March 2020 - Florida Inshore Xtream Fishing Report

Boca Grande tarpon season

Tarpon season has finally arrived and the fish are trickling in. While goliath grouper fishing near Boca Grande Pass, tarpon have been rolling all around. We finally had a chance to sneak out and catch a few last night. Within about 30min, we had hooked 5 and landed 2. Sizes ranged from 40-80lbs. Prior to tarpon fishing, we hooked into 3 Boca Grande goliath grouper. After getting our fill of tarpon, we hung around during the outgoing tide to scoop up enough shrimp for a tasty dinner.

Coronavirus Update

We’re still open for business and keeping our boat and gear as clean as possible.

Grocery stores empty? Looking for something a little different than usual to cook up? Give us a call and we can take you out for a fun day on the water and bring you back with some fresh fish to cook up for your family. The spanish mackerel bite has been very hot. It doesn’t take long to fill up a cooler of those guys. The kingfish bite a little further out has also been productive. The occasional blackfin tuna has been caught as well.

Florida Inshore Xtream charters
941-698-0323
floridainshorextream.com

We started off the month with a lot of windy weather but the last week has been absolutely phenomenal around Boca Grande, Florida and Charlotte Harbor. The winds have died down, temperatures are heating up, and the fishing is getting better by the day. Water temperatures are in the mid 70s and the fish are staying pretty active. Inshore and around the passes, we’ve had an insane spanish mackerel bite. Keep an eye out for the birds and bait and you’re sure to find some nonstop action. (Lures of choice: spoons, jig head with soft plastic, nylon jigs) We tell our clients to fish the lure fast with a steady retrieve. Another option has been to troll two or three lures behind the boat.

INSHORE

The local bait spots have been teeming with white bait and the inshore bite of redfish, snook, and trout has been consistently good. The number of fish around has definitely increased since the localized closure was set. Get out early and pitch your favorite topwater lure around the mangroves. Once the sun is high, we like to switch over to a free lined white bait. For reds and snook, we typically use a 5/0 circle hook with 25 or 30lb flourocarbon leader. For trout, we’re fishing the 3-5ft grass flats with a popping cork.

NEARSHORE

Nearshore, the snapper and grouper bite has been pretty good. Lots of keeper red grouper are coming in from around 20-25miles. The lane and mangrove snapper are mixed in as well. Some of the nearshore wrecks are holding permit and cobia. Keep a line rigged and ready for those passerbys. The kingfish bite has also been pretty good as well.

FISHING APPAREL

With all of the apparel options out there right now for fishing enthusiasts, it can be difficult determining which to spend your hard earned money on! Having worn several different brands over the years, we can assure you that there is none better than Huk. The fit, comfort, and breathability of their shirts far surpasses any other we’ve worn. They’re constantly coming out with new styles and new gear. Their latest release that I was most excited to get my hands on were their new fishing gloves. Hands down, they’re the best I’ve had. The feature I like best compared to other gloves I’ve worn is the gripped texture added to the palm and fingers. This greatly helps when driving the boat. So if you’re looking to gear up with some fresh new apparel, give Huk a shot. You won’t be let down.

If you’re looking for a fun day on the water, be sure to give us a call or visit us on our webpage www.floridainshorextream.com.

941-698-0323 Captains Jesse and Kelly McDowall