Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach, The Charlotte Harbor Gulf Island Coast, is internationally renowned as one of the world’s top sport fishing destinations.
The wide variety of types of fishing, from deep-sea and
back-bay to flats, shore, and more, brings dedicated anglers to the Charlotte
Harbor area from across the world, in search of their own personal records or
International Game Fish Association world records.
You can even drop a line from many of our bridges!
Check in with local bait and tackle shops for the best spots
to target over 200 fishable species and check out this blog post to explore
your options.
Tarpon Fishing
The area, especially Boca Grande Pass, is also known as the Tarpon
Capital of the World, and rightfully so! Often called "The
Silver King," this beautiful catch-and-release fish is a bucket list item
for many anglers, and runs strong in these waters starting in late April
through October, often peaking in June.
Charlotte Harbor
Charlotte Harbor, Florida’s second-largest open-water
estuary, is formed by the blending of saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico with
freshwater from the Peace, Myakka, and Caloosahatchee rivers. This creates an
ecologically-important breeding ground for fish species numbering in the
hundreds. Anglers enjoy targeting tarpon, four species of snook (common,
swordspine, fat, and tarpon), redfish, barracuda, cobia, sharks, grouper, and
many, many others.
Freshwater Angling
While saltwater fishing is what we're known for, freshwater
anglers need not fret. A plethora of options abound in rivers and lakes, such
as Webb Lake and its three surrounding Marl Ponds in the Babcock/Webb
Wildlife Management Area. Webb Lake is a 5-mile long, man-made reservoir
chock-full of largemouth bass, freshwater snook, bluegill, speckled perch, and
channel catfish. Start your trip right with these 5 tips for fishing Webb
Lake.
Note: bass are catch-and-release, but the other species can
be kept; check bag limits before you go. When targeting bass at Webb Lake,
you'll need weedless lures, as the fish congregate in the cattails and
bulrushes near shore.
Also important to note: no gasoline motors are allowed on
Webb lake, so try a kayak or electric motor, or take advantage of plenty of
shore fishing spots along the edge of the lake and the three Marl Ponds
Fishing Guide or Solo?
We treasure our fisheries and environment, and have a
growing number of guides completing the Florida Friendly Fishing Guide certification,
which demonstrates their commitment to preserving the future of Florida’s
fisheries through sustainable boating and fishing techniques.
If you're hitting the waters with a guide, great!
They know where the fish are, how to work the 1.5' tidal swing in Charlotte
Harbor, and will keep you "in-the-know" on regulations. Importantly,
your license is automatically covered while fishing with a licensed guide.
If you are planning on fishing without a guide, make sure to
check out state regulations and license requirements, all of which can be done
online at the Florida Wildlife Commission site at MyFWC.com. You can also find
seasonal insights in our Fishing Forecasts.
Posted by: Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau
Posted on: 23/09/2025