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It's tarpon time along the Suncoast

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BY NICK STUBBS

MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE

Published: June 2, 2009

Updated:

Tarpon hunters should be happy to know that the action is in full swing. The bite has not yet developed north of Clearwater, but finding a fish or two in those waters is still a possibility, and prospects should be improving over the next couple of weeks.

Warm gulf water temperatures have been the key, as fish school and move along the coast feeding. Area hot spots this time of year are Honeymoon Island and the beach along Caladesi Island, both off Dunedin, the deep flats off Howard Park, in Tarpon Springs, and the northern and southern ends of Anclote Key. A few fish have been spotted rolling or been hooked, though the better action has been farther south, starting around Indian Rocks. Dubai Long Pier, formerly known as Redington Long Pier, has been a good spot for landlubbers, and a half-dozen fish a day or more are being hooked now. A 150-pounder leads the pier tournament. As we get into June and July, more tarpon fishing opportunities to the north will develop, but for now the best bet is the first 500 yards from the beach from Clearwater south to St. Petersburg. There also are fish inside Tampa Bay, with the area between Egmont Key and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge tops.

Pasco County anglers will find it hard to find or catch tarpon in local waters. Fish do school and move throughout he area, but historically fish are moving quickly through the shallow Pasco waters, not feeding as well as in deeper waters to the south.

For those who want to scout fish, the best time to spot them is early in the morning around sunrise. A pair of binoculars trained on the flats off Anclote Key, Howard Park Beach, or Honeymoon or Caladesi is all it takes. Calm water is a plus.

Finding fish is one thing, while finding feeding fish is another. The top tactic for catching the local tarpon is a live pinfish, crab or large, lively sardine left waiting ahead of a moving school. Quiet boating is a must, with trolling motors and push poles the rule. Baits typically are rigged under floats, a balloon rig with a rubber band a popular break-away setup. If the school passes without taking the bait, the boat is moved ahead of the fish again, setting up a hundred yards or more along their path for a second shot.

Fish 50 to 150 pounds are typical of what is found, with any fish of 80 pounds or better a good catch.

Tackle shop roundup

Salonika's Bait and Tackle, 727-849-6377: Anglers fishing the south channel at Gulf Harbors and south to Bailey's Bluff have been taking good numbers of trout. Fish have been running 16 to 18 inches, with a few better than 20 inches reported. Live shrimp and Cajun Thunder lures have been good baits. Anglers fishing between Green Key and the Cotee River have been connecting with some big cobia. Fish to 40 inches were reported, and live pinfish under floats and free-lined has been the best bait.

Dunedin Bait and Tackle, 727-736-3474: Ralph from the shop, fishing off the seawall across the street from the shop, landed a 27-inch red fishing a spoon. It was on the afternoon incoming tide. Good numbers of whiting have been taken at Pet Beach on the southwest corner of Honeymoon Island State park. Fish have been running 10 to 13 inches and taking yellow and white Doc's Goofy Jigs tipped with small bits of shrimp. The beach also has been a snook hotspot of late. Pat from the shop has been throwing jigs in the surf, taking snook in good numbers. Most has been between 25 and 40 inches, taking live shrimp, pinfish, sardines and various artificials. It has been catch-and-release, as they are out of season. The redfish bite has been good near the Dunedin Marina. Fish have been taking free-lined shrimp well, running 24 to 27 inches. The bite has been best early and late in the day.

Pier 60, 727-462-6466: Mackerel 18 to 23 inches have been taken at the pier in fair numbers. Fish have been taking live shrimp and sardines under floats, along with Gotcha Plugs and Clark's silver spoons. An angler fishing Doc's Goofy Jigs tipped with frozen shrimp landed a half-dozen pompano 14 to 15 inches. The bite was on for a bit more than an hour before shutting down. An angler reported taking several sheepshead 12 to 14 inches fishing around pilings with frozen shrimp and fiddler crabs. He got the bite going by scraping barnacles off pilings. Some cobia have been hooked, though the larger fish have been lost in the fight. Small sharks have moved in, and the night snapper fight has been picking up.

Dubai Long Pier, 727-391-9398: Good numbers of mackerel are being landed, with most running between 15 and 20 inches. The fish are in and out throughout the day, taking live sardines, shrimp, spoons and Gotcha Plugs. A few pompano have been landed, with a lot of undersized fish down to 8 inches reported. There have been a few to about 13 inches. Doc's Goofy Jigs in yellow and white with pink teasers and shrimp tippers have been working best. A few flounder 15 to 18 inches have been landed on shrimp fished along the sandy bottom. Trout have been 15 to 20 inches, with a few to 22 inches reported. Live shrimp and sardines, either free-lined or under floats, have been working. A few reds have been caught, with fish 18 to 24 inches, along with some oversized. Live shrimp, sardines and cut mullet fished on the bottom have been good baits. Tarpon anglers fishing live bait and outriggers off the end of the pier have been hooking five fish a day or more. A 150-pound fish is leading the tournament running at the pier.

Nick Stubbs is founder and webmaster of Bitetracker.com, a fishing Web site specializing in daily fishing reports displayed on animated fish tracking charts.

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