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Updated 5/05/08
Tarpon Not
The Only Fish
In The Sea
by Capt. Matt Mitchell
May and June bring a huge amount of tarpon all through our area.
Since the beginning of April, it's all been about the tarpon for
my clients and me. |
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But there's plenty of other action too.
Redfish fishing has been heating up with lots of fish over the slot size
of 27 inches in the mix. The big, high tides we have been experiencing
are ideal to go out and target these redfish against the mangroves. Work
mangrove shorelines, points and oyster bars. The best action on the reds
has been from the last quarter of the incoming tide through first
quarter of the outgoing tide. Reds have been eating pinfish with the
tail cut off, shrimp and about any stinky cut bait chunk skipped up
under the trees.
Drifting five- to seven-foot deep flats for tarpon last, week we came
across some large seatrout. One bigger trout caught even ate a piece of
cut mullet. These bigger trout love a pinfish fished under a float. If
you're out early, top water plugs will get the attention of these
hard-hitting fish. These same flats are loaded with lots of little
blacktip sharks, bluefish and mackerels. Throwing jigs is a good way to
get in on the action while looking for tarpon.
Catch-and-release snook fishing all summer is some of the best action of
the year but some days give the snook a break and go in search of some
bigger, harder fighting game.
Chasing and catching tarpon right now is about as good as it gets. Any
kind of fishing is good but when it comes down to it there is no other
fish that makes you tremble in anticipation of the bite. Watching a big
tarpon flash and turn with your bait in its mouth then race off, jumping
skyhigh as it goes, will make any angler's heart race and muscles sore.
Talk about addictive!
Tarpon might be the perfect gamefish as they can be caught on a variety
of tackle with so many different methods. The real bonus is they are
non-edible and therefore are always released to fight again.
Large pods of them can be located all over the sound. Start your search
close to the passes and work your way east towards pine island. Deeper
sloughs around Captiva Rocks have been a good place to start your hunt.
Picnic Island to the causeway C span has also been a popular spot; just
look for the pack of boats and you will find the poons.
With the weather finally getting in to the normal summer pattern of calm
mornings and light afternoon sea breezes, conditions are going to be
perfect to spot these tarpon. Look for rollers and free jumpers to give
you the location of the big pods of tarpon. Once located drift through
them with livebaits, plugs or flies. The big DOA bait buster bounced of
the bottom and allowed to fall is one of my favorite artificial for
this.
Click the links below to view copies of my other recent reports.
04/08/2008
- 04/14/2008
- 04/21/2008
- 04/28/2008
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