Offering full and half day Venice FL fishing charters and Englewood FL fishing charters with Capt Van Hubbard. Venice FL and Englewood FL have superb year-round light tackle inshore fishing for Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish.

Reserve your fishing charters with one of the most respected local fishing guides, Capt Van Hubbard, 941-740-4665.

Are you looking for a fishing charter with lots of excitement, screaming reels, giant jumping fish? Call Capt. Van Hubbard and Let’s Go Fishin’. Capt. Van Hubbard is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable inshore fishing guides on Florida’s Gulf Coast. He has been a professional, USCG licensed year round guide since 1976, and has been fishing Venice FL and Englewood FL, including Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande since 1981.

Capt. Van is an International Game Fish Association (IGFA) certified captain offering Venice FL fishing charters for Tarpon, Snook, Redfish and other seasonal species. Capt Van’s extensive local knowledge makes him a great choice for other “non-fishing” eco-boat tours offered, like: shelling, bird watching, photography, remote island trips and lunch or dinner cruises.

Captain Van offer fishing charters for angler of all skill levels, and has fishing trips designed specifically for kids.. CLICK HERE for more information on kids fishing in Venice and Sarasota Florida.

Here is what Frank Sargeant – outdoor editor Tampa Tribune, editor Florida Sportsman magazine, and award winning outdoor writer – had to say about Capt. Van:

Captain Van Hubbard is one of the best-known and most successful fishing charter guides in Florida. I’ve had the pleasure of fishing with Van both inshore and off, and he has never failed to put me in the fish. And, he may hold the unofficial record for most Snook caught and released in a day—his grand total of 158 marks him as one of the best in the business.

I’m also impressed by the fact that Van pays his dues as a conservationist — he has been a leading voice for habitat preservation and fish conservation for more than a decade.

I’m proud to number him among my friends and fishing partners.

Frank Sargeant

Venice fishing charters report and forecast for 6-11-2013

While the weather did mess us up last week the tarpon and snook fishing is back to normal today.

          It has been crazy this year with good times and then foul weather bouncing us around frequently. The fish have been cooperating when we can get to them. It seems like we can expect some seasonal hot weather with fair mornings and evening thunderstorms most of the time now. I am very excited at how well business has been. It is slowing down some now with time opening up the last week of this month and plenty of space in July. I am actually looking forward to slowing down some because I have plenty to catch up on.

          Tarpon are and will be around except in the strong west windy periods. We rode all over Saturday and Monday without much success. some fish were comming ashore by Boca Grande on Monday finally. The fish showed back up Monday even toward Venice but would not act right maybe because it was still windy. At least we saw some fish and got baits into them frequently.  I heard they bit better this AM; but slowed again in the afternoon. We have a very strong thunderstorm right now so they get to rest a little. We enjoyed good catching before the weather sent the schools off shore and out of reach. It should be hot again next week on the Full Moon the 23^rd. I do have several days open starting the 24^th. Our beach fishing has not even gotten up to speed yet because of the crazy weather. I do expect good action into July. The out of town crazies will be heading home soon and I plan on enjoying a lot more tarpon fishing.

          Today for example I had two young ladies from Ohio that wanted to catch some fish. Scott their dad wanted his daughters to catch some fish and see our local waters highlights. We found dolphins immediately but the girls were still not alert yet. We got on a snook bite and managed to grab the girl’s attention, the hot bite woke em right up. They had a blast and dad got so excited he had to join in a catch a few too. We moved when the bite slowed down and tried a second spot. It was even better and larger snook. They had a memorable experience and took ton’s of photos which they promised to share soon. It was so much fun for me to see these girls enjoy our wonderful area. They will be talking about it for the rest of their lives. We saw many more dolphins, all kinds of birds but no manatees today. I did have one swim by while catching bait this morning but could not find it with them.

          Trout and redfish with a few flounder are available for dinner. They have required us to look around for them since the fresh water infusion last week with that big tropical depression. Baitfish are still abundant and we have fish if you have a little patience while we look around for em.

          Permit and much more are on the near shore reefs if the winds allow us access?

          Everything is looking great if you can find the time to visit and try our fishing. Let’s go fishin’ soon. Captain Van Hubbard <www.captvan.com>

2013-5-27 web report.

Tarpon are scattered from Venice to Boca Grande plus lots of snook.

          Life, fishing, and business are all doing well. Catching is good most days too. It has been an awesome run going strong since March and I am getting caught up after our slow time last winter. My Evinrude E-Tec 200 HO is helping us cover much more territory, efficiently, and much faster. This is the perfect power package for my 23 Dorado. We cruise at almost 30 MPH burning about 3 GPH. The cost is reasonable and our catching is improved with our versatility.

          My trips are mostly for tarpon and snook right now. We have other options but it’s hard to leave good catching to look for fish. While I occasionally fish the Boca Grande Pass traditionally for special events like the Chamber Ladies Day and World’s Richest tournaments most charters are along our beautiful Gulf Beaches. It has been much quieter with a few boats strung along miles of coastline rather than the crowds and intensity of the Pass.  

          Tarpon trips start out at daybreak from Stump Pass and we cruise up or down the local coastline toward Boca or Venice depending on conditions. I stock the baitwell with a dozen small blue crabs and cast them with the new Quantum 60s and 80s spooled up with 40 or 65 pound Cortland Master Braid premiums lines.  We are set up to spot and then sight cast to schools of happy silver kings as they wake up circling about in what we call a daisy chain.  The trick is simply to quietly, ease up and present your lively crab out in front of the happy fish. Be alert and when your cork disappears; reel rapidly until you feel serious resistance then pull back sharply and hang on! Please try to maintain some composure so you can react to the unbelievable acrobatics; when silver kings touch the sky, dip your rod tip quickly and pull back again as your trophy hits the waters. Your impulses want to reel in this huge fish but even these strong reels are intended to take up line as the poles pulls your fish closer. Pull back, reel down as you lower tip, and repeat until it’s boats side.

          It’s a blessing to me to help you enjoy this awesome experience, especially for your first time. I won’t be here forever but your memories will be with you forever. Your memories are my blessings.

          Snook are abundant and usually bite during our trips. Current flow and live minnows are critical to our productivity. Many fish are around forty inches. These scream twenty pound line from our new 40 Cabos. Several even jump and we had a huge double header last Monday.

Trout and redfish are available if your fish hungry. There are a variety of species out on the near shore reefs if you want to chase them. Sharks are here if you want other big fish!

          It’s great that things are going well for us. Looking forward to fishing together soon. Let’s Go fishin’. Captain Van Hubbard <www.captvan.com>

  2013 May 15^th fishing report.

First I apologize because I have not posted in way too long.

          Venice to Boca Grande fishing is awesome and business has been great and I am tired when I get home. I do have some opening coming up soon and we are enjoying prime time tarpon action. We have big, to very big silver kings and usually encounter hundreds of fish per day. Several usually bite if we put our baits in front of em. If you want tarpon come on down now!

          We are not the only folks to know Boca Grande is full of fish so we do want to start out very early and get underway by 6AM. It is early but we can find happy fish before other stir em up. We usually hook up by 6:30 or 7 AM. It’s fun to tackle big fish before the sun gets high and warms us up. The Dorado does have a nice shady T Top to protect us from the bright Summer sun. the Evinrude E-Tec is quiet and powerful, she gets us too and from fishing grounds efficiently.

          We fished the Boca Grande Lady’s Day Tarpon event last Saturday and my quiet Evinrude helped us take second place with forty two boats participating. We caught a big tarpon and released it for Kathy and it was her first. She was ecstatic. The awards banquet was fun and our Chamber did a great job. My crew was the best! Photos are on my facebook page Captain-Van Hubbard, please check em out.

          Snook and trout have been biting well and we have caught a few nice redfish too. Minnows have been work to catch because of the floating algae but it is great bait. Since tarpon is in full swing the boats are not bad usually in the Back Country of Charlotte Harbor. Weekends can get crowded but we are still catching quality fish. If you want big trophy snook it is good and stays hot for the next few months.  Fish for dinner is fine too.

          Sharks are abundant if you like toothy critters! We have all kinds of opportunities if you want variety just ask and we can probably do it. Permit are on the near shore reefs and barracuda abundant now too.

          Please let me know if I can help, just check out the web pages and I’m doing a weekly report in the WaterLine also, a Sun family newspaper serving Southwest Florida coasts. I want to update more current info on the web site and need new photos of my Evinrude but it’s hard to get good shots from on board. Maybe the Boca Beacon will let me use the awesome shot they posted. I’ll ask ASAP! Thank you all for your support and I am so happy to be able to enjoy great fishing and your company too. Captain Van Hubbard <www.captvan.com>

Captain Van’s fishing forecast for 4-21-13

 We are enjoying great, fun fishing around Boca Grande to Venice.

          The Gulf has been rocking and rolling much more than usual recently; I do hope it settles soon so we can play more outside. I’m ready for king mackerel, sharks, and tarpon. Meanwhile we are catching fish inside the protected waters of Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay. Snook, trout, redfish and jacks are bending rods and keeping customers smiling!

          Redfish are even showing up and adding some color to many recent trips. I wish they were more predictable but it’s still nice when they show up. It should get even better on this moon.

          Trout are red hot and plenty of big ones. Most fish are slot and many too big. We released several fish over twenty-five inches last week. It’s fine to keep a mess of fresh fish to eat; just release most of the big ones as they are full of roe.

          We had some awesome jacks that really tested our metal and gear. Some jacks are almost twenty pounds; very strong fish. The new Cabo 40s and Cortland Master Braid lines are helping subdue the big ones. We even have had to pull anchor and follow several big fish in the last two weeks. It has been windy but still productive.

          Baitfish are not easy and can be challenging especially on the windy days. We have minnows around it’s just this crazy weather keeps everything jumping around and we have not consistency. Every day is a new experience and adventure, but that’s part of the beauty of fishing it changes daily.

          Tarpon and snook are down around Boca Grande and south. The Gulf is active just too rough much of the time. It seems that as soon as it settles and clears another front stirs it back up! We already enjoy great fishing but it will actually improve as winds allow us outside more to get at the other fish. Venice Beach is due to light up with mackerel and kings whenever it calms down.    

          I’m sorry I don’t have more time to play here but the fish are biting, my Evinrude/Dorado is waiting and I’ve got to get ready. Thank you for you support.  Save the Tarpon is working; follow both of us on our Facebook pages. We have more protection for tarpon to be formalized in June, plus complete catch and release for bonefish. Most important, the June meeting of Florida Fish and Wildlife is going to be the big one about that weighted snatch hook. From the questions and statements by commissioners last Wednesday it looks like they finally understand the Boca Grande tarpon issue is about an unethical snag hook not live bait vs artificials! I went and spoke with several prominent members of our community; it was great to be a part of such and important event! Please visit our Facebook pages. Randy Wayne White, let if fly in Tampa Tribune article on 4-14, “Fishing’s dirty little secret”. The world knows the truth about this mess; it will help reestablish and rebuild Boca Grande’s world famous tarpon fishery! Gone fishin’, Captain Van Hubbard. <www.captvan.com>

Boca Grande fishing has been great and Venice is due to turn on now!

          Last week our Boca Grande snook fishing finally turned on big time. Englewood trout and redfish are biting too. We found hungry fish all over Charlotte Harbor and Gasparilla Sound. Our waters have warmed up and the fish are hungry. Minnows can be a challenge but they should get easier. We do have minnows around it’s just the trash algaes are adding extra weight to our nets.

          I am enjoying my expanded range thanks to my Evinrude E-Tec’s efficiency to re-discover many of my old stomping grounds around Charlotte Harbor. My new Quantum reels and Cortland braided lines have been shipped; I’m looking forward to spooling em up and kicking it up a few notches! The new improvements in both should give us even longer casts and more control of big fish!

          Fish have been holding in the usual Spring habitats; deeper edges and structures. Long fluorocarbon leaders help in our clear waters! Be patient and use fresh baits. Ease in and out of areas for best results; many of us are fishing the same spots! Area waters are warming up fast!

          I’m hearing about some pompano but we didn’t get to try any recently; everything else is too good to leave. Spanish and kings are due around Venice but they are already some around Boca Grande. Some must have gone by in recent windy times? I heard they caught a few sailfish off of St Pete last week also, so we’ll be ready when we go today.

          Tarpon are in range if you’re ready for the ride! Expect to work for them but the first ones get the best catching! Boca Grande does have some tarpon in the Pass. After all, fishing is a gamble and we have to take chances to get the shots at good fishing! Sharks are already showing up. Permit are due. Barracuda are sunning on the reefs. It’s time to enjoy the hot action before the crowds descend and make it harder. I do have several openings in the next few weeks so don’t miss out; get a reservation now this is as good as it gets. We enjoyed every cast bites on trips several times recently!

          Thank you for your support. Let’s go fishin’ soon. Captain Van Hubbard. www.captvan.com also check out Captain Van Hubbard on Facebook!