Alpha and Omega Fishing Charters

Fishing Charters Charlotte Harbor Florida

May 2026 Fishing Report

Hello fellow anglers May 2026 the waters have warmed up and things happening. One of the most anticipated things is the migration of the Silver King Tarpon. This month they will start arriving in large schools/pods . Traveling from South to North and eventually out into the Gulf of America to spawn. While they are traveling along the coast of S.W. Florida they can be targeted several different ways. Artificial fly fishing, this is site fishing for the purist. Many of these anglers build their own flies and use them to fool the fish into eating there creation. This can be accomplished from the beaches all the way into the back waters of the estuaries. Another way to use artificials like soft plastics to artificial lures, site casting or trolling the bridge shadow line at night. These pods of Tarpon are in search of food ,crabs ,shrimp and small fish. Their mouth is mostly bone and very hard. So this is a bit of a challenge to hook and keep them hooked up. Ehen you do have one hooked up when the line starts to rise to the surface and they jump the rule is bow to the king while they are in the air. This is when you pray that your buddy is getting video! And you can target them with the live baits too. Several types of crabs about the size of a sliver dollar. Or you could go into the Gulf and catch some squirrel fish and pinfish to use. There are lots of professionals that fish in the passes and it is very aggressive in there so if you feel you are ready for that be prepared. Finding a pod on the beach or up into the estuaries is less aggressive and slower pace. And lots of anglers don’t realize that Tarpon are the target species of Sharks large ones too. If you are fighting a Tarpon the longer you fight that fish  the odds of it getting eaten by a shark become greater. Also Tarpon require a tag to harvest, and I don’t know anyone that has eaten a Tarpon. So lets talk about some species that can be harvested to eat. Snook. Red Drum, and Sea Trout. All of these species will eat the white bait if you are a cast net caster and can get them so you can use them for bait. All of these guys will be along the mangroves and mouths of creeks where there is moving water and ambush points. Snook like points and docks, reds like the shade of the mangroves and the mouths of creeks,  and trout like the edges of the grass beds and sand hole edges. So if you would like to come along with me Capt. Bart Marx give me a call 941-979-6517 or e-mail me captbart@alphaomegacharters.com Or if you are new to our area and you have your own boat and fishing gear I do Training session on you boat. Give me a call so we can get you in the calendar. And always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile.<(((((>{