Boca Grande Fishing Charters

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Boca Grande Fishing Charters offers light tackle fishing charters in and around Boca Grande. These waters are known for some of the best inshore fishing possible, and are also called the “Tarpon Capital of the World,” so you won’t want to miss out on the opportunities available here. Captain Shane Smetak is a full-time guide who has fished these waters for over 15 years, who is passionate about what he does, and is keen to teach you his skills.

You’ll be fishing aboard a 24 mako bayboat that was completely redone in 2023.

Anglers of all levels are welcome and the captain will be only too happy to help you develop the skills to reel one in. There’s nothing Capt. Shane likes more than to see the joy on someone’s face when they make their first catch. All rods, reels, bait, lures, and light tackle are provided so that you’re in the best position to reel one in. He also invites all specialized fly fishershermen aboard to do battle with the Silver King (Tarpon) among other gamefish.

With such a range of trips on offer, you have no excuse for not experiencing the fruitful and beautiful waters of the Boca Grande. T
hese trips all offer excellent fun and thrill-seeking opportunities for all ages. Boca Grande Fishing Charters is waiting to whisk you away, so get booking and get on the water.



Trip availability and prices

  • Private trip
    Sunset/Dolphin tour
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    2 Hour Trip, starts at 6:30 PM
    Price for up to 4 persons
    US $325
    Come out and see the sunset in one of the best places there is! You can see dolphin, manatee, sea turtles, all kinds of different birds and one of the best places to see the sunset in the world! THERE IS NO FISHING ON THIS TRIP.
  • Private trip
    Beat the heat Backwater
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 6:15 AM
    Price for up to 4 persons
    US $500
    4hr backwater trip using topwater lures and other artificial baits for snook, redfish, and trout. 6:00am-10:00am get out and fish before it gets hot.
    Targeted fish
    Jack Crevalle
    Jack Crevalle
    Snook
    Snook
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spotted Seatrout
    Spotted Seatrout
  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip Inshore am
    In demand! Last booked: 2 days ago
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 AM
    Price for up to 4 persons
    US $500
    Come fish the pristine flats of Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor. On this trip, you will target Redfish, Snook, Trout, and other various inshore species. Fly fishing is available for this trip as well. THIS IS NOT A TARPON TRIP.
    Types of fishing
    Inshore Fishing
    Backcountry Fishing
    Targeted fish
    Jack Crevalle
    Jack Crevalle
    Snook
    Snook
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spotted Seatrout
    Spotted Seatrout
  • Private trip
    Half Day Trip Inshore PM
    In demand! Last booked: 1 day ago
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 1:00 PM
    Price for up to 4 persons
    US $500
    On this trip you will target snook, redfish, trout, and other inshore species in the waters of Boca Grande, Gasparilla Sound, and Charlotte harbor. 4hr afternoon trip. 4 person max
    Targeted fish
    Jack Crevalle
    Jack Crevalle
    Snook
    Snook
    Black Drum
    Black Drum
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spotted Seatrout
    Spotted Seatrout
    Pompano
    Pompano
  • Private trip
    Night Snook and Tarpon
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    4 Hour Trip, starts at 8:00 PM
    Seasonal trip Sep 20 - Jun 15
    Price for up to 4 persons
    US $575
    The saying is – the night time is the right time. Come fish the lighted docks and bridges for Tarpon and Snook. This is a non-stop action and can produce snook up to 40”! This can be a spin fishing trip or a fly fishing trip. This is a must for anyone that likes to catch fish! The Tarpon typically caught are from 10-50lbs.
    Targeted fish
    Snook
    Snook
    Tarpon
    Tarpon
  • Private trip
    3/4 day Inshore
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 7:00 AM
    Price for up to 4 persons
    US $700
    Come fish the pristine flats of Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor. On this trip, you will target Redfish, Snook, Trout, and other various inshore species. Fly fishing is available for this trip as well. THIS IS NOT A TARPON TRIP.
    Targeted fish
    Jack Crevalle
    Jack Crevalle
    Snook
    Snook
    Redfish
    Redfish
    Spotted Seatrout
    Spotted Seatrout
    Pompano
    Pompano
  • Private trip
    Tarpon Half Day
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    5 Hour Trip, starts at 6:15 AM
    Seasonal trip Apr 25 - Jul 1
    Price for up to 3 persons
    US $1,000
    Come chase the mighty Silver King! Cast To pods of Rolling Fish and Laid up fish I the Beautiful waters from Boca Grande to Sarasota! The fish we target this time of year are from 50-200lbs. The silver king is known for its acrobatics and the hard fight they put up! You will be amazed with the power of the Tarpon! This trip is available from March 15th-September 30th
    Targeted fish
    Tarpon
    Tarpon
  • Private trip
    Tarpon Full Day
    FREE Cancellation 3 days notice
    6 Hour Trip, starts at 6:15 AM
    Seasonal trip Apr 25 - Jul 1
    Price for up to 3 persons
    US $1,200
    Come chase the mighty Silver King! Cast To pods of Rolling Fish and Laid up fish I the Beautiful waters from Boca Grande to Sarasota! The fish we target this time of year are from 50-200lbs. The silver king is known for its acrobatics and the hard fight they put up! You will be amazed with the power of the Tarpon! This trip is available from March 15th-September 30th
    Targeted fish
    Tarpon
    Tarpon
There are 40 people looking at this charter.

Customer reviews

Rating summary
Excellent
4.9 / 5
out of 5 stars from 67 reviews
Boat
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience
Excellent
4.9 / 5
Photos & videos by reviewers (68)
Do it!
Do it!
A great kids trip!
+65
Angler rating
62
4
0
0
0
Anglers claimed
Good experience
96%
Friendly captain
100%
Recommend this charter
99%
Appropriate for children
81%
Satisfied with the boat
100%
Caught fish
93%
Sort by:
Featured  
Showing:
5 of 67 reviews
James E.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fishing Enjoyment

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip Inshore am on March 1, 2024
Capt Shane is great!  He does everything, and does it fluently.  He asked me the day before the trip what I wanted to do…....
James E. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
James E. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Alison F.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Excellent! Highly recommend!

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip Inshore am on July 9, 2024
What a great experience! Captain Shane is wonderful, even with adults that haven’t fished in years. My 13 year old nephew...
Alison F. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Alison F. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
Mark review as helpful
1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Daniel J.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Do it!

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip Inshore am on December 26, 2024
Shane was super knowledgeable and knew all the best spots! We caught tons of fish. He was really helpful and we had an amazing...
Daniel J. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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Daniel J. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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Kelly L.
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Experience:
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

Fantastic Experience

VERIFIED   Night Snook and Tarpon on March 15, 2024
We fished with Shane at night for tarpon and snook. We were never bored — we were throwing at fish constantly. We had a blast...
Kelly L. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful
Kelly L. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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1 person finds this review helpful
You and 1 other person found this review helpful

Scott E.
Excellent
4.7 / 5
Experience:
Very good
4.0 / 5
Boat
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Crew
Excellent
5.0 / 5
Overall

A learning experience

VERIFIED   Half Day Trip Inshore am on April 19, 2024
Captain Shane is a wealth of knowledge and was very helpful in explaining his approach.  My friend and I are avid fishermen...
Scott E. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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Scott E. recommends Boca Grande Fishing Charters
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You found this review helpful

FAQs about Boca Grande Fishing Charters

Boca Grande Fishing Charters offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $325 per group - Sunset/Dolphin tour (2 hours)
  • US $500 per group - Beat the heat Backwater (4 hours)
  • US $500 per group - Half Day Trip Inshore am (4 hours)
  • US $500 per group - Half Day Trip Inshore PM (4 hours)
  • US $575 per group - Night Snook and Tarpon (4 hours)
  • US $700 per group - 3/4 day Inshore (6 hours)
  • US $1,000 per group, additional US $50 per person after 3 guests - Tarpon Half Day (5 hours)
  • US $1,200 per group, additional US $50 per person after 3 guests - Tarpon Full Day (6 hours)

When you book a trip with Boca Grande Fishing Charters, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • Fighting Chair
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live Bait Well
  • Wireless Trolling Motor
  • Ice Box

Trips booked with Boca Grande Fishing Charters include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle
  • Live Bait (All bait and tackle is included in price )
  • Lures
  • Fishing License (All fishing licenses included)
  • Fly Fishing Equipment

Boca Grande Fishing Charters offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore Fishing
  • Nearshore Fishing
  • Flats Fishing
  • Backcountry Fishing

Boca Grande Fishing Charters offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Light Tackle
  • Spinning
  • Fly Fishing

Top targeted fish species with Boca Grande Fishing Charters include:
  • Black Drum
  • Jack Crevalle
  • King Mackerel (Kingfish)
  • Permit
  • Pompano
  • Redfish
  • Snook
  • Spanish Mackerel
  • Spotted Seatrout
  • Tarpon

Your captain

Shane Smetak
Englewood, Florida, United States
5 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
84 Customer reviews
Response time within an hour
Member since April 2016
Angler's Choice
The Angler's Choice Award is given to listings that consistently deliver a high-quality service and earn great reviews from customers.
I am an avid fisherman and very passionate about it, any days that I am not booked I’m fishing! I am very big into conservation. Come experience my passion for fishing and what Florida has to offer!

The fish you can target

Black Drum Black Drum
Jack Crevalle Jack Crevalle
King Mackerel (Kingfish) King Mackerel (Kingfish)
Permit Permit

What is the boat like?

Boat Image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
4 persons
Boat length
23 ft
Year built
1973
Restored in
2023
Boat manufacturer
Mako
Boat type
Bay boat

Engine model
Yamaha SHO
Powered by
1 x 250HP
Max cruising speed
53 knots

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Flats Fishing
Backcountry Fishing

Which fishing techniques will you try?

Light Tackle
Spinning
Fly Fishing

Which amenities are available onboard

Fighting Chair
GPS
Fishfinder
Live Bait Well
Wireless Trolling Motor
Ice Box

What’s included in the trip price

Rods, reels & tackle
Live Bait
All bait and tackle is included in price
Lures
Fishing License
All fishing licenses included
Fly Fishing Equipment

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 3 days prior to trip

You can cancel or modify your booking up to 3 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.

What the listing policies are

Pickup agreed upon reservation
Transfer to/from departure site may be available and included in price depending on your location and distance from the dock.
Child Friendly
Kids of all ages are welcome

How you can pay

Book with 20% deposit, pay rest to captain

When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 20% deposit to guarantee your reservation.

The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:

Cash
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
PayPal
When paying the remaining balance with a credit card, an additional 3.5% charge will apply.

What’s biting in Englewood right now

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