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Florida · Boca Grande / Charlotte Harbor

Mahi-mahi are the hunt — wait — slack in Boca Grande Pass is a boat parade, not a hunt. Heat is the clock — first light or last light.

The pass. Migratory tarpon stack in Boca Grande Pass in spring. Charlotte Harbor and Gasparilla hold snook and reds. NOAA 8725577 is the pass clock (predictions). Water temp is Fort Myers 8725520 — there is no live well at the inlet.

  • ⚠ Extreme water temperature. Fish stress quickly — keep them wet, or don't boat them.
  • ⚠ Charlotte Harbor / Southwest snook harvest is typically closed May 1–Sep 30 and Dec 1–end of Feb. Verify FWC.
6.2OF 10

Today

high confidence

Morning line

Boca Grande 6.2 this morning. 3 mph WSW. Mostly Clear · 3%. YOLO day is Tuesday, August 25. Scores are 1–10, not a bite.

Mail it
-0.20.41.01.72.3HLHLHLHLNOWSun 8 PMMon 8 PMTue 8 PMWed 8 PMThu 8 PM
high slack · 1.13 ftNOAA hourly · ft MLLW

Wind

NWS

NESW3MPH

From WSW

Sky

3% rain

Clear

Mostly Clear · 3%

A 20% shower chance is not a cancel. A soaker is.

Moon

91% lit

Waxing gibbous

mid range · 91%

Water

NOAA 8725520

Water

91.2°

48°92°

Today’s range 1.8 ft

high slack

1.13 ft MLLW

Clock

NOAA 8725577

  • HighTue 1:27 AM · 1.14
  • LowTue 4:07 AM · 1.08
  • HighTue 11:16 AM · 1.94
  • LowTue 6:43 PM · 0.13
  • HighWed 1:34 AM · 1.16

Monthly YOLO day

Tuesday, August 25 · 9.2

Best remaining dry day this month with a real wind forecast — and it is a copper day. waxing gibbous · mid · tide range ~1.8 ft · wind to 9 mph · 12% chance of rain

Stay or drive · Boca Grande vs JupiterOpen the calendarMorning dispatch

Next two weeks

Pulling the 14-day strip…

Where

No marks match this method on this water.

When

  • Incoming water

    9.5

    Tue 6:00 AM → Tue 1:00 PM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    9.5

    Tue 12:00 PM → Tue 9:00 PM

    Water is moving, but the clock is against you — heat or dark.

  • Incoming water

    9.5

    Tue 8:00 PM → Wed 3:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    9.5

    Wed 3:00 AM → Wed 7:00 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Incoming water

    9.5

    Wed 6:00 AM → Wed 2:00 PM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

Launch and beach access

County and state ramps near this water. FKNMS no-take is Keys-only, on the legal list.

  • Placida / Gasparilla public ramps

    Charlotte County

    Harbor side of the Boca desk. The Pass is a run south from here.

    Official source

  • Cayo Costa State Park

    Florida State Parks

    Barrier island south of Boca Grande Pass. Boat or ferry. Park rules.

    Official source

Legal water

No-take and closed water cited to the agency that owns it. Only the Keys box is FKNMS.

No FKNMS polygon in this box. Mainland Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Mexico, and the Bahamas are not Keys sanctuary closures.

Why — and who

  • — Tide is high slack from NOAA.
  • — Water 91.2°F. Heat is the locator: early, late, deeper.
  • — Mostly Clear · 3%. Sky is workable.
  • — Wind 3 mph WSW. Troll and jig are on.
  • — Waxing gibbous moon — mid tide range. Marsh and passes usually want the extra current of a spring.

Mahi-mahi

Coryphaena hippurus

5.9

Thermal window

91.2°

66°92°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Florida: typically 10/person, 60/vessel, 20 in fork. Texas: 3/day in federal waters under HMS/coastal rules — verify NOAA HMS and TPWD. Mexico: verify CONAPESCA. Bahamas: check current bag.

Tuna (blackfin / yellowfin)

Thunnus atlanticus / Thunnus albacares

5.9

Thermal window

91.2°

66°92°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Federal HMS rules. Yellowfin typically 27 in curved fork. Blackfin often more liberal — verify NOAA HMS and FWC/TPWD the morning you leave the inlet.

Blue marlin

Makaira nigricans

5.9

Thermal window

91.2°

68°90°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Federal HMS. Treat as catch-and-release unless a lawful tag says otherwise. Verify NOAA HMS.

White marlin

Kajikia albida

5.9

Thermal window

91.2°

66°88°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Federal HMS. Treat as catch-and-release. Verify NOAA HMS.

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

4.1

Thermal window

91.2°

60°84°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Present, not peak. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Federal HMS. Typically one per person with a minimum length. Night gear rules matter. Verify NOAA HMS and FWC.

Sailfish

Istiophorus platypterus

2.3

Thermal window

91.2°

66°90°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Off-season here. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Florida: catch-and-release for Atlantic sail except a rare harvest tag. Federal HMS permit in federal waters. Texas/Bahamas: treat as C&R.

Wahoo

Acanthocybium solandri

2.3

Thermal window

91.2°

66°88°

Bluewater. Weedlines, humps, and the edge — this is the method. Off-season here. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Florida: typically 2/person, 10/vessel. Verify FWC.

Jack crevalle

Caranx hippos

5.8

Thermal window

91.2°

64°94°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Generally unregulated. Still, do not leave a pile.

Great barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

5.8

Thermal window

91.2°

66°92°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. Water 91°F is the hot edge for this fish.

Generally unregulated. Ciguatera risk rises with size. Do not keep a big one for the table.

Regs citedFWC saltwater recreational · current FWC regional rules · rolls in 8 days. Snook closures are regional. Boca Grande is not Jupiter. Verify FWC before you keep one.