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Fishing Boca Grande Pass

January 23, 2012 at 9:57 pm Leave a comment

We traveled mid-morning Monday to Boca Grande Pass. This area is just south of Gasprilla Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. We planned our day around catching Permit, pompano and whiting. But as things will happen, our best laid plans are not always best occurred.

Our plan was to fish the southernmost point of the pass. Along the main route to Boca Grande, there are several Gulf front parking and beach access areas in route to the southernmost point.  Decisions had to be made without the benefit of other angler’s success. So we continued to our predetermined spot.

Unbeknown to us, the big fish were being caught on the western shore just north of the point. Big Redfish and whiting were caught on both live shrimp and sand feas.

We decided to continue our travel to the most southern point of the beach. This spot is where the Charlotte Harbor current exits into the Gulf of Mexico.  In this narrow space, a significant current can be found traveling within several hundred feet from the shore. The water depth can change from several inches right on the beach to well over 50 feet just yards of the beach.  The current is so quick, that it can sweep an unsuspecting swimmer out into the gulf within a matter of minutes.

This current is home to both huge tarpon all the way down to small pinfish and everything in between.

Although, we missed out on the big fish up the coast, we resigned ourselves of just catching some beautiful speckled trout.  I hooked up with three real nice ones with the largest at seventeen inches. Using live shrimp and circle hooks almost guaranteed success.

Even though we were outside the main stream anglers and the big fish, we had a great time.

If you are traveling to southwest Florida, a stopover to wet a line on Gasprilla Island and the famous Boca Grande Pass is a must.

Until next time, Tightlines.

Entry filed under: Home, Places. Tags: beach, charlotte harbor, family fishing, Florida, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, nags head, outer banks, pine island, salt water fishing.