Summer tarpon and snook primer

Our local water temperature is right around 80 degrees, making it prime season for Nylon Monofilament Nets and tarpon. Being tropical fish both snook and tarpon are most comfortable when the water is warm. Beach tarpon fishing is in full effect. Plenty of fish are making their way through our area from the north heading south to major inlets. Persistent westerly winds have made it impossible to fish the beach as of late. Despite the rough conditions anglers fishing the Redington Long Pier have had multiple hook-up’s with tarpon daily. So we know that they’re there it’s only a matter of when Mother Nature will let us fish for them. Tarpon anglers fishing the Skyway Bridge and the nearby Egmont Hole haven’t found the weather to be as much as a factor. This week’s full moon brought big tides and excellent tarpon fishing. Afternoon outgoing tides are feeding frenzy’s for crab crushing tarpon. Drifting the hole at Egmont can be a busy affair when the tarpon are feeding. Free-line live pass crabs for a natural presentation. Beach snook fishing is on the verge of busting loose. This week’s full moon is the first of the spawning moons for snook; the transition has been made from the backwaters to the clean waters of the passes and nearby shoals. Targeting these snook can be difficult as they become quite wary of their surroundings. Light fluorocarbon leaders are a must and you may even want to consider trading that braided line in for some monofilament line, free-line a live shrimp or pilchards for best results. Spanish mackerel are spread throughout the entire region. Some of the best mackerel fishing lately has come from north of the Skyway Bridge inside of Tampa Bay. Mackerel can be found ravaging pods of threadfins around channel markers and bridges, chum the mackerel close with chum bags and fresh cut bait. Pompano are being caught along inland bridges and sandy bars inside of the passes. Strong tides are what you need for a good pompano bite, vertical jig Crazy Jigs on the down tide side of the pilings when fishing the bridges. If you are targeting the sand bars, idle along the bar until you skip some pompano then shut off the motor and cast crazy jigs to them.