On The Water: Good tides bring great fishing opportunities
Anglers reported a pretty slow bite much of the week as summer inches closer. Slow moving tides will give way to strong full moon tides over the upcoming week that should give anglers plenty of great fishing opportunities.
Keeper size trout, with most averaging from 15 to 18 inches plus a few larger, were caught over the edges around sand holes surrounded by turtle grass near the Gulf passes. With the slow tides much of the week the best bite close to the passes in depths averaging four to seven feet. Water clarity was also important — stay clear of the muddy water, look for water where you can tell the difference between the sand and grass bottom. A good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must if you want to cut the glare and see what’s under the surface.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish were also on the same areas as trout. Mackerel fishing has been good in Charlotte Harbor, surprisingly even on the days with hardly any tide movement, the macks were still busting up everything. The best bite was mid morning until noon or so. Look for them cruising deeper grass bottom from five to 10 foot depths. Lots of little sharks from a foot and a half to three feet are with the macks. These little sharks are great for kids to catch, but remember although small they still have razor sharp teeth.
Tarpon are scattered about Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound in loose schools. It’s possible to sight them rolling and tail slapping if the water is fairly calm. The first couple hours of light in the morning are the best time. There are plenty of schools of large Atlantic thread herring around to either cast net or Sabiki for bait — the livelier they are, the better.
All our tarpon hooked over the week was on a live thread herring hooked through the nose on a 7/0 Owner circle hook with 80 pound fluorocarbon leader while allowing the bait to swim naturally behind the boat while drifting with the wind and/or tide. Don’t be afraid to stick the rod in the rod holder. A well set drag with a circle hook generally will hook a tarpon from the rod holder as good or better than hand holding the rig.
Tarpon are also moving up and down the beach from Sanibel to Gasparilla Island, small crabs under a float and live threadfins have worked best. The best method for beach fishing is to look for rolling fish and determine their swim pattern. School after school will follow the same path, most anglers anchor up within casting distance of the travel path and present baits as the schools of fish pass by. Tarpon fishing is also in full swing in Boca Grande Pass, this week should bring great opportunities for jigging the holes in the Pass and pitching Pass crabs on the hill tides.
It’s important to use some common sense and be respectful when fishing for tarpon, or any type of fishing for that manner. If there are tarpon around chances are there will be several boats fishing, keep a good distance away from other boats and don’t interfere with a boat or boats working a school of fish. Patience is the key to successful tarpon fishing, let the fish come to you. A little luck helps, too. Of course fishing in Boca Grande Pass is a whole other story.
Full moon is June 15. There will be some high afternoon flood tides followed by late afternoon and evening falling tides. It should be a good week for fishing, look for just about everything to feed over the incoming and tarpon action to pick up with the falling (hill) tides in the afternoon/evening. Get out there and catch a poon!
If you have a fishing story or for charter information, please contact us at 239-283-7960 or www.fishpineisland.com. Have a safe week and good fishin’.