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Florida · Boca Grande / Charlotte Harbor

Tarpon should be the day — the Pass — tarpon in the throat, then Gasparilla grass for reds and snook.

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.

  • ⚠ Charlotte Harbor / Southwest snook harvest is typically closed May 1–Sep 30 and Dec 1–end of Feb. Verify FWC.
8.1OF 10

Today

medium confidence

Morning line

Boca Grande 8.1 this morning. 3 mph WSW. Mostly Clear · 3%. YOLO day is Tuesday, August 25. Scores are 1–10, not a bite.

Mail it
-0.9-0.5-0.00.40.9LHLHLHLHNOWMon 8 PMTue 8 PMWed 8 PMThu 8 PM
incoming · 0.60 ftModeled M2 · not a gauge

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

No gauge

Water

—

48°92°

Today’s range 1.3 ft

incoming

0.60 ft modeled

Clock

NOAA 8725577

  • LowMon 7:41 PM · -0.68
  • HighTue 1:41 AM · 0.66
  • LowTue 7:41 AM · -0.64
  • HighTue 1:41 PM · 0.61
  • LowTue 7:41 PM · -0.57

Bahamas tides are modeled from lunar M2. Use them for windows, not a bar crossing.

Monthly YOLO day

Tuesday, August 25 · 8.9

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

  • Boca Grande Pass

    pass jetty · public structure · deep

    8.1

    The pass. NOAA 8725577 is the clock. Spring tarpon stack here. Current is the whole fishery — not a wade, not a skinny skiff.

    • — pass jetty on a incoming tide is a classic match.
    • — In-play: Tarpon, Redfish.
    skiffstructurespinfly

When

  • Incoming water

    9.5

    Tue 1:41 AM → Tue 3:41 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Outgoing water

    9.5

    Tue 2:41 AM → Tue 9:41 AM

    Moving water in the right part of the day.

  • Incoming water

    8.6

    Tue 8:41 AM → Tue 3:41 PM

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

  • Outgoing water

    9.5

    Tue 2:41 PM → Tue 9:41 PM

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

  • Incoming water

    9.5

    Tue 9:41 PM → Wed 4:41 AM

    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 incoming (modeled — the NOAA gauge did not answer).
  • — Mostly Clear · 3%. Sky is workable.
  • — Wind 3 mph WSW. Castable. Sight-fishing is on if the sun is out.
  • — Waxing gibbous moon — mid tide range. Marsh and passes usually want the extra current of a spring.

Mangrove / gray snapper

Lutjanus griseus

8.4

Thermal window

—

64°92°

In peak season for this water. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Florida: typically 10 in, inside the snapper aggregate. Verify FWC.

Redfish

Sciaenops ocellatus

6.6

Thermal window

—

48°92°

Present, not peak. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Florida SE: typically 18–27 in, 1/person, 2/vessel. Harvest banned in federal waters. Keys backcountry, not oceanside. Boca Harbor yes.

Tarpon

Megalops atlanticus

6.6

Thermal window

—

68°94°

Present, not peak. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Florida: catch-and-release. Fish over 40 in must stay in the water. One harvest tag/year only for a potential IGFA record.

Snook

Centropomus undecimalis

2.3

Thermal window

—

56°92°

Closed to harvest — still swims, do not keep. Present, not peak. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Region matters. SE/Atlantic (Jupiter, Biscayne): typically 28–32 in, 1/day, closed Dec 15–Jan 31 and June 1–Aug 31. Charlotte Harbor / Southwest (Boca Grande): typically 28–33 in, closed Dec 1–end of Feb and May 1–Sep 30. Snook permit required. Verify FWC.

Jack crevalle

Caranx hippos

5.8

Thermal window

—

64°94°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

Generally unregulated. Still, do not leave a pile.

Great barracuda

Sphyraena barracuda

5.8

Thermal window

—

66°92°

Bycatch and beach noise — not the reason you came. In peak season for this water. This tide stage (incoming) matches how they hunt.

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.