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New member, long-time lurker. I'm an avid freshwater multi-species angler but I rarely get near saltwater, as I live in Minnesota and can't afford to travel a lot (public servant, wife, mortgage, 1 kid in college, 1 will be soon-you get the idea). I will be down for a week in early-mid April and would like to go out with a guide one day to do some inshore fishing, and would also like to do some shore or pier fishing as well. I will be staying in the Placida area. I have fished from the El Jobean pier a few times, but never this time of year.
Any suggestions for a guide in the Charlotte Harbor area or other pier or shore fishing opportunities would be appreciated. What's biting this time of year? Any tips? Thanks in advance.
I may not be much help to you but I recently bought a house across the river from El Jobean. I did some fishing down by the bridge last month and got mangrove snapper, sheephead and spec trout using shrimp. Ive also fished out by the phosfate docks (Boca Grande) and got lesser amberjack. Hope that helps
Mike
Myakka, thanks for the tips. Were you bobber fishing or bottom fishing around the bridge? Also, is fishing generally better with an incoming or outgoing tide?
I'm wondering if you happen to live on one of the canals in what I believe is called South Gulf Cove. If so, I have a few questions about the area. My mom owns a lot there which I may have the opportunity to own at some point in the future.
Yup, I'm in (east)Gulf Cove(The ones you can see from the bridge). South Gulf Cove is south of the 776 bridge and down a long channel. We were tossing live shrimp at the pillings on an outgoing tide. No bobber! and a steel leader(Everything down there has teeth).
Is you families property in Gulf Cove or South Gulf Cove?
My mom's lot is in South Gulf Cove. That area remained mostly undeveloped for many years, but a lot of people are building there now and prices are going up. I've never ventured in there by boat, so I don't know how long it takes, how deep the canals are, etc. One of these days I'll have to rent a boat when I'm down there and check it out. Like you said, there is a long canal. I think you also have to go through a lock to get to the river. My mom's lot is on the end of a side canal, and seems to be pretty silted in. Do you happen to know anything about how difficult it might be to get a permit to dredge a canal like that, or how expensive it might be?
South Gulf Cove has some deep water but the trip out is long. The lock is nothing more than a screen door for Alligators. If you have had the property for a while your Mom has done well. We plan on getting a few more lots once we move down for good.
SW Florida Guide &/or Shore Fishing Areas 
