also have to include the weather factor into the equation. For example, we need sunny skies and relatively light winds to sight fish for tarpon. Those conditions are not always present. Rain, clouds, and wind will present tough challenges for this fishery. Those factors may force us to consider other areas or other species to target.
What fish will we be targeting?
Again, a loaded question.
As I stated above, we have a ton of different fish to target and different seasons provide different opportunities but I am going to concentrate on the the most popular and try to keep it brief.
Fly fishing for Tarpon is straight up addictive! There are very few fish in the world that have captured the hearts and minds of fly anglers like tarpon. Boca Grande is world renowned for tarpon fishing and offers fly anglers almost year round opportunities.They love to eat fly, get big, and jump like mad. Everything a fly angler could wish for.
March thru June is what we call “tarpon season”. Large migratory fish, often over 100 pounds, will be making their way up and down the coast moving from the beaches to the bay in search of food for their annual spawn. The late season (July thru October) provides wonderful opportunities for juvenile tarpon (30-50 pounds) and is probably your best shot at catching a tarpon if you’re not in search of a giant.
Snook are one of the most fly friendly fish in our area. They cover a vast amount of different habitat and can be found from the beaches and flats around Boca Grande to the canals in Punta Gorda and Cape Coral. They are also one of the most targeted species in the area for night time fly fishing. They stack under dock lights and provide great sight fishing on fly.
Fly fishing for Redfish in Boca Grande can be extremely challenging, so much so that I am going to say that it is tougher than Bonefish in the Keys. My favorite time of year is Fall and Winter, when low tides and clear water provide fly anglers the greatest success. You’re not going to see hundreds or thousands of fish and they can be extremely spooky. Just because you caught a redfish on fly in Louisiana, does not mean you are going to have the skill to catch one here.
Where should we stay?
There are some great places to stay on Boca Grande. Gasparilla Inn and The Inlet are both wonderful. Both hotels have great accommodations and are just a short walk to get picked up. If you want the beach scene Boca Grande is hard to beat
If the beach is not really your thing you may want to consider staying in Punta Gorda, Cape Coral or Pine Island. They have a lot more options for accommodations, have a great night life and are closer to Fort Myers international Airport and Punta Gorda Airport. You will have to drive to meet me but most of the drives are less than 20 minutes.
Where do we meet?
About 90% of the local guides are “trailer guides” which means that we trailer our boats to different locations and boat ramps around Boca Grande, Punta Gorda, Cape Coral and Pine Island.
Where the fishing is best, weather and where you are staying will all be considered when choosing a pick-up location. For example, I’m not going to make someone staying in Cape Coral drive all the way to Boca Grande, or vice versa. I always make it as convenient as possible while maximizing your fishing experience.
If you are staying on Boca Grande I will most likely meet you right the on the Island.
424 Bayou Ave.
Boca Grande, Fl 33921
Directly across from The Pink Elephant restaurant.
RATES
January – March
- 4 Hours
- $650*
- 6 Hours
- $900*
- 8 Hours
- $1200*
April – July
- 6 Hours
- $1100**
- 10 Hours
- $1800**
- 12 Hours
- $2000**
August-December
- 4 Hours
- $650*
- 6 Hours
- $900*
- 8 Hours
- $1200*
TACKLE & TECHNIQUES
Sight fishing
A combination of Orvis reels and G-Loomis rods make up Captain Danny’s fly arsenal. If you want to bring your own equipment, Southwest Florida is truly a great play ground to break in a new outfit. We generally use 8-12 weight rods for these fish with a good drag system on your reels because they will burn a cheap drag up in a hurry. Most of the fish will be in 1-3 feet of water so we use floating and intermediate sinking lines. .
Captain Danny also provides a number of custom tied flies that work particularly well in Southwest Florida.
COMMONLY CAUGHT SPECIES*
- Snook
- Redfish
- Speckled Trout
- Pompano
- Mackerel
- Jacks
- Snapper
- Flounder
- Ladyfish
- Sheepshead
- Black Drum
*Communication is an important part of each charter that ensures Capt. Danny provides you with a courteous, professional, enjoyable and memorable fishing experience. As a result if you require access to facilities, have special needs or want to target a specific fish please let him know. Remember, you normally catch more fish if you go after what is biting. So, to help make your trip a success, please communicate your wishes and needs to the captain prior to the trip
**Please remember that the availability of certain species depends on tides, season, weather and amount of fishing time invested.
Details about our Fly fishing charters
- We supply the gear or you can bring your own.
- We supply flies and leaders or you may bring your own.
- Eye protection must be worn at all times.
- Lessons provided.
- Generally only one angler casting on a boat at a time.