2022 Members and Visitors Guide for the Punta Gorda Area
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2022 Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce Members & Visitors Guide Page 47 Gag grouper, which are gray with darker blotches, grow up inshore and then move out to deeper water. Red grouper are rarer catches inshore. The largest grouper in the Atlantic, the Goliath grouper (formerly called the jewfish) is common here because of our healthy mangroves, though it was protected under the Endangered Species Act until 2006. It can be identified by its paddle-shaped round tail and must be released immediately. Snapper: Although there are several species on the reefs, the most common is the mangrove snapper. Mangoes, as they're called, can be found inshore as well, and frequently are caught around piers and docks, though most inshore fish are small juveniles. To catch the bigger ones, use small live fish instead of shrimp. Unhook with care; they're not called snapper for no reason. Although everyone knows about red snapper, they're a rare catch in local waters because they prefer depths of 150 feet or more. It's a long run out to find 150 feet off our coast. Tarpon: The ultimate Southwest Florida gamefish, tarpon are huge and powerful animals that can leap 15 feet out of the water. Each spring Boca Grande Pass, the main channel between Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico, plays host to the largest spawning aggregation of these fish in the Atlantic basin. Sharks: Although there are large numbers of sharks here, most are small and harmless. In shallow water, you're likely to see bonnet- head sharks, which look like miniature hammerheads, cruising around. Blacktip sharks are common here and frequently are caught on whole or cut fish. When the spawning tarpon arrive, they are followed closely by large bull and hammerhead sharks. Obviously, sharks have very sharp and dangerous teeth, so the best way to deal with a hooked shark is to cut the leader as close to the hook as you safely can get. Email: jolive@sun-herald. com Photo provided Jerry Grutteria caught this 4-foot bull shark in Charlotte Harbor while vacationing with relatives in Punta Gorda. There's never a good time for an accident to happen. But when it does, you can count on me to be there quickly so you can get your life back to normal. GET TO A BETTER STATE ™ . CALL ME TODAY. When "That will never happen to me" happens. I'm ready to help. 1101204.1 State Farm, Home Office, Bloomington, IL Mike Martin, Agent 425 Cross St (Tamiami Trail), Ste 114 Punta Gorda, FL 33950 Bus: 941-505-2550 Toll Free: 866-540-2550 www.mikemartininsurance.com adno=3738588-1