A fine example of a very large tarpon.

Permit and Tarpon fishing Southwest Florida

Fishing ALL of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, Sanibel, Captiva, Pine Island, Marco island, Naples, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and Boca Grande. Call 941-628-4247 to book a fishing trip!

This page has been built to help you with some questions you may have.

Q: Do you have a "No Fish No Pay" policy?

A: Yes. If we do not catch a game fish on a backcountry or flats trip there will be no charge for the day. I also have a NO TARPON NO PAY policy for tarpon charters. If we don't "jump" at least one tarpon on a 12hr all-day tarpon fishing charter then there will be no charge for the trip. 8hr tarpon charters during March though July and 6hr tarpon trips from August though Octobrt are excluded from this policy.

Q:  How much does a fishing trip cost?

A:  My fishing charter rates are as follows:  Rates quoted are for entire boat. Not per angler.

Light Tackle Fishing Charter Rates for 2018

(October 1st - March 31st)

Inshore/ Flats Fishing Rates (No Fish, No Pay!)

4hr inshore fishing charter: $400 for 1-2 anglers.

6hr inshore fishing charter: $600 for 1-2 anglers.

8hr inshore fishing charter: $750 for 1-2 anglers.

Offshore Fishing Charter Rates (No Fish, No Pay!) Call for availability 

*Add $50 for each additional angler up to a maximum of four. No extra charge for children under 16.

Tarpon Fishing Rates for April, May, June and July 2018

No Tarpon, No Pay!

*If we do not jump a tarpon on a 10hr or 12hr split -day Tarpon Charter there will be no charge for the trip. The No Tarpon, No Pay policy doesn't apply to 6hr Tarpon Charters.

8hr trip: 8hrs of tarpon fishing. Start time would depend on the best tides and weather conditions. $900 1-2 anglers

The whole day: 6:00 AM start with a 1 hour lunch break at a local marina during the slow period and a return to the dock a little before dark which is around 8:00 PM during the summer months. This is the best trips for the serious tarpon angler.  No Tarpon, No Pay! $1400.00 1-2 anglers

10hr trip: 10hrs of tarpon fishing. Start time depends on conditions or anglers schedule.

*Add $50.00 for each additional angler up to a maximum of four. No extra charge for children under 16.

Tarpon Fishing Rates for August and September 2018

 6hr inshore fishing charter: $700 for 1-2 anglers.

8hr inshore fishing charter: $800 for 1-2 anglers.

*Add $50.00 for each additional angler up to a maximum of four. No extra charge for children under 16.

Off-season redfish action in Charlotte Harbor

I do offer customized fishing trips to fit your needs.  I fish with a number of qualified fishing guides that can help with corporate groups or when I am not available.  Please call me for details.   (941-628-4247)

Q:  What kind of fish can we expect to catch?

A:  I usually target exciting game fish such as, tarpon, cobia, snook, redfish, king mackerel, jack crevelle or sharks from Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor area south to Pine Island, Captiva and Sanibel Islands. I'll also fish Marco Island and the upper 10,000 Islands area.  I have a number of pick-up locations from Boca Grande, Punta Gorda, Pine Island, Ft Myers, Marco Island and Cape Coral. What's great about fishing in Southwest Florida is the multitude of fish species available to target with light tackle. Trout, redfish, spanish mackerel, ladyfish, snapper, grouper, pompano, bluefish and flounder are common catches during the winter months. Cobia, triple tail and permit are also available during certain times of the year.

Q: Why don't you offer 6hr tarpon trips during the spring and summer months?

A:  Tarpon fishing is very difficult and there is a lot of hunting involved in finding them. They can also be very difficult to get to bite. To have the best chance of success we need to not be pressed for time and have the flexibility to go the extra mile to find the fish. This isn't possible when your trying to fit in  two trips a day. I only fish one customer per day. That way I'm always focused on your charter.

Q:  What do we need to bring?

A:  All tackle, rods, and reels are provided unless you want to use your personal equipment.  Each person is advised to wear a hat and sunscreen.   Good polarized sunglasses are recommended for spotting fish.  Bring any food and drinks you want. I keep plenty of ice onboard so you don't need to pack a cooler. Canned  alcohol is allowed. Please do not bring glass bottles on the boat. Sometimes it gets a little bumpy and if the bottles break, its very hard to clean glass up on a boat deck and in a cooler.

Q:  Do we need a fishing license?

A:  No.  My license covers up to four customers on my boat except for bass fishing trips. All freshwater bass fishing trips require a valid freshwater fishing license.                                                                                                               

Q:  What months are the best for fly fishing Tarpon?

A:  April, May and June.

Q: What is the best time to catch tarpon?

A:  Late March - Late September.  My personal favorites are mid to late summer through early fall in Charlotte Harbor. These tarpon are somewhat less predictable because of weather, but there is much less fishing pressure and most of my best tarpon fishing days of the year come in August, September and early October.

Q:  Do you offer any package deals for multiple bookings?

A:  No, I work just as hard on multiple day trips as I do on single day trips and my overhead doesn't get any less just because you'll book more than one day.

Q: Do you offer shared charters with other customers?

A: I run private fishing charters and don't usually try to split a fishing trip with another group. However, I do have a few local clients that will split a fishing charter with one other person. You will need to call with as much advanced notice as possible to try to schedule a shared fishing charter with one of my local clients.

Q: Do we need to book in advance?

A:  Yes, the best chance for you to get a day that fits your schedule is to call about two weeks in advance. The months of April, May, June, and July are mostly devoted to tarpon fishing and should be booked several months in advance or with as much advanced notice as possible.

Q: What about your Duck hunting trips?

A: I guide duck hunting trips from my house on Lake Okeechobee during the season which runs from November 23 to January 26. Limits are shot on most days. You are responsible for all licenses, a gun and at least two boxes of steel shot shells per hunt. Guided hunts are $150.00 per hunter. We mainly shoot ring necks, teal, whistlers and mottled ducks. Duck hunting trips are best with two hunters but I my limit is a maximum of three.