Today we took out Sam. High on his bucket list were tarpon and goliath. The conditions weren’t looking ideal for tarpon so we opted for a goliath grouper charter. We started out bowfishing for stingrays. We put 3 in the boat and headed to Boca Grande Pass to target the goliath grouper. Within a few minutes, Sam hooked into one that was about `150lbs. The bite slowed down from there. Sam had a few more hits but wasn’t able to button one up.

It was about an hour before high tide and we could see a pile of tarpon rolling in Boca Grande Pass. We decided to let Sam give it a try. We had a few crabs and a couple dozen shrimp in the livewell. After about the 5th drift through the pass, we finally hooked into a tarpon. Sam fought it for a while but unfortunately the sharks cut us off and we were unable to land it. A few more drifts through the pass and we managed to hook into two more Boca Grande tarpon. Sam was able to get one boatside and the other broke free before getting eaten by sharks.

The tarpon fishing is heating up in Boca Grande so give us a call to book your tarpon charter now.

Captains Jesse and Kelly McDowall
941-698-0323
Florida Inshore Xtream charters
YouTube

We took Chris and his buddy Mike out for goliath grouper today. Another breezy day this morning but we loaded the livewell with a handful of bowfished baits and headed for the real fun. Mike was up first. We dropped the first bait down and within 10 seconds Mike was hooked up with his first goliath grouper. This one was around 150lbs. Chris took the seat…again within 10 seconds he was hooked up. This one was a brute! He battled back and forth and finally got the goliath grouper to the boat. Our estimate for Chris’s goliath grouper was around 350lbs. Unfortunately, it came unbuttoned before getting any photos. Mike decided he would give it another round and hopped in the fighting seat. Within 1 minute, bang! Another goliath grouper on. Mike fought with all his might and finally got a 250lber to the side of the boat. He hopped in the water real quick and got a photo. Chris and Mike decided they couldn’t catch anymore and we headed home for the day! Want to catch a monster fish? Give us a call to book your Boca Grande goliath grouper fishing charter!

We also offer Boca Grande tarpon charters, inshore, and nearshore charters. May and June we will be fishing for only goliath grouper and tarpon. The tarpon are starting to show up in Boca Grande Pass. We have a few days left so give us a call if you want to hook into a silver king.

Captains Jesse and Kelly McDowall
941-698-0323

Check us out on YouTube

Florida Inshore Xtream charters

We had an inshore fishing charter today. We fished around Gasparilla Sound, Bull Bay, and Turtle Bay. Once the tide started flowing this morning, it was almost nonstop action. Blake and his family caught at least 30-40 snook and probably 20 trout, almost all over slot. We are using 30lb fluorocarbon, 4/0 circle hook, small cork and a live white bait. The most productive areas were those with good moving current.

The tarpon are moving into Boca Grande Pass more and more everyday. We’re seeing them along the grass flats and bars as well. Give us a call if you’d like to go on a Boca Grande tarpon fishing charter.

Boca Grande goliath grouper charters are also a thrill. Where else can you catch a fish bigger than you then hop in the water for a photo op?!

Captains Jesse and Kelly McDowall

941-698-0323

http://www.floridainshorextream.com

It was another great day on the water with customers Josh and his son Josh. Bowfishing for bait was fairly quick and easy so we headed to Boca Grande to start fishing for the goliath grouper. The tide was a little wonky but young Josh missed a few hits before finally laying in to a big one. That Goliath grouper taped out to 71”. Our estimated weight is around 300lbs. Father Josh took his turn on the hot seat but never managed to get a hook in one. We had a few more bites but the day ended with only one big goliath grouper to the boat.

Bill and his father, Bill and son, Wyatt came out for a Boca Grande goliath grouper charter today. Wyatt has started his own fishing YouTube channel so he was very excited to see the biggest fish Florida has to offer.

We started off the trip bowfishing for stingrays. It was fairly windy so it made conditions a little tricky but we managed to put 4 baits in the boat. We headed off towards Boca Grande Pass for the real thrill of the day. Conditions and tide were less than favorable but we got our first hit in no time…but the goliath grouper didn’t get the hook. Wyatt switched out and let his dad have a take at the rod. We put on a livelier bait and sent him down below. BAM! Fish on! Bill fought with all his might, almost giving up at times, against the shear power of the world famous Boca Grande goliath grouper. We taped the fish at 73” and estimated its weight to be around 300lbs. We took a fin clip for FWC research and sent the big girl back home to fight another day.

Unfortunately the tide completely stopped and we weren’t able to get Wyatt on a fish.

if you think you have the strength to battle against a Boca Grande goliath grouper, give us a call for a fight of your life.

941-698-0323

Florida Inshore Xtream http://floridainshorextream.com

It was another great week of fishing in and around Boca Grande, Fl. The inshore waters of Charlotte Harbor have been very productive. The snook bite has been the best we’ve seen in years and we’re catching some of the biggest trout we’ve seen in a while. The biggest trout of the week measured 27”. We boated several more in the 24-26” range as well. There’s an abundance of under slot snook all throughout the bays. This always makes for an exciting day on the water with customers. The kids have an absolute blast reeling in snook after snook.

We had one day of tarpon fishing squeezed in between our inshore trips. Boca Grande Pass was stacked with tarpon for a few days. We managed to hook into 10 tarpon and able to boat 3. Cary and his friends were ecstatic. Their Boca Grande vacation was complete.

Despite the blistering wind, we managed to run a goliath grouper trip as well. Boca Grande is one of the best places to come and target the massive goliath grouper. With deep water right off the beach, we’re able to get customers a great picture after landing their bucket list goliath grouper. This week our customers caught two goliath grouper.

If you’re ready to get out on the water for a fun filled day of Boca Grande fishing, give us a call or visit our webpage to book your next fishing charter.

941-698-0323

http://www.floridainshorextream.com 

YouTube https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCl1OOcwDdBenbh-6PO_gaqw

Tarpon

Despite the seemingly nonstop wind this summer, the fishing was pretty productive most days. For May and June, we primarily focused on targeting the world famous Boca Grande tarpon and goliath grouper. The tarpon action was hot in May…there were several days we had double digit hook ups. But, fronts moving around the area and the insane number of big sharks pushed the tarpon around a bit and by June the tarpon were a little quirky, visiting areas that we won’t typically catch them. Landing a tarpon in June became quite an accomplishment. Within minutes of a hookup, sharks were already trailing the hooked tarpon. They’re starting to move north now and our tarpon season is winding down, but if you’re still wanting to get out and catch one, there are some pods still around along the beaches and in the passes. Our go to baits are 2-3in crabs and/or threadfin herring.

Goliath grouper

The goliath grouper population around Boca Grande has definitely improved this last year following the red tide of 2018. Our clients were able to land, photograph, and release over 100 grouper this year so far. With each goliath, we collect DNA samples for Florida Fish & Wildlife. With this data, they are able to look at the grouper family structure in our area, as well as determine if fish are migrating from other areas where DNA samples have been collected.

Nearshore

Nearshore, there have been reports of good snapper and an occasional keeper red or gag grouper. The nearshore reefs are still holding big permit. On one trip we boated 23 permit! Had we not used up all of our crabs, we probably would have caught more.  Further out, there are many reports of red snapper out past 40 miles.