Spent a week on Gasparilla Island and fell in love with the place. This time of year there isn’t much happening on the island, but that is what we wanted. There also isn’t any public access to the beaches on the north end of the island, so there were times when it seemed as if we were the only people there. This made surf fishing easy any time of the day. Unfortunately, the cold spell this winter devastated the snook population. I still found them in the surf, but I couldn’t get any to bite. It was amazing how close they were to the beach, right in the breakers within feet of the sand. I caught a lot of whiting a flounder, though. One night around 2AM, I had a monster destroy a 60lb leader. Was fishing with crab, so it might have been a tarpon, but most likely was a shark. The leader was tattered over four feet from where it broke. I didn’t have time to get the rod out of the holder. I had the drag on the reel set at 10lb, but the fish was running like mad. My other pole had a 100lb leader. I put on a wire leader, but didn’t get a bite after that.

There’s a really nice inshore pier on the back of the island. I had my best luck there. I caught a bunch of small red grouper, mangrove snapper, and a gag grouper. I also caught a really big sting ray, a bunch of pin fish and grunts, a few lady fish, and, of course, some damn catfish. There were also crabs floating in the current that were easy to snag. I watched a guy hook a small tarpon one day. The fight lasted all of twenty seconds then it broke off. It was fun to watch, the damn thing went crazy. I forced myself to learn how to throw a cast net. It was worth it. There were huge schools of greenbacks and needle fish next to the pier. The greenbacks, though small (3 inches) ended up being the best bait. There were also big groups of very large mullet cruising the pier.

This was a recon trip planned rather abruptly. I learned a lot. I’m renting a boat next time. This place is beautiful and very quite. For you guys with boats, there are some condos on the causeway with slips that are very nice and very affordable this time of year. Below is a link to some pictures, although, I don’t have any fish pictures. My daughter ran off with my camera.

Oh, in Placida, which is at the start of the causeway that crosses over to the island, there is a place that sales pass crabs, live shimp, and pin fish, but you shouldn't have any problem catching them yourself.

Boca Slideshow

Sounds like an awesome trip. I love saltwater fishing...so many options. Where is Gasparilla? I have heard of it but not exactly sure where it is...may have to give it a try.

Gasparilla is the island that the town of Boca Grande is on. It's out in front of Charlotte Harbor. South of Venice and North of Fort Meyers. The pass that is at the south end of the island is supposed to be the best place for Tarpon in the country.

Yes the pass looks like Lanier when everyone is on the River channel...LOL No kidding you have to watch out that someone else's Tarpon doesn't jump in your boat and Knock you out!!!

I grew up in Florida and my dad was a big time off shore fishrmen. We ventured all over the state and fish for everything you can imagine. We used to catch tarpon on zarra spooks in the mangroves along with big Snook. I loved fishing for the big Bull Reds in the fall when they would come in to spawn. Gosh good times and fond memorries, I hope to get back there and do it again soon. One of my favorite things to do was to go to the keys about 4 times a year spear fishing out of Marathon. We would dive the deep reefs from 60' to 90' looking for the big Grouper and Hog Snapper.

Very envious!! I want to get on a tarpon so bad. I watched shows about Boca and wouldn't even attempt to get out there with the crowd when the tarpon are running.

My time is coming for the "King."

May and June are the biggest months for tarpon, but they are still around in July. Most of that madness is over by the end of June, but I still saw quite a few boats in the pass.

I've been told the north pass (Gasparilla Pass) holds a lot of tarpon. I was going to hobble up there, but never came up with enough motivation to haul all my gear up there. It is about a mile from where we were staying. The deep water comes very close to the beach up there. Next time I'll have a beach cart. As I mentioned before, there is no public access to the beach on the north end. You'd have to cut through some rich guy's yard.

yum. hog snapper. They practically roll over and play dead as you approach. I used to spear them while lobstering around the 20mm (cudjoe key), on the gulf side past the barrier keys.