A burly amberjack heads for the fish box
View Fish Picture Gallery
(Gallery of recent catches)

The King Fisher Fleet deep sea charter boats do their fishing in the Gulf of Mexico off Southwest Florida. Gulf waters are home to more than a hundred species of saltwater fish including grouper, snapper, shark, barracuda, kingfish, mackerel and tarpon. Click HERE for a current fishing report!

Our deep sea boats run full day trips in the Gulf, usually from 8am to 5pm. Each boat (we have two) can carry up to six anglers in comfort and safety. Charter rate is $750.00 per day to hire the boat privately or $150.00 (plus tax) per person on a split charter where you share the boat with other anglers. We supply everything needed for fishing including all tackle, bait, licenses and fish cleaning. You bring personal items such as hats, cameras, suntan lotion, food and drink. Please wear soft soled shoes for your safety. Advance reservations are a must.

Happy anglers land a nice king mackerel

A good snook brings out the smiles
View Fish Picture Gallery
(Gallery of recent catches)

The King Fisher Fleet back bay guide boats do their fishing in the famous Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve. This is the 2nd largest estuary in the state of Florida, 17th largest in the nation. There are over 200 square miles of fishable water in the harbor with a variety of fish available including snook, redfish, trout, tarpon and shark. Click HERE for a current fishing report! The King Fisher Fleet back bay boats generally fish in shallow water with light spinning tackle and live bait. Fly fishing is available by request. We have several boats available for full or half day charters. Rates are as follows: Half day $300.00 for one to three people, Full day $450.00 for one to three people. On either half or full day charters add $50.00 per person for more than three people, up to a maximum of six.

Cobia steaks for dinner tonight

Gulf of Mexico
Even though the bulk of the spring king run is now past there will still be some nice sized kings caught this month, mostly by anglers live baiting over wrecks and artificial reefs. These stragglers are usually large fish in the 20 to 30 pound range and are often loners. Wrecks and reefs will also be good for permit, barracuda, mangrove snapper and Goliath grouper. Best bottom action on red and gag grouper continues to shift further offshore as the water temps climb. Large sharks can be targeted around the passes and some of these fish are VERY large animals including bull sharks over 500 pounds and hammerheads pushing half a ton.

Charlotte Harbor
Tarpon are called silver kings and that title is earned every day now that we're approaching the peak of the season. Boca Grande Pass, off the beaches, in the deep holes in the harbor, in the rivers or under the bridges, there are plenty of places to tangle with a trophy tarpon and now's the time. Some of the best snook fishing of the year is about ready to break loose, but remember that it's all catch and release during the spawning season closure. Mixed bag fishing on the flats is a safe bet for catches that will include trout, Spanish mackerel, bluefish, small sharks and a few cobia. Redfish will be caught along the mangroves during the higher summer tides we'll see this month, and can be targeted in potholes when the tide drops.

Notes:

• Snook season closed May 1, opens September 1
• Trout season closes Nov. 1, opens Jan. 1
• June 1: new rules requiring circle hooks, venting tools and dehookers for reef fish

Let's Go Fishing!

Capt. Ralph Allen