UTERTripletail fishing in Charlotte Harbor
In Charlotte Harbor, tripletail peak May–September and are around April–November, according to Fish Scouter's month-by-month season calendar. July: Trap floats and markers in the harbor.
No note for October — see the months around it.
Tripletail in Charlotte Harbor, month by month
- JanuaryNot here
- FebruaryNot here
- MarchNot here
- AprilArriving
- MayPeak
- JunePeak
- JulyPeakTrap floats and markers in the harbor.
- AugustPeakThe hottest water — structure and current. Bridges, docks and mangrove tunnels on the strongest tide; reds start forming schools on the flats; tripletail on the trap floats.
- SeptemberPeak
- OctoberAround
- NovemberAround
- DecemberNot here
Where to fish tripletail near Englewood, Boca Grande, Punta Gorda
Boca Grande Pass and the mangrove sounds behind it — Charlotte Harbor, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha, the Caloosahatchee, Estero Bay — miles of mangrove shoreline, oyster bars, sand holes in the grass, and long barrier-island beaches from Gasparilla to Sanibel.
Fish Scouter charts 170 other, 47 marker / buoy, 30 beach / surf spots in the Charlotte Harbor & the Islands map area — the kinds tripletail hold on.
What to use for tripletail
- Live shrimpUnder a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait.
- Blue crabsWhole and small for permit and tarpon; halved or quartered on the bottom for black drum, redfish and cobia.
- Pilchards (whitebait)Free-lined or under a cork, hooked through the nose on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook. The one bait that catches everything inshore.
- Leader30–40 lb fluorocarbon
- Hook1/0–3/0
- Jig head1/8–1/4 oz
- Braid15–30 lb
Feeds in 70–90°F water, best at 76–86°F.
Questions anglers ask
When is the best time to catch tripletail in Charlotte Harbor?
Peak season is May–September. Tripletail are in Charlotte Harbor April–November. July: Trap floats and markers in the harbor.
Where do tripletail hold in Charlotte Harbor?
Look on beach / surf — around Englewood, Boca Grande, Punta Gorda, Pine Island, Fort Myers, Naples.
What is the best bait for tripletail in Charlotte Harbor?
Live bait: live shrimp, blue crabs, pilchards (whitebait). Live shrimp: Under a popping cork or free-lined, hooked under the horn on a #1 to 2/0 circle hook; on a jig head for the bottom. The universal inshore bait. Tackle: leader 30–40 lb fluorocarbon, hook 1/0–3/0, jig head 1/8–1/4 oz, braid 15–30 lb.
What are the rules for tripletail in Charlotte Harbor?
Size and bag limits and closed seasons are set by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and change — read the current rule at https://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/ before you keep a fish. A licence is sold at https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/.
Fish it with the tide in your pocket
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All about tripletail · Charlotte Harbor & the Islands, the whole year