| |
|
|
Updated 4/08/08
Tarpon like this are starting to show up all over Pine Island
Sound
by Capt. Matt Mitchell
April 3 was the date, my first tarpon of the season. Last year I
jumped my first tarpon on the 18th of April. Warm water
conditions seem to have them in the Sound a little early this
year. They are not in the huge numbers that they will be soon
but they are |
 |
definitely starting to show up all over the sound, around the
passes and off the beaches.
Every calm morning when conditions have
allowed me to sightfish for tarpon, I see more fish than the time
before. They are a little harder to locate right now because of their
small numbers. The five- to seven-foot deep water from Chino all the way
north to Hemp Key is holding small pods of early season tarpon. Tarpon
are without a doubt the most incredible game fish that visits our area.
Fishing early morning out from Demiere Key. I spotted a few free-jumping
tarpon in close. Shutting down the motor and approaching slowly on the
trolling motor I began to see rolling poons. Not a lot of fish but a
dozen or less full-size models happy and low rolling. Grabbing a rod I
hooked a pinfish on the float rig, watching as the boat got closer to
the fish, just about in casting distance.
One of the tarpon came up rolled and gulped air about 30 feet out in
front of the boat. Quickly I fired off a cast about five feet in front
of where I estimated the fish was moving to. The bait sat there
nervously pulling the bobber under a few times. It sat there for the
longest 30 seconds of my life before it was inhaled.
On the take, the tarpon jumped straight up 6 feet in the air, giving me
a chance to get a quick hook set before it turned 180 degrees and came
straight back towards the boat. Reeling as fast as possible I stayed
almost tight on the angry head-shaking 100-pounder as it almost ran into
the boat. Turning away from my skiff It made a 150-yard plus run.
Chasing on the trolling motor I got most of the line back on the reel.
The tarpon made a few more shorter runs and jumped two more times before
coming boatside. Pulling hard on the fish I got the leader knot inside
the end guide, grabbed the spool and broke the fish off as close to the
hook as possible.
I had fished around a few free jumpers the day before in the same area
but had not been close enough to have a chance to pitch a bait to a
rolling fish. That is without a doubt my favorite way to catch a tarpon:
sighting, stalking and pitching a bait to a rolling fish.
It's going to be a great tarpon season. What a way to start off. I'm
still all smiles.
Click the links below to view copies of my other recent reports.
03/10/2008
- 03/17/2008
- 03/24/2008
- 03/31/2008
|
|
|
 |
