Unbelievable, truly unbelievable.  We could see the feeding frenzy and terns diving into the white foam from way off in the distance caused by the thrusting schooling fish.  Quickly our fishing guide drove us within casting distance.  A quick cast into the chaos hooked a respectable sized Spanish mackerel that I reeled in.  The next cast, my wife, hooked a powerful, compact tuna.  After what seemed like eternity, our guide reached down and landed the tuna.  While we were battling our fish, we had cheered each other on; excitement and the thrill of catching schooling fish had left wide smiles on both of our faces.  I yelled, “Holy mackerel and little tuna…can we do that again?”  Our fishing guide Doug Stewart from Boca Grande needed little convincing and started up the big engine and drove us within casting distance again. 

For anglers who have never saltwater fished, I highly recommend it.  Our saltwater excursion began by staying at Boca Grande North (www.Bocagrandevacations.com).  Our accommodations were luxurious and the view from our balcony was breathtaking.   Boca Grande is located on Gasparilla Island, on the Southwest Coast of Florida between Fort Myers and Sarasota.  Gasparilla Island has seven miles of pristine white sand beaches facing the Gulf of Mexico and miles of protected, mangrove shoreline inwards towards Charlotte Harbor.  Midpoint on the island is the village of Boca Grande that features unique dining and shopping opportunities.  Other must see sights  is Boca Grande Marina, Whidden’s Sea Food Market Dock that is over a 100 years old, and Gasparilla Island State Park and Boca Grande Museum and Visitor Center at the extreme southern tip of the island.

Visitors to Boca Grande have numerous sights to see but the number one attraction continues to be fishing.  Every spring, thousands of anglers head to Boca Grande Pass to catch tarpon.  Boca Grande Pass is known as the “Tarpon Capital of the World”.  The peak season runs from April to June.  Anglers can test their skills casting artificial lures or fly fishing for 100-plus pound tarpon, or use live bait to catch them.

Our fishing guide was Captain Doug Stewart (Contact Captain Stewart at (941)276-1400.)from Boca Grande with over 15 years experience guiding the Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor waters.  Captain Stewart picked us up in his 24-foot center console Pathfinder boat at the Pink Elephant Dock and proceeded to take us out to catch bait. While casting his 10-foot net, Captain Stewart explained, “We need approximately 100 to 200 baits for today’s trip,” he continued, “in December through February we use live shrimp for bait.”  Our quest for today was to catch an inshore grand slam meaning we would have to catch a snook, trout, and red fish.  The day started out with Captain Stewart explaining how to cast and set the hook.  Judy, my wife caught the first two fish, a snapper and a snook over 20-inches in length on live bait.  As we paralleled the shoreline of Cayocasta Island staying casting distance away from the bank, we caught a number of other fish.  As we reached the northern tip of Cayocasta Island, we watch as a fly fisherman made long casts towards the bank in search of a red fish or snook; however, turning north we were able to see Boca Grande Pass.  A powerful current was flowing out of Charlotte Harbor back into the Gulf of Mexico.  “This is where the tarpon stack up in the spring, countless boats will stack up here to catch a 100-plus pound fish,” said Captain Stewart.

 
Looking out at the Pass and the strong current it was easy to see that it would take a powerful fish to hold in that tide; however, we were in search of an inshore grand slam so off we went to another spot that Captain Stewart knew was holding reds and snook.  Pulling up we quickly saw a number of schools of snook busting the surface.  Judy was casting live bait at the schooling snook and catching them as fast as Captain Stewart could put bait on her hook; I had taken a different approach.  The schooling snook reminded me of largemouth bass back home and casting topwater lures to catch them.  Having one rod rigged up with a topwater, I casted it out and after twitching the topwater twice a snook crushed it.  Like the snooks Judy was catching, mine went air borne multiple times.  Snook are spectacular fighters and willing to bite both live bait and artificial lures.

  After a period of time catching schooling snook, Captain Stewart asked if we want to catch something else.  Both of us were reluctant to leave the schooling fish but ready for another species to catch.  That’s where we ran in to a massive school of Spanish Mackerel and little tuna.  We stayed and caught a number of little tuna or Bonita weighing from eight to ten pounds and a couple good sized Spanish mackerel.  Every one of them battling and pulling until they were landed and released…all but one.  Judy had almost landed another little tuna when Captain Stewart was about to reach down and land it when a 10-foot hammerhead shark came from under the boat, grabbed Judy’s lure and little tuna and started swimming off.  Judy’s reel was screaming until…snap, the line busted.  All of us look at each other stunned.  “Did you see that big hammerhead shark?” said Captain Stewart.  Holy mackerel and off the shark went with Judy’s little tuna.  Our saltwater fishing trip was one we will never forget and having an experienced fishing guide who put us on a wide variety of fish made it one to remember.