In town for a visit so we got to check out the new location finally…read more The shop is located in a strip mall and looks small when you walk in but as you lead yourself into the different rooms, you realize just how large it is. They have a good amount of inventory with anything that you would need for fishing. Rods, reels, lures, live bait, clothing accessories and so much more. The Pirate crew was busy assisting customers so we got to watch them in action including Robert with a long time customer buying a new reel and stringing it. This shop and its crew have been a long time staple of Port Charlotte so if you haven't had a chance to meet them, stop in the shop and give it a go you won't be disappointed. Support them by shopping local!

This is a wonderful store! The staff is delightful! We loved all the choices and price ranges fit…read moreanyone! They absolutely do not try to upsell you! Which we appreciate! We got exactly what we needed and a few extra things!

Do NOT come to the playground here with children…read more Aside from the non fenced shoreline with alligator warning signs on them (doubt that is a huge issue, but dont risk it) the building right next to it is filled with homeless guys generally up to no good. It is NOT SAFE. I went with my child on a walk from sun seeker and tried to pay them no mind, but one man on a bike rolled up and started snapping photos of my daughter. When we grabbed her to hide her from the camera he got verbally aggressive demanding we pose for him and "smile pretty"and kept pressing us as we covered her and kept saying no. It was creepy and so upsetting. And yes, it was 100% a guy being creepy about a child, not a misunderstanding. Im from LA and my skin is not thin, im used to homeless literally everywhere and kicking myself for letting my guard down because this the town I grew up in and it is generally safe, this area in particular has always been sketchy though so maybe its my bad for thinking things had changed from 35 years ago. We called the police afterwards and he was thankfully (apparently!) thrown in jail because he had a list of other things combined with our issue, but those are the sorts of guys hanging out there. He was buddies with all the men at that building and they outnumber you.

Cute little park right on the water in Port Charlotte. Looks like the park folks have invested in…read morethe pier and nice walkway. They also have a sort of canoe launch. I most enjoyed the views from shore of the water fowl and the long walk out on pier.

Ponce de Leon is a nice park to visit overlooking the Charlotte Harbor. There is a sandy beach area…read morethat you can watch the sunset. There are wild animals; I saw a raccoon just hanging out and not fazed by how many people were there. There is a boat ramp, fishing pier, and picnic area. Plenty of parking too!

Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda has that easygoing, waterfront charm that makes you want to…read morelinger, even if you miss the big show at sunset. I arrived too early for the evening colors, which is a bummer, but the park still delivers plenty to enjoy. There are picnic tables, shaded spots, and enough open space for families to spread out and make a day of it. The fishing crowd was out in full force, and the boat launch gives you direct access to Charlotte Harbor, which adds a nice sense of motion and purpose to the shoreline. The only real disappointment is the boardwalk. It is completely closed and visibly buckled, likely from hurricane damage, and it leaves a quiet gap where a scenic stroll should be. Even so, the park holds its own as a relaxed, functional waterfront stop with a lot of local life happening around it. [Review 1591 of 2025 - 2171 in Florida - 25141 overall]

Laishley park is 17 acres located on Charlotte Harbor. The park contains a 400 foot fishing pier,…read more94 slip marina, fishing pier, interactive splash fountain, playground, concert area & event lawn, gazebo, Veterans Memorial Garden, and walking paths. The Laishley Crab House Centre offering a restaurant and shopping is also located in the park. The city uses this park to stage their Fourth of July festivities. Located at the entrance to Laishley Park is a Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The wall is replica of the wall in Washington D.C. In 2013 a traveling wall in Texas was put up for sale for $500,000. Retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard Carr received an email that the wall was available for purchase and got Charlotte County onboard with installing it. Upon further consideration it was determined that the salt air of Punta Gorda would not work with this wall so the non profit Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida Inc., was created to build the project. $650,000 was raised and the City of Punta Gorda donated the land in the park. Ground was broken on January 4, 2016 and the wall was dedicated 10 months later. On the black granite wall is the names of 58,000 men and women who gave their lives or remain missing. Names are arranged in chronological order, starting with 1959 when the first American died in Vietnam. QR codes are located on each pedestal that allow visitors to type in names to see where they are located on the wall. The memorial was created to honor the "courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country" of all who answered the call to serve during the Vietnam War, the longest war in U.S. history. The wall allows Florida veterans who may not be able to make it to Washington D.C. a place to reflect and remember.

A nice, clean open space good for a variety of outdoor activities from biking and jogging to…read moretossing the football, soccer and picnics. I enjoy sitting in one of the many benches overlooking the water. I can sit for hours enjoying the view and people watching. My grandkids enjoy the splash pad and have attended birthday parties at the park.

Gilchrist Park has a way of feeling alive even on a cool winter morning. I arrived around 9am on a…read moreSunday expecting a quiet start, but the place was already humming with tennis players, dog walkers, and people easing into the day along the Harborwalk. The breeze off the water made everything feel crisp and unhurried. The public restrooms were open, clean, and very welcome after my morning coffee, which is not something you can take for granted in a waterfront park. Parking is probably tight when there is an event, but on this visit it was easy enough to slip into a spot and enjoy the shoreline without any stress. The view of the bridges was especially lovely, stretching across the wide river with a kind of quiet confidence. From here you really appreciate how much engineering went into building and maintaining them, and how gracefully they connect the two sides of the harbor. The seagulls added their own bit of drama. They were unusually active, circling and calling, and once they noticed I was eating a sandwich they fell into formation behind me like a feathery escort. It was a little unnerving to feel so closely monitored, as if I had wandered into a Hitchcock audition. [Review 1589 of 2025 - 2170 in Florida - 25139 overall]

This 11 acre park is named for Governor Albert Gilchrist, a real estate broker, surveyor, and…read morepolitical leader and one of the founding fathers of the City. Gilchrist grew up in Georgia and came to Punta Gorda as surveyor. Governor Gilchrist first served on the City Council, then in the State Legislature before becoming the 20th Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913. Upon his death, Governor Gilchrist established a $5,000 endowment to the City for the provision of ice cream to all the children of Punta Gorda on Halloween. This tradition still continues today with the help of community sponsors. The park is located at 400 W. Retta Esplanade in historic Punta Gorda, Gilchrist Park runs along the waterfront between the downtown and Fishermen's Village. In the the park you get a view of Charlotte Harbor. Park amenities include a large pirate themed playground, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, fishing pier (closed), gazebo, picnic pavilions, and open green space. In the center of the park along the water there is a large statue of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon memorializing when he came ashore as the first European in this area in the 16th century. The statue was donated by the Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors,an organization "dedicated to the preservation of the Spanish heritage of Charlotte County and Florida." The statue was dedicated on March 27, 2005. Weddings, craft shows and concerts are some of the events held in the park. Also located within the park is the Bayfront Center operated by the YMCA of Charlotte County. This facility hosts YMCA programs including a sailing center. The YMCA rents this waterfront facility.

We celebrated our 61st anniversary on the sunset cruise! Our Captain Glenn, Vince and Penny were…read morevery friendly, announced our anniversary and they gave us a nice card. We saw so many dolphins and really enjoyed seeing the excitement of the children on board. The cruise was relaxing with the Jimmy Buffet theme and the sunset was beautiful. Jim and Carolyn McConnell

There were four of us and what a fantastic time we had!!! It was GREAT we are planning on another…read morelocal cruise.

Thanks for being so convenient. Thanks for having everything. I start started fishing, the staff…read morewas very informative and caring. The prices are fair, the assortment is vast. Love this place.

Non friendly and uneducated staffing. Poor choice or selection from others that are local to the…read morearea.

We decided to use our last day of vacation out in the water with the clear kayaks and we are sure…read moreglad we did! We had a blast! The experience alone of them being clear was incredible. Aaron had some free time so he went along with my girlfriend and I as well as another couple. He took us out onto the sand bar that you see as you are driving out to Boca Grande. We walked around there while he made sure our kayaks didn't float away. Then we followed him up and around the cove. We got to see 1 dolphin swimming very close by but didn't see any sea creatures swim under us. Aaron made the adventure great. He knew the area well and was super friendly and let us go off on our own and explore and relax. He was super laid back and we couldn't say enough about how much we enjoyed our little trip. Can't wait to do it again someday and bring others to share the experience with! Note: Aaron doesn't typically go out into the water with customers, he just happened to be able to that day. So if you want to go out by yourself, you definitely can.

We had a great time kayaking in the area for the first time. Andrew was amazing and we can't wait…read moreto visit again!! The water was so clear, we saw a starfish and dolphin.

Love this place Everything for your boat and full of…read moresurprises. Low prices always a sale Big selection of Hawaiian shirts. Books art life jackets line anchors, fishing gear Just go and brows

This was my go to place while the former owner Diane was there. The store was well organized, the…read moreprices reasonable, and she had a great personality Under new ownership the store is overpacked with goods, the prices have gone way up, I know about covid and inflation, but many of the prices are not far off the new merchandise mark. Owners are professional but without the bubbly personality of the former owner.

George has master knowledge of the area, fishery and technical expertise to advise you with any…read morequestions you might have. Always the best live bait; shrimp, crab variety, pinfish, etc. Great business to support if you're in the area with kind and patient staff.

A fair selection for its size, and good products at a good value…read more Best of all, they're courteous and helpful! I had a negative experience at Fishin' Frank's multiple times, and I'm done with that place. This shop doesn't gatekeep, and tries to help everyone get what they need, and just supports fishing. I'm definitely making this my go-to fishing shop.