Fishing in Charlotte Harbor, Florida

Captain Bill Lotito picked me up at Ponce De Leon Park and we went after the elusive silver king. Long story short - a nice 100-pound tarpon inhaled my live ladyfish offering and took off like a runaway train before jumping completely out of the water and shaking loose the circle hook, leaving me holding the Ugly Stik Tiger rod that previously was doubled over. But that's fishing..... His 20-foot Florida Skiff and 150 Yamaha V-Max engine provides a great platform for harbor fishing. Captain Bill said, "I specialize in light tackle live bait fishing and I like redfish the best becasue they never stop fighting." Lolito has been guiding in Charlotte Harbor for 18 years and is a retired NYC police officer. www.fishpuntagorda.com

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Photos By Jeff Dennis: an artist's rendition of a snook jumping has a classic Florida feel, a Charlotte Harbor speckled trout for Lowcountryoutdoors, a stout rod baited with a live ladyfish waits for a tarpon to bite, Charlotte County is known for its tarpon fishing